Tag Archives: Vegetation

Canna Indica

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Canna Indica

Canna indica can be very deadly.

  • Canna indica are perennial plants that are native to the Caribbean and American tropical habitats.
  • Canna indica is from the family Cannaceae, the family of canna lilies and is one of the 19 species in the group, and is also referred to by a number of other scientific names.
  • Canna indica is also known as ‘saka siri’, ‘canna’, ‘coyol’, ‘bandera’, ‘achira’, ‘platanillo’, ‘wild canna lily’, ‘Indian shot’ and ‘chanacle’.
  • Canna indica have small, black, spherical seeds that are dense and sink in water, and are hard enough to be used as bullets, hence one of its common names ‘Indian shot’.
  • Canna indica prefer moist, sunny conditions and are often used as an ornamental in the garden, or they can be found in swamps and wetlands, and are also able to be grown in chemically polluted water as a treatment solution.

Indian Shot, Red, yellow, flower, canna indica, Ten Random Facts, australia, garden

  • Canna indica plants grow to be 0.5 to 2.4 metres (1.6 to 8.0 feet) in height, and have papery seed capsules after flowering
  • The rhizomes of Canna indica are edible and are served cooked, and they have also been used medicinally.
  • Canna indica have red or yellow coloured flowers sometimes with spots, that flower in autumn and summer and its large green leaves can be used for paper making.
  • Canna indica seeds are commonly used as beads in jewellery and rattles in some musical instruments, and a purple dye can also be made from them.
  • Canna indica are invasive in many countries including Australia, some islands in the Pacific, and South Africa, and spread easily by their rhizomes and seeds.
Bibliography:
Canna Indica – L, 2012, Plants For a Future, http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Canna+indica
Canna Indica (Wild Canna Lily), 2011, BioNET-EAFRINET, http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/eafrinet/weeds/key/weeds/Media/Html/Canna_indica_(Wild_Canna_Lily).htm
Canna Indica, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_indica

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Macadamia Nut

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Macadamia Nut

Don’t be ‘a hard nut’.  Add these macadamia nut facts to your collection.

  • ‘Macadamia nuts’ are also known as ‘macadamias,’ Queensland nuts’, ‘bush nuts’, ‘queen of nuts’, ‘maroochi nuts’, and ‘bauple nuts’.
  • Macadamia nuts are seeds that are from one of four species of macadamia tree, that are all native to Australia, in the eastern parts of northern New South Wales and southern and central Queensland.
  • There are two species of macadamia nut that are poisonous, but the toxin,  cyanogenic glycoside (cyanide), can be removed by parboiling the nut.
  • Macadamia nuts have a very hard, woody, brown shell which reveals a cream coloured nut when cracked open, that turns golden brown when roasted.
  • Macadamia nuts became known to the British by Alan Cunningham, a botanist from England, who discovered them in 1828 in Queensland.

Macadamia, Nut, Food, Culinary, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Australia is currently the top producer of macadamia nuts in the world, and the first trees grown, primarily for commercial purposes, were planted in an orchard in the 1880s, near Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.
  • Macadamia nuts are cracked open when the nut is somewhat dehydrated, and to test for its readiness, the nut will usually rattle in the shell when it’s time, due to the nut growing smaller and detaching itself from the shell.
  • Macadamia nuts are very high in thiamine, manganese and fat, and also contain quantities of many other vitamins and minerals.
  • Some people are allergic to macadamia nuts, that can sometimes cause a fatal reaction, and they are also poisonous to dogs.
  • Macadamia nuts are traditionally eaten raw or roasted, as well as being grounded into butter, covered in chocolate and included in nut mixes and baked goods, and the oil from the nuts is sometimes used in skincare products.
Bibliography:
Macadamia, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macadamia
What are macadamia nuts?, n.d, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-macadamia-nuts.htm

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Coriander Seeds

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Coriander Seeds

Coriander seeds are actually fruit!

  • Coriander seeds are used as a spice to flavour cooking, and are also known as ‘dhania’ and ‘coriandi seeds’.
  • Coriander seeds are the fruit of an annual herb that grows up to 50 centimetre (20 inch) high.
  • Coriander seeds are believed to be native to the Mediterranean and Middle East areas.
  • Coriander seeds are from the family Apiaceae, the family of carrots and parsley, and come from the plant that has the scientific name of Coriandrum sativum or common names ‘cilantro’, ‘Chinese parsley’ and ‘Mexican parsley’.
  • Coriander seeds are often used in curries, as well as in the spice mix ‘garam masala’, and is commonly found in dishes particularly from Southeast Asia to Africa to the Middle East.

Coriander Seeds, white, spice, fruit, Ten Random Facts, Bowl,

  • Coriander seeds are high in manganese, calcium, magnesium and iron.
  • Coriander seeds have the flavour of lemon citrus and nuts, and they generally help thicken the sauces that they are usually found in.
  • Coriander seeds are commonly used ground or whole, roasted, dried or fresh.
  • There are different varieties of coriander that produce different sized coriander seeds, and they range from 1.5 to 5 millimetres (0.06 to 0.2 inches) in diameter.
  • Coriander seeds have been used traditionally for medicinal purposes to treat a wide variety of ailments and they are said to have anti-diabetic properties.
Bibliography:
Coriander, 2006, OzPolitic, http://www.ozpolitic.com/gardening/coriander.html
Coriander, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriander

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Blue Plumbago

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Blue Plumbago

Pretty, pretty blue plumbagos.

  • ‘Blue plumbagos’ are also known as ‘cape plumbagos’ and ‘cape leadworts’.
  • Blue plumbagos are from the family of Plumbaginaceae, which is the family of plumbagos and leadworts.
  • Blue plumbagos are decorative perennial flowering bushes that can climb, which are native to South Africa.
  • Blue plumbagos can grow up to be 6 metres (20 feet) in height, and sunny and semi-shaded areas are the best spots for them to grow.
  • Blue plumbagos have flowers that bloom in different shades of both blue and white that mainly flower in summer and autumn, and sticky hairs that are found near the flowers.

Blue Plambago, Flower, cape, Auriculanta, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Plant, Bush, Shrub, Bundle

  • The scientific name of a blue plumbago is ‘Plumbago auriculata’, with ‘auriculata’ referring to the ear-shaped leaves.
  • Blue plumbago flowers are approximately 1.5 cm (0.6 inch) in diameter, and they grown in clusters, and have long tubes at the base of the five petals.
  • Blue plumbagos have won the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society, and are popular in gardens.
  • Blue plumbagos often do not flower on the first year after the planting of its seed, from which it is readily grown.
  • Blue plumbago leaves are green and shiny and can grow up to 5 centimetres (2 inches) in length, that can attract some insect pests.
Bibliography:
Plumbago auriculta, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbago_auriculata
Plumbago auriculta, n.d, Missouri Botanical Garden, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a542

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Society Garlic

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Society Garlic

Society garlic is not actually garlic.

  • Society garlic is a perennial plant that flowers and grows from a bulbous rhizome, and it is from the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, and the subfamily Allioideae, that was formerly called the Alliceae family (family of onions or alliums).
  • The leaves, flowers and stems of society garlic can be safely used in cuisine, often for garlic-like flavouring, popularly in salads or soups.
  • ‘Society garlic’ is also known as ‘wild garlic’ and is native to southern parts of Africa, and gets its common name for it being the preferred and more ‘polite’ herb for social events among the Dutch settlers there, rather than real garlic.
  • The scientific name of society garlic is ‘Tulbaghia violacea’, named after the mid 1700s governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Ryk Tulbagh, and ‘violacea’ refers to the appearance of the violet-like flowers.
  • Society garlic can grow to be a height of 60 centimetres (24 inches) and has long, thin leaves.

Society Garlic, Flowers, Pink, Onion, Ten Random Facts, Violet, Purple, flower, grass, Australia

  • Society garlic plants typically bloom in late spring, summer and autumn seasons, and have groups of flowers that appear on the top of a long stem.
  • Society garlic flowers are small and star shaped, with six petals and generally appear in shades of purple, most commonly violet.
  • Society garlic is commonly grown for decorative purposes in gardens or pots and has a distinct garlic smell.
  • Society garlic has won the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Society garlic is drought tolerant and generally prefers a sunny position in the garden.
Bibliography:
Tulbaghia violacea – Harv., 2012, Plants for a Future, http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tulbaghia+violacea
Tulbaghia violacea, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulbaghia_violacea
Tulbaghia violacea, 2004, Shireen Harris, http://www.plantzafrica.com/planttuv/tulbaghviol.htm

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Red Orchid Bush

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Red Orchid Bush

Red orchid bushes have red flowers and are bushes, but they are not orchids.

  • ‘Red orchid bushes’ are also known as ‘red bauhinias’, ‘Pride of De Kaaps’, ‘orchid trees’, ‘nasturtium bauhinias’, ‘African orchid trees’ and ‘African plumes’.
  • Red orchid bushes are from the family Fabaceae, which is the family of legumes, beans and peas, and their scientific name is ‘Bauhinia galpinii’.
  • Red orchid bushes are clambering, evergreen perennial shrubs that are native to south and east Africa.
  • Red orchid bushes have flowers 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) in diameter, with five petals and three large stamens, and are usually red, although pink and orange varieties are also available.
  • Red orchid bushes generally grow to be a height of 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16.4 feet), but may climb higher with the support of other trees.

Red Orchid Bush, Pride of De Kaap, Baulinia galpnii, Ten Random Facts, Green, Red, Plant, Bush,

  • Red orchid bushes generally bloom during spring, summer and early autumn, and follow with long green seed pods that turn brown and split open, releasing the seeds.
  • Red orchid bushes are often used as an ornamental in gardens, and they prefer sunny or partly shady conditions.
  • Red orchid bushes are a weed in some countries, including parts of Australia, as the seeds and cuttings are easily grown and spread by garden waste, water and garden trimmings, and the plants can be found on abandoned urban land, forest and woodlands.
  • Red orchid bushes attract butterflies and bees, and the branches have been used for basket weaving and roof trusses.
  • The green leaves of the red orchid bush are shaped a bit like a hoof, and are symmetrical with two lobes.
Bibliography:
Bauhinia galpinii, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhinia_galpinii
Red bauhinia, n.d, Brisbane City Council, http://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/red-bauhinia-bauhinia-galpinii

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