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Kalanchoe Blossfeldina

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Kalanchoe Blossfeldina

Kalanchoe blossfeldina is a toxin in disguise.

  • Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a species of succulent plant that is perennial and also evergreen.
  • ‘Kalanchoe blossfeldiana’ is also known as ‘florist kalanchoe’, ‘kalanchoe’, ‘Christmas kalanchoe’, ‘flaming Katy’ and ‘Madagascar widow’s-thrill’.
  • Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is known as the scientific name of the plant, which is from the family Crassulaceae, the family of stonecrops.
  • The height of kalanchoe blossfeldiana generally reaches around 30 to 45 centimetres (12 to 18 inches) although smaller varieties are available.
  • Kalanchoe blossfeldina is native to the plateaus of Madagascar, Africa, and the plant is slow growing.

Kalanchoe Blossfeldina, Vegetation, Flower, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Pink

  • The flowers of Kalanchoe blossfeldina have four petals, though they can have more if they are a double variety, and they bloom numerously in clusters for long periods during autumn and winter months.
  • The colours of Kalanchoe blossfeldina flowers ranges from yellow, red, orange, purple, pink and white.
  • Kalanchoe blossfeldina is commonly used for ornamental purposes, particularly as a pot plant or in gardens.
  • The best growing conditions for kalanchoe blossfeldina is full sun and warm climates, while the plant needs significant exposure to light to thrive.
  • On consumption, Kalanchoe blossfeldina is toxic, particularly to animals, and the flower contains the highest concentration of toxins.
Bibliography:
Care of the Kalanchoe Plant, 2005, Al Krismers Plant Farm, http://www.krismers.com/Kalanchoe_care.pdf
The Flaming Katy, 2015, Our House Plants, http://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/flaming-katy
Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalanchoe_blossfeldiana
Smith G, Toxicology Brief: Kalanchoe species poisoning in pets, 2004, dvm360, http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/toxicology-brief-kalanchoe-species-poisoning-pets?rel=canonical

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Broadleaf Stonecrop

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Broadleaf Stonecrop

Broadleaf stonecrops certainly hide stones when growing among them.

  • A broadleaf stonecrop is a variety of a small, perennial and evergreen plant, and is classified as a succulent.
  • Broadleaf stonecrops are native to the rocky sections of mountainous regions in western parts of North America.
  • The scientific name of a broadleaf stonecrop is Sedum spathulifolium and it is from the family Crassulaceae, the family of stonecrops.
  • ‘Broadleaf stonecrops’ are also known as ‘Pacific stonecrops’,  ‘Purdy’s stonecrops’, ‘Yosemite stonecrops’, ‘spoon-leaved stonecrops’, and ‘blood leaf sedums’.
  • A variety of broadleaf stonecrop, the Cape Blanco, has received the Award of Garden Merit from the United Kingdom’s Royal Horticultural Society for its decorative nature, while the species in general is commonly grown as a ground cover.

Broadleaf Stonecrop, Vegetation, Plant, Flower, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Green, Succulent,

  • The leaves of broadleaf stonecrop plants are thick, powdery or waxy on touch, and range from green, to pink and red in colour, and they are roughly 1 to 2 centimetres (0.4 to 0.8 inches) in length.
  • The small broadleaf stonecrop flowers are star-like in shape, and are of a yellow colour, and they bloom throughout the summer months.
  • Broadleaf stonecrop plants grow roughly 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 inches) in height, and they spread up to 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter.
  • A wide variety of soils can be used to grow broadleaf stonecrops, and the plant thrives best in full sun and is drought tolerant.
  • The leaves of broadleaf stonecrops can be eaten both cooked and raw in small quantities, best picked before the plant blooms, while the plant has been used for a number of medicinal purposes.
Bibliography:
Pacific Stonecrop, Broadleaf Stonecrop ‘Cape Blanco’, 2015, Dave’s Garden, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/37066/#b
Sedum spathulifolium – Hook., Plant For A Future, http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Sedum+spathulifolium
Sedum Spathulifolium ‘Cape Blanco’, 2015, Perennials.com, http://www.perennials.com/plants/sedum-spathulifolium-cape-blanco.html
Sedum Spathulifolium, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedum_spathulifolium

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Ixora

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Ixora

You will be able to notice an Ixora in even the darkest parts of a jungle.

  • Ixora is a group of shrubs and trees that are evergreen and produce flowers, and are mostly native to tropical parts of Asia.
  • The name ‘Ixora’ is a genus name, and it is from the family Rubiaceae, the family of madder and coffee, while commonly grown species in the genus include Ixora coccinea and Ixora chinensis.
  • ‘Ixora’ is the common name of a number of species from the genus with the same name, and they are also known as ‘flame-of-the-woods’, ‘jungle flames’, ‘West Indian jasmine’, and ‘jungle geraniums’.
  • The height of Ixora plants grow from 0.6 to 3.6 metres (2 to 12 feet), depending on the species, and they typically have glossy, mid to dark green leaves.
  • The flowers of Ixora have a tube-like appearance with four petals, and grow in groups of up to 60 in a cluster; and after flowering, the plant often produces red, to dark purple or black berries.

Ixora, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Flower, Pink, Red, Bud, Plant, Vegetation, Australia

  • Ixora flowers commonly bloom throughout the year in tropical areas, and they come in an assortment of colours including a range of white, pink, yellow, orange, and red shades.
  • There are more than 500 species of Ixora, and numerous varieties, and some species have been used as part of traditional medicine, while others have a tendency to have invasive roots.
  • Ixoras grow best in well-drained acidic soil, located in full sun, and if they are grown too close to concrete, the soil can become too alkaline, causing the leaves to turn yellow.
  • Ixora will fail to flower on the occasion that light levels are insufficient, and the plants prefer warm temperatures.
  • Ixora are commonly used for ornamental purposes, including bonsai and hedges, or individual specimens in the garden.
Bibliography:
Ixora, 2011, Panpit Garden Center, http://www.panpitgardencenter.com/other/ixora.html
Ixora Coccinea, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixora_coccinea
Ikora Facts and Growing Tips, 2015, Hub Pages, http://hubpages.com/living/Ixora-Facts-and-Growing-Tips

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Spanish Moss

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Spanish Moss

Spanish moss is a mop of scraggy hair.

  • Spanish moss is a vegetation species that is hosted by a variety of trees, and it has no roots or need for soil and it is easily grown from cuttings or broken pieces.
  • The scientific name of Spanish moss is Tillandsia usneoides, and it is from the family Bromeliaceae, the family of bromeliads.
  • ‘Spanish moss’ is also known as an ‘air plant’, ‘Pele’s Hair’, ‘grey beard’, ‘old man’s whiskers’, and ‘old man’s beard’.
  • Spanish moss is native to the moist areas of southeast North, Central and South America; and has become a weed in some parts of Australia.
  • The leaves of Spanish moss have minute scales and appear to be a grey or green colour; and they are quite thin but long, reaching a single millimetre (0.04 inches) in width and 2 to 6 centimetres (0.8 to 2.4 inches) in length.

Spanish Moss, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Grassy, Vegetation, Wall, Climb, Australia

  • Spanish moss droops from somewhat shaded or completely exposed tree branches, and the plant can be as long as 6 metres (20 feet).
  • Nutrients and water for Spanish moss are generally obtained from the atmosphere, including precipitation.
  • Spanish moss has been historically used for a variety of purposes, including as a filling for mattresses, and it can also be used as a fibre or for shelter insulation, as well as in creative works.
  • Spanish moss is a common habitat for certain spiders, bats, rat snakes and insects, and is used as nest material for birds.
  • Small fragrant flowers in blue, yellow or green may grow on Spanish moss in summer, and they produce hairy seeds.
Bibliography:
Spanish Moss, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_moss
Tillandsia Usneoides, 2015, Plants Rescue, http://www.plantsrescue.com/tillandsia-usneoides/
Tillandsia Usneoides (Spanish Moss), n.d, Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/tillandsia-usneoides-spanish-moss

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Grandidier’s Baobab

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Grandidier’s Baobab

Grandidier’s baobab is surely quite grand.

  • Grandidier’s baobabs, also known as ‘giant baobabs’ and ‘reniala’ or ‘renala’ (which means ‘mother of the forest’ in the local language), are very tall trees that are native only to the island of Madagascar in Africa.
  • The scientific name of Grandidier’s baobab is Adansonia grandidieri, and it is from the family Malvaceae, the family of mallows.
  • Grandidier’s baobabs typically grow to heights of 25 to 30 metres (80 to 100 feet), with a trunk averaging around 3 metres (10 feet) in diameter, and most or all of the branches and foliage sit at the top of the tree, thus accentuating the trunk.
  • Grandidier’s baobab trees usually bloom in the months of May to August, and produce edible fruit that ripens during November and December, while the tree usually has leaves only in the wet season, from October to May.
  • The trunk of Grandidier’s baobabs is large and cylindrical; red-grey in colour; and the thick bark has a smooth texture.

Grandidier's Baobab, Adansonia grandidieri, Ten Random Facts, Vegetation, Madagascar, Plant, Tree

Grandidier’s Baobab
Image courtesy of Frank Vassen/Flickr
  • The large flowers of Grandidier’s baobabs have numerous stamens; white-coloured petals that open only during the night; and the petals turn yellow as they age.
  • A Grandidier’s baobab tree can store large quantities of water in its trunk, which swells according to content; and the bark of the tree is useful for making ropes while oil can be obtained from the seeds, and the fruit and seeds are commonly eaten.
  • Grandidier’s baobabs are endangered due to land clearing for agriculture purposes, and as a result of habitat changes, the species has had difficulty reproducing.
  • Grandidier’s baobabs have flowers that are pollinated by insects and lemurs, and the blooms are said to release an odour of sour watermelon.
  • The scientific name of a Grandidier’s baobab is derived from Frenchman Alfred Grandidier, a botanist and explorer from the 1800s, who studied the island of Madagascar over a number of years.
Bibliography:
Adansonia grandidieri, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_grandidieri
Adansonia grandidieri Baill, n.d, PROTA4U, http://www.prota4u.info/protav8.asp?h=M4&t=Adansonia,Grandidieri&p=Adansonia+grandidieri
Andansonia Grandidiera Seeds (Giant Baobab), n.d, Rare Exotic Seeds, http://www.rarexoticseeds.com/en/adansonia-grandidieri-seeds-giant-baobab-seeds.html

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Sugarcane

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Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a sweet success.

  • Sugarcane is a group of grass species from the Saccharum genus, that belongs to Poaceae, the family of true grass; and sugar is extracted from the plants, that are usually grown for commercial purposes.
  • Sugarcane is a perennial plant, native to areas of southern Asia, that grows best in tropical habitats, and reaches heights of between 2 to 6 metres (6.5 to 19.7 feet) and a diameter of roughly 5 centimetres (2 inches).
  • Most commercially grown sugarcane is a hybrid that is generally a cross between the species Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum spontaneum, although there are a small number of other plants in the Saccharum genus that may be used for this purpose.
  • Sugarcane plants takes 9 to 24 months to grow to maturity, depending on the climate, and they are the raw material that produces 80% of the world’s sugar production, while the plants are also used for making ethanol, molasses, bagasse, rum and other products.
  • The majority of a sugarcane stalk is made of water, with up to three quarters possible, while up to 16% can be sugar, and the fibre content can be also be up to 16%.

Sugarcane, Plant, Sugar, Australia, Plants, Plantation,

  • Many sugarcane farms were formed across the world beteween the 1800s and 1900s, and slaves from various locations were used as the primary labour.
  • The fibres of the sugarcane plant can be woven into mats; used for papermaking purposes; and added to other fibres to make fabric.
  • Australia, parts of the United States, Asia’s India and Indonesia, the Pacific Islands and South America – including Peru and Brazil, are popular sugarcane farm locations, while in 2013, Brazil was the largest producer of the crop in the world.
  • The harvesting of sugarcane, which is accomplished by hand with a special tool or the use of a mechanical harvester, is done before the plant sets flower with its feathery tufts; and in many cases the crop is set alight beforehand to eradicate dangerous animals and leaves.
  • Sugar is produced from sugarcane juice located in the stalk of the plant, and is done through a milling process, which involves crushing, heating, cooling and refining.

 

Bibliography:
The story of sugarcane: paddock to plate, 2010, Cane Growers, http://www.canegrowers.com.au/page/Industry_Centre/Schools_module/about-australian-sugarcane/
Sugarcane, 2015, How Stuff Works, http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/sugarcane-info.htm
Sugarcane, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarcane

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