Tag Archives: Vegetation

Cape Gooseberry

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Cape Gooseberry

The Cape gooseberry is not a gooseberry, nor is it from the Cape district in South Africa!

  • A Cape gooseberry is a species of tomato-like fruit, that originated in South American countries including Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Columbia.
  • ‘Cape gooseberries’ are also known as ‘Physalis’, ‘giant groundcherries’, ‘golden berries’, ‘Aztec berries’, ‘African ground cherries’, ‘Peruvian groundcherries’, ‘husk cherries’, ‘Inca berries’, ‘Peruvian tomatoes’, ‘Peruvian cherries’, ‘poha berries’, and many other names.
  • The plant that the cape gooseberry grows on has the scientific name Physalis peruviana, from the family Solanaceae, the family of nightshades; and it is similar to other edible fruits that grow in a similar form in the Physalis genus, like the tomatillo, husk tomato and other groundcherries.
  • The Cape gooseberry fruit is contained inside a dry, leaf-like receptacle known as a ‘husk’, that is something comparable to a lantern in shape.
  • Cape gooseberries typically have smooth, glossy skin that is orange or yellow when ripe, with juicy flesh the same colour; and they are green when unripe.
Cape Gooseberry, Fruit, Culinary, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Food, Lantern, Goldenberry
Cape Gooseberry
Image courtesy of Pen Waggener/Flickr
  • The Cape gooseberry can be eaten fresh, dried or cooked, often in Mexican cuisine; made into jams, pies or other desserts; and added to salads.
  • Cape gooseberries have a sweet to tangy taste with a fruity flavour, and a sweetness that is greater than tomatoes; though they should not be eaten when unripe, as they tend to be poisonous.
  • The shape of a Cape gooseberry is spherical, and the fruit generally ranges from 1 to 3 centimetres (0.4 to 1.2 inches) in diameter, and the pulp contains many small edible seeds.
  • Cape gooseberries are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A and niacin, and they contain a number of other vitamins and minerals.
  • Cape gooseberries generally fall to the ground before they are ripe, and they can be stored for many months in their husk.
Bibliography:
Cape Gooseberry, 1997, California Rare Fruit Growers, https://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/cape-gooseberry.html
McLeod C, Cape Gooseberry – Physalis, 2014, Garden Drum, http://gardendrum.com/2014/05/29/cape-gooseberry-physalis/
Physalis, 2016, University of Minnesota Extension, http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/vegetables/physalis/
Physalis peruviana, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis_peruviana

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Cloudberry

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Cloudberry

Don’t drift into another world while eating a delicious cloudberry!

  • Cloudberries are a variety of fruit originating in the northern areas of North America, Europe and Russia, and they are found in cold, boggy, mountainous regions.
  • ‘Cloudberries’ are also known as ‘knotberries’, ‘low-bush salmonberries’, ‘evrons’, ‘averins’, and ‘bakeapples’.
  • The cloudberry grows on a plant with the scientific name Rubus chamaemorus, and it is from the family Rosaceae, the family of roses.
  • Cloudberries are made up of small bubbly drupelets, numbering from 5 to 25, and they are not unlike a raspberry in appearance and size, with a diameter of 1 to 2 centimetres (0.4 to 0.8 inches).
  • When ripe, the colour of a cloudberry is typically an orange to yellow colour, sometimes with a tinge of red, while the unripe fruit is red in colour.
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A Cloudberry
Image courtesy of kahvikisu/Flickr
  • The cloudberry is generally considered a wild berry, as it is not commonly farmed because of its unique growing conditions, although in recent years, cultivation of the berry for commercial purposes has increased.
  • The texture of a cloudberry is juicy and perhaps creamy, and it has a tart to sweet taste depending on its ripeness.
  • Cloudberries are sometimes eaten fresh, with cream, ice-cream or other dairy-based desserts, but they are more commonly made into jam, fruit tarts or pies, and liqueur, and they are often purchased frozen as they do not store well.
  • Finnish, Norwegian, Scottish, Alaskan and Canadian communities commonly utilise cloudberries in their cuisine, and they are considered a luxury in some areas.
  • Cloudberries are extremely high in vitamin C, are a good source of antioxidants, and they also contain other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Cloudberries, 2014, Swedish Food, http://www.swedishfood.com/cloudberries
Gorman R, Cloudberry, 2009, Native Plants of Alaska, https://www.uaf.edu/files/ces/publications-db/catalog/anr/HGA-00232E.pdf
Rubus chamaemorus, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_chamaemorus
Rubus chamaemorus L., 2016, Northern Ontario Plant Database, http://www.northernontarioflora.ca/description.cfm?speciesid=1004433

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Jade Vine

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Jade Vine

The jade vine treasures its uniqueness in its beautiful colour.

  • Jade vines are perennial plants that grow as vines, found among the forests of the islands of the Philippines, in Southeast Asia.
  • ‘Jade vines’ are also known as ‘turquoise jade vines’, ’emerald creepers’, ‘blue jade vines’, ’emerald vines’, ‘jade climbers’, ‘flor de jade’ (‘jade flower’ in Spanish), and ‘tayabak’ in the native Filipino language.
  • The scientific name of the jade vine is Strongylodon macrobotrys and it is from the family Fabaceae, the family of legumes.
  • The claw-like blooms of jade vines are deep mint-green to turquoise in colour.
  • Jade vines can grow to lengths of 18 metres (59 feet), while the large flower clusters can reach 3 metres (10 feet) in length.
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A Jade Vine
Image courtesy of nauitokz/Flickr
  • Jade vines are commonly used as a decorative climbing plant due to its striking colours.
  • Jade vines are listed as vunerable, as a result of deforestation and a decline of its natural pollinators that feed on the flower nectar.
  • The seedpods of jade vines can be as long as 15 cm (6 inches) and are produced once the flowers are pollinated, typically by bats, and the pods can contain as many as twelve seeds.
  • Jade vines have historically been difficult to pollinate outside of their natural habitat, however in 1995, a successful technique was first used, that effectively mimicked bat pollination.
  • Jade vines grow best in sun or some shade, with its flowers blooming during the late winter months to early spring.
Bibliography:
Dyer M, Growing Jade Vines; Care of Jade Vines Indoors and Out, 2015, Gardening Knowhow, http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/jade-vine/care-of-jade-vines.htm
Jade Climber, Jade Vine, Emerald Creeper, Flor-de-Jade, Blue Jade Vine, Turquois Jade Vine, 2016, Dave’s Garden, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57259/#b
Strongylodon macrobotrys, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strongylodon_macrobotrys
Strongylodon Macrobotrys (Jade Vine), n.d, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/strongylodon-macrobotrys-jade-vine

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Loquat

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Loquat

Loquats are another of those great sweet and tangy combinations.

  • Loquats are a variety of fruit that likely originated in China, and they were probably brought into Japan where they became very abundant and have long been cultivated.
  • ‘Loquats’ are also known as ‘Japanese plums’, ‘Chinese plums’ and Japanese Medlar.
  • The tree that loquats grow on has the scientific name Eriobotrya japonica, and it is from the family Rosaceae, the family of roses.
  • Loquats are roughly spherical, ovoid or pear-like in shape, and they typically range between 2.5 to 5 centimetres (1 to 2 inches) in length.
  • The edible skin of loquats is generally an orange or yellow colour, occasionally with a red tinge, while the flesh is usually coloured orange, yellow or white.
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Loquat
Image courtesy of Larry Hoffman/Flickr
  • There are more than 800 varieties of loquats, and some are grown in subtropical locations; while the world’s leading producer of the fruit in 2007 was China, producing 83% of the world’s production of 549,220 tonnes (605,411 tons).
  • Loquats usually have a sweet tangy taste, and are said to taste like a combination of fruits, often tropical in flavour.
  • Loquats are commonly eaten fresh, or in a fruit salad or cooked in pies, and they can be made into jams, syrups, jelly, condiments and sweets.
  • Generally loquats have three to five large brown seeds in the centre of the fruit, and while they are not edible, a liqueur can be made from them.
  • Loquats are high in vitamin A and are a good source of fibre, manganese and potassium, and they contain many other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Loquat, 2013, Purdue University, https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/loquat.html
Loquat, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loquat
Rawlinson L, Loquats: Here’s What You Do With Them, 2015, Full and Content, http://www.fullandcontent.com/loquats-here-s-what-you-do-with-them.html

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Wolfsbane

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Wolfsbane

Don’t let wolfsbane be the bane of your life!

  • Wolfsbane is a genus of highly toxic perennial plants, found in the mountainous regions across Asia, Europe and North America.
  • The scientific name of the wolfsbane is Aconitum and it is from the family Ranunculaceae, the family of buttercups.
  • ‘Wolfsbane’ is also known as ‘monkshood’, ‘aconite’, ‘blue rocket’, ‘devil’s helmet’ and ‘women’s bane’, among others; and it is said to have been used as a method of killing troublesome wolves, hence one of the plant’s common names.
  • Wolfsbane typically grows to be a height of 0.6 to 1.2 metres (2 to 4 feet), and it is often used ornamentally in the garden, especially towards the back of a garden bed.
  • The blooms of wolfsbane are grouped along tall stems, and they are generally a blue or purple colour, though they can also be pink, yellow or white.
Wolfsbane, Toxic, Poisonous, Vegetation, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Purple, Clusters, Scene, River
Wolfsbane
Image courtesy of Randi Hausken/Flickr
  • Wolfsbane flowers are similar in appearance to a monk’s hood, and what appears to be five petals, are actually sepals.
  • Wolfsbane consists of pseudaconitine, a toxin that is very poisonous, and a person (or animal) can be poisoned by consuming any part of the plant, though touching the plant may also be hazardous, especially if one has open cuts or abrasions.
  • Wolfsbane poisoning can cause vomiting or nausea early on, leading to a burning feeling, weakness and numbness, and it usually affects the heart, often causing death within a short time-frame if left untreated.
  • Sunny locations are preferred by wolfsbane plants, although they can still survive in shade, and they grow from tubers; or new plants can be started from seed.
  • The toxic attribute of wolfsbane plants has not been neglected throughout history, as it has been used for both hunting, particularly for poison arrows, and assassination.
Bibliography:
Aconitum, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aconitum
Buchan U, How to Grow: Monkshood, 2015, The Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/11215801/How-to-grow-Monkshood.html
Rhoades J, Aconitum Monkshood: What is the Best Way to Grow Monkshood in the Garden, Gardening Know How, http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamenta l/flowers/monkshood/growing-monkshood-plants.htm

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Resurrection Plant

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Resurrection Plant

Sometimes, when you’re all curled up like the resurrection plant, there’s only one thing that will help you open back up.

  • Resurrection plants are a species of plant found in the habitat of the Chihuahuan Desert, located across the Mexican and United States border.
  • The scientific name of the resurrection plant is Selaginella lepidophylla and it is from the Selaginella genus which is the only family member of Selaginellaceae, the family of spikemoss.
  • ‘Resurrection plants’ are also known as ‘resurrection moss’, ‘dinosaur plants’, ‘flowers of stone’, and ‘roses of Jericho’, though they should not be confused with the Anastatica hierochuntica plant which is also known as ‘rose of Jericho’.
  • Resurrection plants are known for opening outwards when exposed to moisture, and being closed in a tight ball when dehydrated.
  • The colour of a dry resurrection plant is brown, while it turns green when moist, and the leaves, when unfurled, are fern-like.
Resurrection Plant, Alive, Healthy, Open, Green, Flowers, Rose of Jericho, Ten Random Facts, Trivia
A Resurrection Plant
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • Resurrection plants can survive extensive periods without water, and when moisture is provided, it can appear to “resurrect” even from stages of extreme dryness.
  • The leaves and stems of the resurrection plant form a rosette shape, which assists in its ability to curl into a ball, and the plant grows from rhizomes.
  • Resurrection plants range from 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) in height and have a diameter up to 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 inches) when open.
  • A herbal tea can be made from the resurrection plant, which is used in traditional medicine to treat sore throats and colds.
  • Resurrection plants can be very difficult to grow unless they are in their native habitat, as the plant needs specific watering requirements and care, to maintain healthy plants.
Bibliography:
Anyone grow Selaginella Lepidophylla?, 2007, Houzz, http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1832787/anyone-grow-selaginella-lepidophylla
Rafsanjani A, Brule V, Western T & Pasini D, Hydro-Responsive Curling of the Resurrection Plant Selaginella lepidophylla, 2014, Scientific Reports, http://www.nature.com/articles/srep08064
Resurrection Plant, Rose of Jericho, Flower of Stone, 2016, Dave’s Garden, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53493/#b
Selaginella lepidophylla, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella_lepidophylla

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