Tag Archives: Vegetation

Aquilegia

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Aquilegia

Pretty bird-like aquilegias bob all day in the wind.

  • Aquilegias are perennial, ornamental flowering plants that include 60 to 70 species and belong to the Aquilegia genus.
  • ‘Aquilegia’ flowers and plants are also known as ‘granny’s bonnets’ and  ‘columbines’, and are from the family Ranunculaceae, which is the family of buttercups.
  • Aquilegias are native to meadows and woodlands in cooler areas north of the equator.
  • The common name ‘columbine’ comes from the Latin word for ‘dove’, while the genus name, ‘aquilegia’, comes from the word ‘aquila’, which is Latin for ‘eagle’, and both are a reference to the unusual shape of the flower.
  • Aquilegias grow to be 38 to 51 centimetres (15 to 20 inches) in height, and are usually grown from seed.

Columbine, Flower, Purple, Lilac, Shade, Bud, Open, Plant, Flower, Aquilegia, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • The indigenous Americans used small portions of some species of aquilegia flowers, as sweet additions to some meals, and sometimes used the roots medicinally.
  • Aquilegia plants have long-spurred flower petals that often resemble birds and are full of sweet nectar.
  • Aquilegias are highly toxic if the roots or seeds are consumed, and can cause fatalities.
  • Aquilegia flowers are typically red, purple, blue, white or yellow in colour, and depending on the species bloom in spring and/or summer.
  • Aquilegia plants are generally hardy, preferring partly shady conditions, and they have bluish green, maidenhair fern-like foliage.
Bibliography:
Aquilegia, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquilegia
Plant Profile: Aquilegia, 2013, Gardening Australia, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866504.htm

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Peach

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Peach

Everything’s peaches!

  • Peaches are from the genus of cherries and plums, Prunus, and the family of roses, Rosaceae, and they typically have white, yellow or orange coloured flesh, with skin that is generally red or yellow.
  • Peaches are furry and feel like velvet, unlike nectarines that are the same species and are technically fuzz-less peaches, even though they are sold as two different fruits.
  • Peaches grow on deciduous trees with the scientific name Prunis persica, that grow to be 4 to 10 metres (13 to 33 feet) in height.
  • Peaches are stone fruits that have one seed that is 1.3 to 2 centimetres (0.5 to 0.8 inches) long, that is encased in a larger, hard, grooved shell.
  • The word ‘peach’ comes from the French word ‘pêche’, and the scientific name of peaches suggests the fruit comes from Persia, however, it is believed that the fruit is native to China.

Peach

  • Peaches often need to be eaten within two weeks after picking, as they continue to ripen after picking and they can spoil easily.
  • China was the biggest producer of peaches in 2011, producing just over half of the total world’s production of 21.5 million tonnes (24 million tons).
  • Peaches contain significant amounts of fibre, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C, with many smaller quantities of many other minerals and vitamins.
  • A peach can be either a ‘clingstone’ or a ‘freestone’, meaning that the flesh either ‘clings’ to the stone (seed case), or easily comes free from the stone, respectively.
  • Peaches can be eaten raw, canned, dried, cooked, used in baked goods, and made into sauces, and the juices and oil of a peach can be used as a moisturiser.
Bibliography:
Peach, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach
Peaches, 2011, Fresh for Kids, http://www.freshforkids.com.au/fruit_pages/peach/peach.html

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Rondeletia

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Rondeletia

The beautiful rondeletias sway in the garden.

  • Rondeletias are from the family Rubiaceae, which is the family of coffee or madder.
  • Rondeletias are often grown as a decorative garden plant, although they are not as common as they used to be.
  • Rondeletias are 160 species of hardy shrubs or trees with glossy, evergreen leaves.
  • Rondeletias grow up to three metres (10 feet) in height and are suitable to grow as a hedge.
  • Rondeletias have small flowers that grow in clusters and are typically orange-pink in colour.

Rondeletia, Pink, Flowers, Plant, Decorative, Garden, Ten Random Facts, Flower

  • Rondeletias are native to Central America, including countries such as Mexico, Panama and Cuba.
  • Some species of rondeletia are critically endangered, while others are common.
  • Rondeletias generally prefer sunny conditions and warm temperatures.
  • Rondeletias have fragrant flowers that attract butterflies and birds.
  • ‘Rondeletias’ are named after a French medical professor and scientist of the 1500s, Guillaume Rondelet, who specialised in botany and other areas.
Bibliography:
Rondeletia, n.d., Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2001/archives/2001_archives/in_the_garden/flowering_plants_and_shrubs/rondeletia
Rondeletia (Plant), 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rondeletia_(plant)

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Hydrangea

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Hydrangea

Hydrangeas may look like mops, but will not work like one.

  • Hydrangeas are generally flowering shrubs that grow from 1 to 3 metres (3 to 10 feet) in height, but some species are trees or climbers, with some climbing up tall trees.
  • Hydrangeas are mostly hardy plants that are also known as ‘hortensia’, and are from the family Hydrangeaceae.
  • There are over 70 species of hydrangeas, that either deciduous or evergreen, with the most commonly grown type, Hydrangea macrophylla, being deciduous.
  • Hydrangeas are native to east and south Asia, as well as north and south America.
  • Hydrangeas have flowers that are either pom-pom shaped or flat-headed, known as ‘Mopheads’ and ‘Lacecaps’ respectively.

Hydrangea, pom-pom, bloom, purple, pink, flower, plant, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • The flowers of hydrangeas can be white, blue, and pink, purple or red in colour, which are often determined by the soil the plant is planted in, with acidic soils producing blue flowers and alkaline soils bearing flowers in pink or red shades.
  • Hydrangeas are popular decorative and ornamental plants in the garden, and usually bloom in spring and summer.
  • Certain hydrangea species are poisonous, and can cause severe sickness or fatalities if consumed, and despite this, some parts are sometimes smoked.
  • Hydrangeas are mostly hardy plants and prefer semi-shaded areas.
  • Some species of hydrangeas have leaves that are used to make a sweet tea.
Bibliography:
Hydrangea, 2011, Gardening Australia, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866625.htm
Hydrangea, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea

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Jacaranda

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Jacaranda

The flowers continuously flutter down from the jacaranda tree.

  • Jacarandas are from the family Bignoniaceae, which is the family of bignonias, and are a group of 49 flowering shrubs and trees.
  • Jacaranda mimosifolia, a tree with purplish blue flowers, is the most popular and common species, that is sometimes called ‘Black Poui’, ‘Blue Jacaranda’, or ‘the fern tree’, although it is usually just called ‘Jacaranda’.
  • Jacarandas are native to Central and South America as well as some of the islands in that region, and can now be found in many tropical areas around the world.
  • ‘Jacaranda’ is said to mean ‘fragrant’ in a native South American dialect and have blue to purple or white coloured flowers, depending on the species.
  • Depending on the species, Jacarandas can grow up to 20 to 30 metres (66 to 98 feet) in height.

Jacaranda, Purple, Blue, Flowers, Carpet, Fall, Tree, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Jacaranda mimosifolia are popular trees used in landscaping, and they line streets in a number of towns and cities around the world.
  • Jacarandas have leaves that are used by the Chinese to make purple dye and the timber of some species is used in woodwork.
  • Jacaranda festivals are held in Pretoria, South Africa, and in a number of cities in Australia, during the peak blooming period.
  • Jacarandas generally flower in spring and summer, and the flowers commonly drop, making a carpet of purple or blue.
  • Jacarandas have hard, flattened, round seed pods that contain a number of seeds.
Bibliography:
Jacaranda, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacaranda
Jacarandas, 2007, Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Flowering-Plants-and-Shrubs/Jacarandas/3083

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Alfalfa Sprouts

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Alfalfa Sprouts

Sprout the facts like alfalfa sprouts.

  • ‘Alfalfa sprouts’ are also known as ‘lucerne sprouts’ and their scientific name is Medicago sativa.
  • Alfalfa sprouts belong to the family Fabaceae, which is the family of legumes, beans and peas, and are thought to be native to Iran.
  • Alfalfa sprouts start as brown seeds that germinate, within 1-2 days after watering, and the shoots, white with tiny green leaves, are ready to eat after 3 to 5 days.
  • Alfalfa sprouts are sprouted alfalfa or lucerne seeds and are easily grown at home in a jar, or special sprout grower.
  • Alfalfa sprouts are high in vitamin K and also contain other beneficial nutrients.

Alfalfa Sprout, Green, Shout, Bundle, Handful, Plate, Focused, White, Green, Ten Random Facts, Legume, Australia

  • In 2006, the total world production of alfalfa was 395 million tonnes (436 million tons) in weight.
  • Traditionally, alfalfa was used medicinally, although no significant medical properties have been discovered, although consuming significant quantities of alfalfa sprouts may lead to autoimmune type disorders in some people.
  • Alfalfa is the most common legume grown in the world, mostly grown as stock feed.
  • Raw alfalfa sprouts can contain bad bacteria, particularly salmonella, although this can generally be avoided if they are kept in the fridge and thoroughly washed before eating.
  • Alfalfa spouts are commonly used as a sandwich filling or salad addition.

 

Bibliography:
Alfalfa, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfalfa
Smith M, Are Alfalfa Sprouts Safe to Eat?, 2010, Food Safety, http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/sprouts.html

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