Tag Archives: Vegetation

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

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Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Ten Random Facts’ birthday!

The legend of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

  • The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is a legendary, and possibly mythical, garden part of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
  • The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are said to have had large pillars and a number of tiers and terraced levels, and the translation from the Greek and Latin words to describe the garden, more accurately use the word ‘overhanging’  rather than the literally ‘hanging’  garden which is depicted in the garden’s name.
  • The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is the only Wonder of the Ancient World that does not have a proven location.
  • According to Greek texts, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is depicted as a lush garden of exotic foliage and wildlife, with man-made waterfalls.
  • It has been historically believed that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were located at the ancient city of Babylon, built by King Nebuchadnezzar II, although there is no Babylonian evidence.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Picture, Art, Artist's Impression, Mythical, Ten Random Facts, Australia  By Maarten van Heemskerck, 16th century engraving
Image courtesy of Carla216/Flickr

  • There are many theories of the location of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with a lot of evidence supporting the ‘Hanging Gardens of Nineveh’ theory, and if this is true, the gardens would have been owned by King Sennacherib.
  • Some believe that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were destroyed in an earthquake, although many others believe erosion and conquest were the destruction factors.
  • It is believed that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built in the 6th or 7th century BC.
  • Historians believe that walls of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were 24 metres (80 feet) in height, approximately the height of  five storey building, and were made from a type of brick.
  • The height of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon would have required a significant irrigation system, that has been described as an amazing engineering feat.
Bibliography:
12 Key Facts and Legends about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, 2010, Ancient World Wonders, <http://ancientworldwonders.com/12-facts-about-the-hanging-gardens-of-babylon.html>
Kyrstek L, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, 2010, Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, <http://www.unmuseum.org/hangg.htm>

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May Bush

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May Bush

May bushes that flower in September in the Southern Hemisphere!

  • May bushes are ornamental, shrubby plants that belong to the genus Spiraea , that has 80 to 100 species and has its origins in the word ‘wreath’ in Greek.
  • The scientific name of the common May bush is Spiraea cantoniensis, which is native to south east China, although other species of Spiraea are native to the Northern Hemisphere, particularly eastern parts of Asia.
  • In the Northern Hemisphere, May bushes bloom in May, and thus they are named ‘May bushes’.
  • May bushes are from the family rosaceae, which is the family of roses.
  • May bushes are deciduous and typically have green leaves 2.5 to 10 centimetres (1 to 4 inches) in length, and the shrub grows up to 2.5 metres (8 feet) in height.

May bush, White, Green, Foliage, Australia, Plant, Ten Random Facts

  • May bushes contain salicylic acid, which has aided the development of the pain killer Asprin.
  • May bush flowers are very small and have five petals that are generally white, but other species have red, yellow, pink or purple flowers.
  • ‘May bushes’ are also known as ‘bridal wreaths’, due to the historical use of the bushes’ branches as wreaths.
  • May bushes like being in full sunlight and growing in moist soil.
  • May bushes usually have long arching branches which are covered in Spring in white flowers, although they are often grown in hedges, and can be trimmed and shaped effectively.
Bibliography:
Dudman P, May Bush for Spring, 2006, The Garden Guru, <http://www.thegardenguru.com.au/content/File/79_may_bush.htm>
Spiraea, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiraea>

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Banana

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Banana

Don’t go bananas!

  • Bananas grow on what some people call ‘trees’, up to 15 metres (49 feet) high, that are actually flowering herbs, or plants, generally from the Musa genus, which belong to the family Musaceae, which also includes the genus of ensetes, similar to common bananas, some of which are also a valuable food source.
  • Bananas can be different sizes or firmness, but are usually a curved shape and have soft flesh, and when ripe, the skin can be yellow, red, purple, green or brown in colour.
  • Bananas are native to South to Southeast Asia, which includes the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, and they are believed to have been cultivated since at least 5000 BC in Papua New Guinea.
  • Bananas can also be known as plantains, although there are some small differences, like plantains are generally cooked, have less sugar than the common fruit, and more starch, and common green fruit can also be used for cooking purposes.
  • Commercial bananas are generally seedless, unlike the wild varieties, and are often eaten raw but can be eaten baked, steamed or deep-fried, dehydrated, made into jam, used as a flavouring addition or added to desserts, salads and main dishes like curry, and also made into flour for baking purposes.

Banana, Yellow, Peeled, Unpeeled, Ripe, Bunches, Hands, Long, Flesh, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Aldi

  • Bananas are the most sold edible fruit and one of the most important food crops in the world, ranking number four after rice, wheat and maize, and in 2011, India produce 29.7 million tonnes (32.7 million tons) of the fruit, which was one fifth of the total world production.
  • The term ‘banana’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘banan’ or the West African Wolof word ‘banaana’, and they are grown in tiers known as ‘hands’, with up to 20 pieces of fruit per hand, and each banana is called a ‘finger’.
  • Commercial bananas are often picked unripe and stored in a refrigerated room at 13 to 15°C (56 to 59 °F) to slow down the ripening process, but if the ripening process needs to be sped up, they can be stored with an apple or tomato for 12 hours or so in a paper bag.
  • Bananas are high in Vitamin B6, and have significant amounts of vitamin C, potassium, manganese and magnesium, and are the most radioactive fruit due to the potassium content, but do little or no damage to the human body.
  • There are between 500 and 1000 varieties of bananas, and the yellow Cavendish variety are the most commonly exported bananas, mainly due to easier transportation.

 

Bibliography:
All About Bananas, n.d, Bananalink, <http://www.bananalink.org.uk/all-about-bananas>
Banana, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana>

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Petunia

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Petunia

Pretty petunias.

  • Petunias are ornamental plants that have showy flowers, that attract insects and hummingbirds.
  • There are 35 species in the Petunia genus and they are from the family Solanceae, which is the family of nightshades, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco and eggplants.
  • Petunias are commonly hybrid annuals, with many different sizes and forms and some will flower all year.
  • Petunias are native to South America and are best grown in tropical areas.
  • Petunias are available in two main types, ‘grandiflora’ and ‘multiflora’, with grandifloras having larger but fewer flowers, and mulitfloras having plentiful but smaller flowers, and millifloras are also available which are mini plants with mini flowers.

Petunia, Pink< Purple, Red, Violet, White, Group, Lots, Flower, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • The word ‘Petunia’ is from a native South American word ‘petun’, the name for ‘tobacco, of which it is a close relative.
  • Petunia plants range from 15 cm (6 inches) up to 120 centimetres (4 ft) in height and are generally grown from seed.
  • Petunias flowers can be white, yellow, pink, purple, red and blue in colour, as well as bicolour, and can be used as cut flowers.
  • Petunia flowers can have flowers as large as 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter, and they have five lobed petals, with varieties including double flowers and ruffled petals.
  • Petunias can be grown in the garden or in pots, and prefer sunny conditions, and to keep them flowering, dead flowers should be removed regularly.

 

Bibliography:
Petunia, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petunia>
Plant Profile: Petunia, 2011, Gardening Australia, <http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866725.htm>

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Tulip

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Tulip

“Tip-toe through the tulips!”

  • Tulips are eye-catching plants, 1o to 71 centimetres (4 to 28 inches) in height, and are grown from bulbs.
  • Tulips are often thought to be endemic to the Netherlands, however they were introduced there and are actually native to parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, most notably Turkey.
  • The scientific name for tulips is tulipa, and they come from the family liliaceae, which is the family of lilies.
  • There are 150 species of tulip and 3000 varieties, and they generally have two to six green leaves but can have up to 12 leaves.
  • The Netherlands produces 3 billion bulbs every year, more than any other country, and is the main exporter of commercial tulips.

Tulip, Pink, Red, Vase, Green, Tall, six, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Variegated patterns on tulips were originally caused by a mosaic virus known as ‘tulip breaking virus’ spread by the flower pest, aphids, however the patterns on modern varieties are usually a result of special breeding.
  • The largest collection of growing tulips can be found in the Netherlands garden, Keukenhof.
  • Tulip flowers bloom in spring, and can be red, yellow, orange, blue, purple, pink and white in colour.
  • Tulips are one of the most popular flowers in the world, but they do not like warm climates and grow well in cold temperatures.
  • Allergen chemicals can be found in tulips, as well as the chemical ‘tulipanin’ that is poisonous to dogs and cats.
Bibliography:
Facts about Tulips, n.d, Lifestyle Lounge, <http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/facts-about-tulips-5119.html>
Tulip, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip>

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Chia Seed

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Chia Seed

Teensy little chia seeds.

  • Chia seeds are generally small ovular shaped seeds that are brown, black, grey or white in colour.
  • Chia seeds are said to have the most omega 3, fibre and protein of all plant based food, and are also a good source of manganese, phosphorous, and calcium.
  • The scientific name of chia seeds is salvia hispanica, and they grow on a blue, purple or white flowering herb from the family of Lamiaceae, which is the family of mint.
  • Chia seeds are a traditional ingredient that comes from Mexico and Guatemala, where the plant is native, and in the south west of the United States they are also commonly consumed.
  • It is suggested that a small quantity, a tablespoon for an adult and a teaspoon for a child, of chia seeds be eaten each day, because of their source of nutrients.

Chia seeds, Brown, White, Seeds, Focus, Large, Pile, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • The word ‘Chia’ comes from the native Mexican language, from the Nahuatl word ‘chian’, which means ‘oily’.
  • Chia can be eaten whole in its raw form or milled, or can be added to foods such as bread, drinks, cereals, muesli bars, baked goods, or yoghurt.
  • Chia seeds do not have much flavour so they do not change the flavour of foods that they are combined with.
  • Chia seeds are 1 millimetre (0.04inches) in diameter but the chia herb grows to 1 metre (3.3 feet) in height.
  • Chia seeds can be used as an egg replacement, as the seeds form a gel-like substance which thicken and combine with other ingredients.
Bibliography:
Salvia Hispanica, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_hispanica>
Seeds of Goodness, 2013, Life & Style, <http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/blogs/chew-on-this/seeds-of-goodness-20130429-2inue.html>

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