Tag Archives: Vegetation

Monstera Deliciosa

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Monstera Deliciosa

A unique flavour, the Monstera deliciosa.

  • Monstera deliciosa is a climbing, flowering plant that grows in tropical rainforests or other humid shady areas, and in the wild the grow up tall trees and send down aerial roots to the ground where they take root.
  • Monstera deliciosa are native to southern Mexico, central America and Columbia and are also known as the ‘Swiss cheese plant’, ‘cheese plant’, ‘fruit salad plant’, ‘monsterio delicio’, ‘monster fruit’, and ‘Mexican breadfruit’ among others.
  • Monstera deliciosa belongs to the genus Monstera, a genus of 40-60 species, and are from the family Araceae, which is the family of arums.
  • Monstera deliciosa can grow up to 20 meters (65 feet) in height, with large dark green leaves that have holes in them, which led to the name ‘Swiss cheese plant’, although young leaves have no holes in them and are small and heart shaped.
  • Monstera deliciosa does not tolerate frost unless sheltered, and will cease growing at temperatures of 10°C (50°F) and under.

Green plant, leaves, large, Monstera Deliciosa, Swiss cheese Plant, Fruit, Big, Australia, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts

  • Monstera deliciosa bear small flowers and a large bract that cloaks the fruit of the plant, and the fruit grow 25cm (9.8 inches) in length and is corn shaped with a green hexagonal tiled covering.
  • Monstera deliciosa fruits are edible but only when ripe, which can take a year, which is when the hexagonal tiles fall off, as an unripe fruit is poisonous with symptoms of throat irritation, swelling and pain.
  •  Monstera deliciosa fruit tastes a bit like a mix of pineapple, banana and mango, or jackfruit, among others, giving it a nickname of the fruit salad plant.
  • Monstera deliciosa grow towards the darkest spot first, until the find a tree to climb up, and then they head for the light.
  • In some native countries, Monstera deliciosa roots are used to make baskets and ropes, treating snakebites and along with the leaves, for treating arthritis, even though the plant is considered poisonous.
Bibliography:
Bruhl J, Monstera Deliciosa, 2002, NSW Department of Agriculture, <http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/119775/monsterosa-deliciosa.pdf>
Monstera Deliciosa, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monstera_deliciosa>

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Cashew Nut

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Cashew Nut

Cashew… tree, apple or nut.  NUT!

  • Cashew nuts are native to north east Brazil, South America, although they are now grown in many tropical areas around the world.
  • Cashew nuts grow on 10-15 m (32-50 feet) evergreen trees known as a cashew tree, from the family Anacardiaceae, which is the family of drupe bearing plants.
  • A cashew nut is a seed or kernel, 1.8 – 2.5 cm (0.7 – 1 inch) long, that grows in a kidney shaped fruit called a cashew drupe, which grows at the bottom of an edible accessory fruit called a cashew apple.
  • In 2010, Nigeria was the top producer of cashew nuts, producing 650,000 tonnes (717,000 tons).
  • Whilst in their shell, cashew nuts are surrounded by a toxic oil or resin similar to urushiol called ‘anacardic acid’, which can burn or irritate the skin, and so they are nearly always treated by roasting, boiling or steaming before they are shelled.

Woolworths Select Brand Naturual Cashew Nuts, shelled, kidney shaped, lots, bowl, packet, halve, full, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Some people are allergic to cashew nuts as they are to other tree nuts, due to the proteins in the nuts, however others are allergic to them due to the trace irritants similar to ‘urushiol’, which is in poison ivy pistachios and mangos, all of which are related to cashews.
  • Cashew nuts contain many vitamins and minerals, and are a good source of antioxidants and copper, the antioxidants having many great health benefits including decreased likeliness of getting cardiovascular disease.
  • The starch content of cashew nuts is approximately 23%, which is significantly higher than most other nuts, and makes them suitable for thickening sauces.
  • Cashew nuts are eaten ‘raw’ – these have generally been heat treated, roasted, salted and as a spread; added to main meals like salads, stir-fries and curries in the form of a paste, chopped or used whole; and are also used in desserts and cakes.
  • People who have a tendency to get kidney stones or have gallbladder issues may need to avoid or reduce their intake of cashews as they contain oxalates which can make the condition worse.
Bibliography:
Cashew, 2013, Wikipedia, < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashew>
Cashews, 2013, The World’s Healthiest Foods, < http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=98>

 

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Ground Asparagus

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Ground Asparagus

Ground asparagus… though not an asparagus bearer, though.

  • Ground asparagus is also known as basket asparagus, Sprenger’s asparagus and asparagus fern.
  • Ground asparagus is from the family Asparagaceae, which is the family of asparagus and flowering plants.
  • Ground asparagus have tiny bell like flowers that are white to palish pink in colour and bloom in spring and last until autumn.
  • Ground asparagus is a small perennial, low lying, scrambling shrub that has a number of  stems coming from the ground that have ferny looking cladodes (water storing leaf like segments) and small thorns attached.
  • Ground asparagus is easily grown from the rhizomes and through seeds that birds spread, making it an invasive weed in many areas.

Ground Asparagus, Red, Berry, Fern, Green, Basket, Weed, Invasive, Australia, Ten RandoM Facts, Aethiopicus, Long ways, Green, Evergreen, Vegetation, Plant

  • South Africa is the native home of ground asparagus, where it is found in coastal areas.
  • The scientific classification for ground asparagus is Asparagus aethiopicus, although it is often confused with Asparagus densiflorus, which it is often called, and is similar in appearance.
  • Ground asparagus have berries that start off green and ripen to a red colour, and grow to 5 to 8mm (0.2 to 0.3 inches) in diameter.
  • Although ground asparagus is known as an invasive weed in a number of countries in the world, especially Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the United States, it is still used for decoration in shady areas or rocky gardens.
  • The berries of ground asparagus are poisonous, causing symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. 
Bibliography:
Ground (Basket) Asparagus, n.d, Weeds Australia, <http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/asparagusweeds/docs/Asparagus_Weeds_BPMM-5.pdf>
Ground Asparagus, n.d, Weeds Australia, <http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&state=&s=&ibra=all&card=H03>

 

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Granny Smiths

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Granny Smiths

Apples for Grannies!

  • One of the many apple cultivars is the Granny Smith apple, which is crisp and crunchy, and ripens to a bright green colour.
  • Granny Smiths were first grown in a Sydney suburb, Eastwood, in Australia in 1868 and were named after the first grower of the apples, Maria Ann ‘Granny’ Smith, who had migrated from Sussex, England to New South Wales, Australia.
  • Maria Smith discovered Granny Smith apples growing near a creek on her farm, after she threw out some French crab apples, that originated in Tasmania, in the spot.
  • Granny Smiths are believed to be a hybrid of the French crab apple from the Malus family of crab apples, but like other hybrid mutation plants, the seeds of Granny Smiths will produce a different type of apple, thus all Granny Smiths grown today are cuttings from the original Granny Smith apple tree.
  • The New South Wales Government started growing Granny Smith apples in 1895, and began promoting them as a good export apple due to their ability to be stored for long periods.

Granny Smith Apple Normal, One, Shiny, Plain, stalk, good, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Three

  • Granny Smith apples have a juicy tart and sweet taste, and are often eaten raw or in desserts, cider or salads.
  • Granny Smith apples are particularly high in antioxidants, compared with some other apples, while containing many other beneficial vitamins and minerals.
  • Granny Smiths are said to be the best apples to use in cooking, as they do not change their natural shape once cooked due to the high acid content.
  • Once cut, Granny Smiths are slow to turn brown, so the apples are often used in salads.
  • Granny Smiths were a major Australian export after World War 1, eventually becoming one of the most popular apples grown in Australia, and are now grown in countries around the world including New Zealand, Europe, South America and the United States.
Bibliography:
Granny Smith, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granny_Smith

 

Granny Smith Apples, 2013, Specialty Produce, < http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Granny_Smith_Apples_2021.php>

 

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Cypress Vine

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Cypress Vine

A dainty vine.

  • Cypress vines are also known as ‘morning glories’, ‘star glories’, ‘cupid flower’s’  ‘cardinal creepers’, ‘cardinal vines’, and ‘hummingbird vines’.
  • Cypress vines are from the family Convolvulaceae, the family of morning glories, and the scientific name of Cypress vine is ‘Ipomoea quamoclit’.
  • Cypress vines are native to Central America, the northern tropics of South America and Mexico.
  • Cypress vines are perennial vines, though they are usually grown as annuals as they do not generally survive cold winters since the vine does not tolerate the cold very well.
  • Cypress vines grow from 1 to 9 meters (3 to 30 feet) high, and usually need a vertical support to grown on.

Cypress Vine, Morning Glory, red Trumpet Shaped Flower, Spikey Leaves, buds, droop, pretty, fern, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Cypress vines have a trumpet like flower, which can be red, pink or white in colour, which grows to 3 to 4 cm (1 to 1.5 inches) long.
  • Cypress vines can be an invasive pest and are an environmental weed in some parts of Australia and other warm temperature areas in the world.
  • Cypress vines have green ferny leaves that grow to become 2 to 9 cm (0.8 to 3.5 inches) in length, and all parts of the plant are poisonous.
  • Cypress vines attract butterflies, bees and birds, most notably hummingbirds.
  • Cypress vine flowers usually bloom from late spring, through summer and autumn, and are easily grown from seed.
Bibliography:
Ipomoea Quamoclit, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_quamoclit>
PlantFiles: Cypress Vine, Star Glory, Hummingbird Vine, Ipomoea Quamoclit, 2013, Dave’s Garden, <http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/93/>

Brazil Nut

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Brazil Nut

A nut case…

  • Brazil nuts are the edible nut of Bertholletia excelsa, a tree also known as a ‘Brazil nut tree’ or ‘Castanheiro do Para’ (Brazil), that are native to the South American Amazon forests.
  • Brazil nuts grow on the largest tree in the Amazon forest, that can grow up to 50 meters (160 feet) in height and has a tree trunk diameter of 1 to 2 meters (3.3 to 6.6 feet) and can live from 500 to 1000 years.
  • Brazil nut fruit grow in a large, round wooden pod, that are between 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 inches) in diameter, almost the size of a coconut, and weigh up to 2.2 kg (5 pounds).
  • Brazil nut pods contains 10 to 25 seeds that have a hard, triangular shaped exterior that protect the edible Brazil nut inside, which are arranged like orange segments, and are usually 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2 inches) in length, with the nut being slightly smaller, 3 to 4 cm (1.2 – 1.6 inches) in length.
  • Falling Brazil nut tree pods can travel at speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph), and as a result can be fatal to humans, or can easily damage things like vehicles, although the act of cutting down the trees is illegal because they are becoming endangered, even though trees are found on household properties.

Brazil Nuts

  • Up to 113 kg (250 pounds) of Brazil nuts are produced each year from one Brazil nut tree, and each tree produces between 60 and 215 pods that take approximately 15 months to develop to maturity, which are harvested once they have fallen to the ground.
  • Brazil nuts are generally eaten raw and are a good source of magnesium, phosphorous, manganese, copper, thiamin and Vitamin E, and are a very rich source of selenium, an important antioxidant beneficial to the immune system and health of the heart, which is also said to hep prevent breast and prostrate cancer, with two Brazil nuts per day being sufficient to provide a human’s daily need of selenium.
  • It is believed that agoutis, a type of small rodent, are the only animal in the Amazon able to penetrate the 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) thick Brazil nut pod to access the nuts, which they eat, or bury in the ground for later use, although if the seed is forgotten about and the conditions are right, a new Brazil nut tree will sprout from it.
  • Purchased Brazil nuts generally come from undisturbed wild trees rather than cultivated ones, as there are very few Brazil nut plantations and they generally have a low production rate compared to wild trees.
  • It is possible to eat too many Brazil nuts, so eating no more than 2-3 per day is recommended, otherwise you may suffer from selenium poisoning, which can include, nausea, hair loss and fingernail damage and loss.
Bibligraphy:
Brazil Nut Tree (Bertholletia excelsa), 2013, Rainforest Alliance, <http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids/species-profiles/brazil-nut-tree>
Brazil Nut, 2013, Wikipedia, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_nut>
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