There are about 380,000 known
species of plants, of which the majority, some 260,000,
produce seeds. They range in size from single cells to the tallest
trees. Green plants provide a substantial proportion of the world's molecular oxygen; the sugars they create supply the energy for most of Earth's
ecosystems and other
organisms, including animals, either
consume plants directly or rely on organisms which do so. (Full article...)
These are
featured articles, which represent some of the best content on English Wikipedia.
Image 1
'Blue Spire' cultivar
Salvia yangii, previously known as Perovskia atriplicifolia (/pəˈrɒvskiəætrɪplɪsɪˈfoʊliə/), and commonly called Russian sage, is a flowering
herbaceousperennial plant and
subshrub. Although not previously a member of Salvia, the genus widely known as sage, since 2017 it has been included within them. It has an upright
habit, typically reaching 0.5–1.2 metres (1+1⁄2–4 feet) tall, with square stems and gray-green leaves that yield a distinctive odor when crushed. It is best known for its flowers. Its flowering season extends from mid-summer to late October, with blue to violet blossoms arranged into showy, branched
panicles.
It is native to the
steppes and hills of southwestern and central Asia. Successful over a wide range of climate and soil conditions, it has since become popular and widely planted. Several
cultivars have been developed, differing primarily in leaf shape and overall height; 'Blue Spire' is the most common. This variation has been widely used in gardens and landscaping. S. yangii was the Perennial Plant Association's 1995 Plant of the Year, and the 'Blue Spire' cultivar received the
Award of Garden Merit from the
Royal Horticultural Society. (Full article...)
Banksia sphaerocarpa, commonly known as the fox banksia or round-fruit banksia, is a species of
shrub or tree in the plant genus Banksia (family
Proteaceae). It is generally encountered as a 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) high shrub, and is usually smaller in the north of its range. This species has narrow green leaves, and brownish, orange or yellow round flower
spikes which may be seen from January to July. It is widely distributed across the
southwest of
Western Australia, growing exclusively in sandy soils. It is usually the dominant plant in scrubland or low woodland. It is pollinated by, and is a food source for, birds, mammals, and insects.
First described in 1810 by botanist
Robert Brown, B. sphaerocarpa has a complicated
taxonomic history, and several
taxa once classified as part of a broadly defined B. sphaerocarpa have since been named as species in their own right. At present, most authorities recognise five
varieties; the largest variety,
B. sphaerocarpa var. dolichostyla (ironcap banksia), is sometimes given species rank as B. dolichostyla. B. sphaerocarpa is classified as Not Threatened under the
Wildlife Conservation Act of Western Australia, although two varieties have been placed on the
Declared Rare and Priority Flora List—var. latifolia has been designated a Priority Two – Poorly Known taxon, and var. dolichostyla falls under Declared Rare Flora. None of the varieties are commonly seen in cultivation. (Full article...)
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Cucurbita fruits come in an assortment of colors and sizes.
Cucurbita (
Latin for '
gourd') is a
genus of
herbaceousfruits in the gourd
family,
Cucurbitaceae (also known as cucurbits or cucurbi), native to the
Andes and
Mesoamerica. Five edible species are grown and consumed for their flesh and seeds. They are variously known as squash,
pumpkin, or
gourd, depending on species,
variety, and local parlance. Other kinds of gourd, also called bottle-gourds, are native to Africa and belong to the genus Lagenaria, which is in the same family and subfamily as Cucurbita, but in a different
tribe. These other gourds are used as utensils or vessels, and their young fruits are eaten much like those of the Cucurbita species.
Most Cucurbita species are herbaceous vines that grow several meters in length and have
tendrils, but non-vining "bush" cultivars of C. pepo and C. maxima have also been developed. The yellow or orange flowers on a Cucurbita plant are of two types: female and male. The female flowers produce the fruit and the male flowers produce
pollen. Many North and Central American species are visited by specialist
beepollinators, but other insects with more general feeding habits, such as
honey bees, also visit. (Full article...)
Banksia brownii, commonly known as feather-leaved banksia or Brown's banksia, is a
species of
shrub that grows in
southwestWestern Australia. A plant with fine feathery
leaves and large red-brown flower spikes, it usually grows as an upright bush around two metres (6.6 ft) high, but can also occur as a small tree or a low spreading shrub. First collected in 1829 and published the following year, it is placed in Banksiasubgenus Banksia,
section Oncostylis,
series Spicigerae. There are two genetically distinct forms.
Banksia brownii occurs naturally only in two population clusters between
Albany and the
Stirling Range in southwest Western Australia. In the Stirling Range it occurs among
heath on rocky mountain slopes; further south it occurs among
jarrahwoodland in shallow nutrient-poor sand. It has been evaluated as
critically endangered by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); all major populations are threatened by
Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback, a disease to which the species is highly susceptible. Other threats include loss of habitat, commercial exploitation and changes to the
fire regime. Highly valued by Australia's horticultural and
cut flower industries, B. brownii is widely cultivated in areas not exposed to dieback. It prefers a sheltered position in soil with good drainage, and must be provided with some moisture over summer. (Full article...)
Banksia aemula, commonly known as the wallum banksia, is a
shrub of the family
Proteaceae. Found from
Bundaberg south to
Sydney on the Australian east coast, it is encountered as a shrub or a tree to 8 m (26 ft) in coastal
heath on deep sandy soil, known as
Wallum. It has wrinkled orange bark and shiny green serrated leaves, with green-yellow flower spikes, known as
inflorescences, appearing in autumn. The flower spikes turn grey as they age and large grey
follicles appear. Banksia aemula resprouts from its woody base, known as a
lignotuber, after
bushfires.
First described by the botanist
Robert Brown in the early 19th century, it derives its specific name "similar" from its resemblance to the closely related Banksia serrata. No
varieties are recognised. It was known for many years in New South Wales as Banksia serratifolia, contrasting with the use of B.aemula elsewhere. However, the former name, originally coined by
Richard Anthony Salisbury, proved invalid, and Banksia aemula has been universally adopted as the correct
scientific name since 1981. A wide array of mammals, birds, and invertebrates visit the inflorescences and are instrumental in pollination;
honeyeaters are particularly prominent visitors. Grown as a garden plant, it is less commonly seen in horticulture than its close relative B.serrata. (Full article...)
Banksia grossa is a species of
shrub in the
familyProteaceae and is
endemic to
Southwest Australia. It is one of fourteen species of
banksia of the series Abietinae, all of which bear predominantly cylindrical or oval
inflorescences. Collected in 1965, it was first formally described in 1981 by
Alex George. Its thick leaves and large seeds distinguish it from other members of the Abietinae, and are the basis of its species name.
Found in sand or sand over
laterite among
heath between
Eneabba and
Badgingarra in Western Australia, the species grows as a many-stemmed shrub to 1 m (3.3 ft) high with narrow leaves and oval brownish flower spikes up to 10 cm (4 in) high, composed of hundreds of individual flowers. Flowering occurs throughout the cooler months of March to September. Flower spikes develop woody
follicles which bear the seeds. After
bushfire, Banksia grossa regenerates from its woody
lignotuber; bushfires also stimulate the release of seeds, which germinate after disturbance. Visitors to (and likely
pollinators of) inflorescences include insects and a nocturnal mammal, the
white-tailed dunnart. (Full article...)
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Banksia aquilonia, commonly known as the northern banksia and jingana, is a
tree in the
familyProteaceae and is
endemic to north
Queensland on Australia's northeastern coastline. With an average height of 8 m (26 ft), it has narrow glossy green leaves up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long and 6 to 10 cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) high pale yellow flower spikes, known as
inflorescences, appearing in autumn. As the spikes age, their flowers fall off and they develop up to 50
follicles, each of which contains two seeds.
Acacia pycnantha, most commonly known as the golden wattle, is a tree of the family
Fabaceae. It grows to a height of 8 metres (26 feet) and has
phyllodes (flattened leaf stalks) instead of true leaves. The profuse fragrant, golden flowers appear in late winter and spring, followed by long seed pods. Explorer
Thomas Mitchell collected the
type specimen, from which
George Bentham wrote the
species description in 1842. The species is native to southeastern
Australia as an
understorey plant in
eucalyptus forest. Plants are cross-pollinated by several species of
honeyeater and
thornbill, which visit
nectaries on the phyllodes and brush against flowers, transferring pollen between them.
A. pycnantha has become a weed in areas of Australia, as well as in Africa and Eurasia. Its bark produces more
tannin than any other wattle species, resulting in its commercial cultivation for production of this compound. It has been widely grown as an ornamental garden plant and for cut flower production. A. pycnantha was made the official
floral emblem of Australia in 1988, and has been featured on the country's postal stamps. (Full article...)
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Flowers emerging from base of cone
Isopogon anethifolius, commonly known as narrow-leaf drumsticks or narrow-leafed drumsticks, is a
shrub in the family
Proteaceae. The species is
found only in coastal areas near
Sydney in New South Wales, and to the immediate west. It occurs naturally in
woodland, open forest and
heathland on
sandstone soils. An upright shrub, it can reach to 3 m (9.8 ft) in height, with
terete leaves that are divided and narrow. The yellow flowers appear in the Spring, from September to December, and are prominently displayed. They are followed by round grey cones, which give the plant its common name of drumsticks. The small hairy seeds are found in the old flower parts.
Isopogon anethifolius regenerates after
bushfire by resprouting from its woody base, known as a
lignotuber, as well as from seed. It was
described by
Richard Salisbury in 1796, and was first grown in the United Kingdom the same year. One of the easiest members of the genus Isopogon to grow in cultivation, I. anethifolius grows readily in the garden if located in a sunny or part-shaded spot with sandy soil and good drainage. (Full article...)
Alloxylon flammeum, commonly known as the Queensland tree waratah or red silky oak, is a medium-sized tree of the family
Proteaceae found in the
Queensland tropical rain forests of northeastern Australia. It has shiny green elliptical leaves up to 18 cm (7.1 in) long, and prominent orange-red
inflorescences that appear from August to October, followed by rectangular woody seed pods that ripen in February and March. Juvenile plants have large (up to 25 cm (9.8 in) long) deeply lobed pinnate leaves. Previously known as Oreocallis wickhamii, the initial specimen turned out to be a different species to the one cultivated and hence a new scientific name was required. Described formally by
Peter Weston and
Mike Crisp in 1991, A. flammeum was designated the
type species of the genus Alloxylon. This genus contains the four species previously classified in Oreocallis that are found in Australasia.
Alloxylon flammeum is a
canopy or
emergent tree of the
Mabi rainforest community of north Queensland. Its terminal tubular flowers indicate that the species is pollinated by birds. Readily adaptable to cultivation, Alloxylon flammeum prefers a site with good drainage and responds well to extra moisture and fertilisers low in
phosphorus. It is listed nationally as vulnerable under the Australian
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as most of its habitat has been
cleared for agriculture and logging. (Full article...)
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Brachychiton rupestris (
commonly known as the narrow-leaved bottle tree or Queensland bottle tree) is a
tree in the
familyMalvaceae,
endemic to
Queensland,
Australia.
Described by Sir
Thomas Mitchell and
John Lindley in 1848, it earned its name from its bulbous
trunk, which can be up to 3.5 metres (11 ft) in
diameter at breast height (DBH). Reaching around 10–25 metres (33–82 ft) high, the Queensland bottle tree is
deciduous, losing its leaves seasonally, between September and December. The
leaves are simple or divided, with one or more narrow
leaf blades up to 11 centimetres (4 in) long and 2 centimetres (0.8 in) wide. Cream-coloured
flowers appear from September to November, and are followed by woody, boat-shaped
follicles that
ripen from November to May. No subspecies are recognised.
As a
drought deciduoussucculent tree, much like the
baobab (Adansonia) of
Madagascar, B. rupestris adapts readily to cultivation, and is quite tolerant of a range of soils and temperatures. It is a key component and
emergent tree in the endangered central semi-evergreen vine thickets (also known as bottletree scrub) of the Queensland
Brigalow Belt. Remnant trees are often left by farmers on cleared land for their value as shade and fodder trees, and as homes for various birds and animals. (Full article...)
Two subspecies—P.t.terminalis and P.t.recurva—are recognised; both are found on well-drained
acidic soils in
sclerophyll forests, and P.t.terminalis is also found on granite
outcrops. Although similar in appearance, they differ in leaf length and curvature. Both have a restricted range, with P.t.terminalis found in an area of under 100 square kilometres (39 square miles; 25,000 acres). (Full article...)
Image 14
Banksia aculeata, commonly known as prickly banksia, is a
species of plant of the family
Proteaceae native to the
Stirling Range in the
southwest of
Western Australia. A shrub up to 2 m (7 ft) tall, it has dense foliage and leaves with very prickly
serrated margins. Its unusual pinkish,
pendent (hanging) flower spikes, known as
inflorescences, are generally hidden in the foliage and appear during the early summer. Although it was collected by the naturalist
James Drummond in the 1840s, Banksia aculeata was not
formally described until 1981, by
Alex George in his monograph of the genus.
A rare plant, Banksia aculeata is found in gravelly soils in elevated areas. Native to a habitat burnt by periodic
bushfires, it is killed by fire and regenerates from seed afterwards. In contrast to other Western Australian banksias, it appears to have some resistance to the soil-borne
water mouldPhytophthora cinnamomi. (Full article...)
Banksia paludosa, commonly known as the marsh or swamp banksia, is a species of shrub in the
plantgenusBanksia. It is native to
New South Wales, Australia, where it is found between
Sydney and
Batemans Bay, with an isolated population further south around
Eden. There are two recognised subspecies, the
nominate of which is a spreading shrub to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in height, and subsp. astrolux is a taller shrub to 5 m (16 ft) high found only in
Nattai National Park.
Native
mammals, such as the
brown antechinus and
sugar glider, are important pollinators of B. paludosa. Several species of
honeyeaters visit the flower spikes, as do ants and the
European honey bee. The response to
bushfire depends on the subspecies; subspecies paludosa regenerates from underground
lignotubers, while plants of subspecies astrolux are killed by fire and regenerate from large stores of seed which have been held in cones in the
plant canopy. B. paludosa is sometimes seen in cultivation, with
dwarf forms being registered and sold. (Full article...)
White tea,
yellow tea,
green tea,
oolong,
dark tea (which includes
pu-erh tea) and
black tea are all harvested from one of two major varieties grown today, C. sinensis var. sinensis and C. s. var. assamica, but are
processed differently to attain varying levels of
oxidation with black tea being the most oxidized and green being the least.
Kukicha (
twig tea) is also harvested from C. sinensis, but uses twigs and stems rather than leaves. (Full article...)
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A parasitic plant is a
plant that derives some or all of its nutritional requirements from another living plant. They make up about 1% of
angiosperms and are found in almost every
biome. All
parasitic plants develop a specialized organ called the
haustorium, which penetrates the host plant, connecting them to the host vasculature – either the
xylem,
phloem, or both. For example, plants like Striga or Rhinanthus connect only to the xylem, via xylem bridges (xylem-feeding). Alternately,
plants like Cuscuta and some members of Orobanche connect to both the xylem and phloem of the host. This provides them with the ability to extract resources from the host. These resources can include water, nitrogen, carbon and/or sugars. Parasitic plants are classified depending on the location where the parasitic plant latches onto the host (root or stem), the amount of nutrients it requires, and their photosynthetic capability. Some parasitic plants can locate their
host plants by detecting volatile
chemicals in the air or soil given off by host
shoots or
roots, respectively. About 4,500
species of parasitic plants in approximately 20 families of
flowering plants are known.
There is a wide range of effects that may occur to a host plant due to the presence of a parasitic plant. Often there is a pattern of stunted growth in hosts especially in hemi-parasitic cases, but may also result in higher mortality rates in host plant species following introduction of larger parasitic plant populations. (Full article...)
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Carnivorous plants are
plants that derive some or most of their
nutrients from trapping and consuming
animals or
protozoans, typically
insects and other
arthropods, and occasionally small
mammals and
birds. They still generate all of their
energy from
photosynthesis. They have adapted to grow in waterlogged sunny places where the
soil is thin or poor in
nutrients, especially
nitrogen, such as acidic
bogs. They can be found on all continents except Antarctica, as well as many Pacific islands. In 1875,
Charles Darwin published Insectivorous Plants, the first
treatise to recognize the significance of carnivory in plants, describing years of painstaking research.
True carnivory is believed to have
evolved independently at least 12 times in five different
orders of flowering plants, and is represented by more than a dozen
genera. This classification includes at least 583 species that attract, trap, and kill
prey, absorbing the resulting available nutrients.
Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula),
pitcher plant (Cephalotus follicularis), and
bladderwort (Utricularia gibba) can be seen as exemplars of key traits genetically associated with carnivory: trap leaf development, prey digestion, and nutrient absorption. (Full article...)
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Herbal medicine (also called herbalism, phytomedicine or phytotherapy) is the study of
pharmacognosy and the use of
medicinal plants, which are a basis of
traditional medicine. With worldwide research into
pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedies, such as the anti-malarial group of drugs called
artemisinin isolated from Artemisia annua, a herb that was known in
Chinese medicine to treat fever. There is limited
scientific evidence for the safety and efficacy of many plants used in 21st-century herbalism, which generally does not provide standards for purity or dosage. The scope of herbal medicine sometimes include
fungal and
bee products, as well as
minerals,
shells and certain animal parts.
Paraherbalism describes
alternative and
pseudoscientific practices of using unrefined plant or animal
extracts as unproven medicines or health-promoting agents. Paraherbalism relies on the belief that preserving various substances from a given source with less processing is safer or more effective than manufactured products, a concept for which there is no evidence. (Full article...)
Image 8
Pollination is the transfer of
pollen from an
anther of a plant to the
stigma of a plant, later enabling
fertilisation and the production of
seeds. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, for example beetles or butterflies; birds, and bats; water; wind; and even plants themselves. Pollinating animals travel from plant to plant carrying pollen on their bodies in a vital interaction that allows the transfer of genetic material critical to the reproductive system of most flowering plants. When
self-pollination occurs within a closed flower. Pollination often occurs within a species. When pollination occurs between species, it can produce
hybrid offspring in nature and in
plant breeding work.
In
angiosperms, after the pollen grain (
gametophyte) has landed on the
stigma, it germinates and develops a
pollen tube which grows down the
style until it reaches an
ovary. Its two
gametes travel down the tube to where the gametophyte(s) containing the female gametes are held within the
carpel. After entering an ovule through the
micropyle, one male nucleus fuses with the
polar bodies to produce the
endospermtissues, while the other fuses with the
egg cell to produce the
embryo. Hence the term: "
double fertilisation". This process would result in the production of a seed, made of both nutritious tissues and embryo. (Full article...)
Date palms reach up to 30 metres (100 feet) in height, growing singly or forming a
clump with several stems from a single root system. Slow-growing, they can reach over 100years of age when maintained properly. Date fruits (dates) are oval-cylindrical, 3 to 7 centimetres (1 to 3 inches) long, and about 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, with colour ranging from dark brown to bright red or yellow, depending on variety. Containing 61–68percent sugar by mass when dried, dates are very sweet and are enjoyed as desserts on their own or within
confections. (Full article...)
Iris is a
flowering plantgenus of 310 accepted
species with showy
flowers. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is flags, while the plants of the
subgenusScorpiris are widely known as
junos, particularly in
horticulture. It is a popular garden flower.
The scuppernong is a large variety of
muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia), a species of
grape native to the Southern United States. It is usually a greenish or bronze color and is similar in appearance and texture to a white grape, but rounder and larger and first known as the 'big white grape'. The grape is commonly known as the "scuplin" in some areas of the
Deep South. It is also known as the "scufalum", "scupanon", "scupadine", "scuppernine", "scupnun", or "scufadine" in some parts of the South. The scuppernong is the state fruit of North Carolina. (Full article...)
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Jelena de Belder-Kovačič (23 August 1925 – 31 August 2003) was a Slovenian-Belgian botanist and horticulturist, who worked extensively on the
taxonomy and preservation of plant specimens, gaining an international reputation for her development of the
Kalmthout and Hemelrijk
Arboreta. Several varieties of plants she cultivated were recognized with awards from the
Royal Horticultural Society in London and she was elevated to Baroness by
Albert II of Belgium for her contributions to
dendrology. (Full article...)
A banana is an elongated, edible
fruit – botanically a
berry – produced by several kinds of large
herbaceousflowering plants in the
genusMusa. In some countries,
cooking bananas are called plantains, distinguishing them from dessert bananas. The fruit is variable in size, color, and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in
starch covered with a
rind, which may have a variety of colors when ripe. The fruits grow upward in clusters near the top of the plant. Almost all modern edible seedless (
parthenocarp) bananas come from two wild species – Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. Most cultivated bananas are M. acuminata, M. balbisiana, or hybrids of the two.
Musa species are native to tropical
Indomalaya and
Australia; they were probably domesticated in
New Guinea. They are grown in 135 countries, primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent to make
banana paper and textiles, while some are grown as
ornamental plants. The world's largest producers of bananas in 2022 were
India and
China, which together accounted for approximately 26% of total production. Bananas are eaten raw or cooked in recipes varying from curries to banana chips, fritters, fruit preserves, or simply baked or steamed. (Full article...)
Aquatic plants are
plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments (
saltwater or
freshwater). They are also referred to as hydrophytes or macrophytes to distinguish them from
algae and other microphytes. A macrophyte is a plant that grows in or near water and is either emergent, submergent, or floating. In lakes and rivers, macrophytes provide cover for
fish,
substrate for
aquaticinvertebrates, produce
oxygen, and act as food for some fish and wildlife.
Macrophytes are primary producers and are the basis of the food web for many organisms. They have a significant effect on soil chemistry and light levels as they slow down the flow of water and capture pollutants and trap sediments. Excess sediment will settle into the benthos aided by the reduction of flow rates caused by the presence of plant stems, leaves and roots. Some plants have the capability of absorbing pollutants into their tissue.
Seaweeds are multicellular
marinealgae and, although their ecological impact is similar to other larger water plants, they are not typically referred to as macrophytes. (Full article...)
Grandidier's baobab (Adansonia grandidieri) is the biggest and most famous of Madagascar's six
baobab species. It has a massive cylindrical trunk, up to 3 m (9.8 ft) across, and can reach up to 25 m (82 ft) in height. The large, dry fruits of the baobab contain kidney-shaped seeds within an edible pulp. It is named after the French botanist and explorer
Alfred Grandidier, who documented many of the animals and plants of Madagascar.
Roystonea regia, commonly known as the royal palm, Cuban royal palm, or Florida royal palm, is a species of
palm native to
Mexico, the
Caribbean,
Florida, and parts of
Central America. A large and attractive palm, it has been planted throughout the tropics and subtropics as an ornamental tree. Although it is sometimes called R. elata, the
conserved nameR. regia is now the correct name for the species. The royal palm reaches heights from 15–24 m (50–80 ft) tall. Populations in
Cuba and Florida were long seen as separate species, but are now considered a single species.
Widely planted as an ornamental, R. regia is also used for thatch, construction timber, and in some forms of
traditional medicine, although there is currently no valid scientific evidence to support the efficacy or use of any palm species for medicinal purposes. The fruit is eaten by birds and bats (which disperse the seeds) and fed to livestock. Its flowers are visited by birds and bats, and it serves as a roosting site and food source for a variety of animals. Roystonea regia is the
national tree of Cuba, and has a religious role both in
Santería and Christianity, where it is used in
Palm Sunday observances. (Full article...)
Despite its prominence in the industry, the grape is a relatively new variety, the product of a chance
crossing between
Cabernet Franc and
Sauvignon blanc during the 17th century in southwestern
France. Its popularity is often attributed to its ease of cultivation—the grapes have thick skins and the vines are hardy and naturally
low yielding,
budding late to avoid frost and resistant to
viticultural hazards such as
rot and insects—and to its consistent presentation of structure and flavours which express the typical character ("
typicity") of the variety. Familiarity has helped sell Cabernet Sauvignon wines to consumers, even from unfamiliar wine regions. Its widespread popularity has also contributed to criticism of the grape as a "colonizer" that takes over wine regions at the expense of indigenous grape varieties. (Full article...)
Charlotte was born into the ruling family of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a
duchy in northern Germany. In 1760, the young and unmarried George III inherited the British throne. As Charlotte was a minor German princess with no interest in politics, George considered her a suitable consort, and they married in 1761. The marriage lasted 57 years and produced 15 children, 13 of whom survived to adulthood. They included two future British monarchs,
George IV and
William IV; as well as
Charlotte, Princess Royal, who became
Queen of Württemberg; and
Prince Ernest Augustus, who became
King of Hanover. (Full article...)
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Commelina communis flowers
Commelina communis, commonly known as the Asiatic dayflower, is an
herbaceousannual plant in the
dayflower family. It gets its name because the blooms last for only one day. It is native throughout much of
East Asia and northern parts of
Southeast Asia. In China, the plant is known as yazhicao (
simplified Chinese: 鸭跖草;
traditional Chinese: 鴨跖草;
pinyin: yāzhīcǎo), roughly translating to "duckfoot herb", while in Japan it is known as tsuyukusa (露草, tsuyukusa), meaning "dew herb". It has also been introduced to parts of central and southeastern Europe and much of eastern North America, where it has spread to become a
noxious weed. It is common in disturbed sites and in moist soil. The flowers emerge from summer through fall and are distinctive with two relatively large blue petals and one very small white petal.
The Asiatic dayflower plant serves as the
type species for its large genus.
Linnaeus picked the name Commelina in honour of the two Dutch botanists of the Commelijn family, using the two large showy petals of Commelina communis to symbolise them. Linnaeus described the species in the first edition of his landmark work, Species Plantarum, in 1753. Long before the plant was studied in Europe, however, it had been used for generations in
traditional Chinese medicine. The flowers have also been used in Japan to produce a dye and a pigment that was used in many world-renowned
Ukiyo-ewoodcuts from the 18th and early 19th centuries. In the modern era the plant has found limited use as a
model organism in the field of
plant physiology due to its complex pigment chemistry and the ease of viewing its
stomata. (Full article...)
An oak is a
hardwood tree or shrub in the
genusQuercus of the
beech family. They have spirally arranged leaves, often with lobed edges, and a nut called an
acorn, borne within a cup. The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere; it includes some 500 species, both
deciduous and
evergreen. Fossil oaks date back to the Middle
Eocene.
Molecular phylogeny shows that the genus is divided into
Old World and New World
clades, but many oak species
hybridise freely, making the genus's history difficult to resolve.
Ecologically, oaks are
keystone species in habitats from Mediterranean semi-desert to subtropical
rainforest. They live in association with many kinds of
fungi including
truffles. Oaks support more than 950 species of
caterpillar, many kinds of
gall wasp which form distinctive
galls, roundish woody lumps such as the
oak apple, and a large number of pests and diseases. Oak leaves and acorns contain enough
tannin to be toxic to cattle, but pigs are able to digest them safely. Oak timber is strong and hard, and has found many uses in construction and furniture-making. The bark was traditionally used for
tanning leather.
Wine barrels are made of oak; these are used for aging alcoholic beverages such as
sherry and
whisky, giving them a range of flavours, colours, and aromas. The spongy bark of the
cork oak is used to make traditional wine bottle corks. Almost a third of oak species are threatened with extinction due to climate change,
invasive pests, and
habitat loss. (Full article...)
Image 6
Hypericum × inodorum 'Golden Beacon' in Belgium
Hypericum × inodorum, called tall tutsan or the tall St John's wort, is a bushy
perennialshrub with yellow flowers native to Western Europe. It has been known since 1789, but confusion around its name, identity, and origin persisted throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Rice is a
cereal grain, and in its domesticated form is the
staple food for over half of the world's
human population, particularly in
Asia and
Africa, due to the vast amount of soil that is able to grow rice. Rice is the
seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or, much less commonly, O. glaberrima (African rice). Asian rice was domesticated in China some 13,500 to 8,200 years ago, while African rice was domesticated in Africa some 3,000 years ago. Rice has become commonplace in many cultures worldwide; in 2021, 787 million tons were produced, placing it fourth after
sugarcane,
maize, and
wheat. Only some 8% of rice is traded internationally. China, India, and Indonesia are the largest consumers of rice. A substantial amount of the rice produced in developing nations is lost after harvest through factors such as poor transport and storage. Rice yields can be reduced by pests including insects, rodents, and birds, as well as by weeds, and by
diseases such as
rice blast. Traditional
rice polycultures such as
rice-duck farming, and modern
integrated pest management seek to control damage from pests in a
sustainable way.
Many varieties of rice have been bred to improve crop quality and productivity. Biotechnology has created
Green Revolution rice able to produce high yields when supplied with nitrogen fertilizer and managed intensively. Other products are rice able to express human proteins for medicinal use; flood-tolerant or
deepwater rice; and drought-tolerant and
salt-tolerant varieties. Rice is used as a
model organism in biology. (Full article...)
The leaflets of the plant are
obovate-oblong and equal-sided, and of a silky texture. The fruits (
legumes) are typically 1 to 2 in (25 to 51 mm) long and contain six or seven brownish seeds. The species typically grows in areas where the soils are relatively deep, especially in semi-arid and
wadi areas, and on terraces and slight inclines and hills. (Full article...)
Zombia antillarum, commonly known as the zombie palm, is a species of
palm tree and the
only member of the genus Zombia. It is
endemic to the island of
Hispaniola (both the
Dominican Republic and
Haiti) in the
Greater Antilles. Usually found in dry, hilly areas of northern and southern Haiti and the northwest of the Dominican Republic, Z. antillarum is a relatively short fan palm with clustered stems and a very distinctive appearance caused by its persistent spiny
leaf sheaths. Threatened by
habitat destruction in Haiti, Z. antillarum is a popular ornamental species due to its distinctive appearance, low maintenance requirements and salt tolerance. (Full article...)
The
taxonomy of the plant family
Liliaceae has had a complex history since its first description in the mid-eighteenth century. Originally, the Liliaceae were defined as having a "
calix" (perianth) of six equal-coloured parts, six
stamens, a single
style, and a superior, three-chambered (trilocular)
ovary turning into a
capsule fruit at maturity. The taxonomic
circumscription of the family Liliaceae progressively expanded until it became the largest plant family and also extremely diverse, being somewhat arbitrarily defined as all species of plants with six
tepals and a superior ovary. It eventually came to encompass about 300
genera and 4,500
species, and was thus a "
catch-all" and hence
paraphyletic. Only since the more modern taxonomic systems developed by the
Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) and based on
phylogenetic principles, has it been possible to identify the many separate taxonomic groupings within the original family and redistribute them, leaving a relatively small core as the modern family Liliaceae, with fifteen genera and 600 species.
Elke Mackenzie (11 September 1911 – 18 January 1990), born Ivan Mackenzie Lamb, was a British polar explorer and botanist who specialized in the field of
lichenology. Beginning her education in
Edinburgh, Scotland, Mackenzie later pursued
botany at
Edinburgh University, earning a
Bachelor of Science degree in 1933 and a
Doctor of Science in 1942. In the two years she was involved in
Operation Tabarin, a covert World War II mission to Antarctica, she identified and documented many
lichen species, several of them previously unknown to science.
In 2022, barley was fourth among grains in quantity produced, 155 million tonnes, behind
maize,
wheat, and
rice. Globally 70% of barley production is used as
animal feed, while 30% is used as a source of fermentable material for
beer, or further
distilled into
whisky, and as a component of various
foods. It is used in soups and stews, and in
barley bread of various cultures. Barley grains are commonly made into
malt in a traditional and ancient method of preparation. In English folklore,
John Barleycorn personifies the grain, and the alcoholic beverages made from it. English
pub names such as The Barley Mow allude to barley's role in the production of beer. (Full article...)
Image 14
In mathematics, the three-gap theorem, three-distance theorem, or Steinhaus conjecture states that if one places n points on a circle, at angles of θ, 2θ, 3θ, ... from the starting point, then there will be at most three distinct distances between pairs of points in adjacent positions around the circle. When there are three distances, the largest of the three always equals the sum of the other two. Unless θ is a rational multiple of π, there will also be at least two distinct distances.
This result was conjectured by
Hugo Steinhaus, and proved in the 1950s by
Vera T. Sós,
János Surányi [
hu], and
Stanisław Świerczkowski; more proofs were added by others later. Applications of the three-gap theorem include the study of plant growth and musical tuning systems, and the theory of light reflection within a mirrored square. (Full article...)
Image 15
Postelsia palmaeformis growing in its native habitat at low tide
Postelsia palmaeformis, also known as the sea palm (not to be confused with the
southern sea palm) or palm seaweed, is a species of
kelp and classified within
brown algae. It is the only known species in the genus Postelsia. The sea palm is found along the western coast of
North America, on rocky shores with constant waves. It is one of the few
algae that can survive and remain erect out of the water; in fact, it spends most of its life cycle exposed to the air. It is an annual, and edible, though harvesting of the alga is discouraged due to the species' sensitivity to overharvesting. (Full article...)
The following are images from various plant-related articles on Wikipedia.
Image 1The Devonian marks the beginning of extensive land colonization by plants, which – through their effects on erosion and sedimentation – brought about significant climatic change. (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 5Structure of a plant cell (from Plant cell)
Image 6A
late Siluriansporangium, artificially colored. Green: A spore tetrad. Blue: A spore bearing a trilete mark – the Y-shaped scar. The spores are about 30–35 μm across. (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 10A
banded tube from the Late Silurian/Early Devonian. The bands are difficult to see on this specimen, as an opaque carbonaceous coating conceals much of the tube. Bands are just visible in places on the left half of the image. Scale bar: 20 μm (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 12Structure of
Azadirachtin, a terpenoid produced by the
Neem plant, which helps ward off microbes and insects. Many secondary metabolites have complex structures (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 13The trunk of early tree fern Psaronius, showing internal structure. The top of the plant would have been to the left of the image (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 20Five of the key areas of study within plant physiology (from Botany)
Image 21Thale cress, Arabidopsis thaliana, the first plant to have its genome sequenced, remains the most important model organism. (from Botany)
Image 22Echeveria glauca in a Connecticut greenhouse. Botany uses Latin names for identification; here, the specific name glauca means blue. (from Botany)
Image 23The fruit of Myristica fragrans, a species native to
Indonesia, is the source of two valuable spices, the red aril (
mace) enclosing the dark brown
nutmeg. (from Botany)
Image 241 An oat
coleoptile with the sun overhead.
Auxin (pink) is evenly distributed in its tip. 2 With the sun at an angle and only shining on one side of the shoot, auxin moves to the opposite side and stimulates
cell elongation there. 3 and 4 Extra growth on that side causes the shoot to
bend towards the sun. (from Botany)
Image 29The evolution of syncarps. a: sporangia borne at tips of leaf b: Leaf curls up to protect sporangia c: leaf curls to form enclosed roll d: grouping of three rolls into a syncarp (from Evolutionary history of plants)
There are about 380,000 known
species of plants, of which the majority, some 260,000,
produce seeds. They range in size from single cells to the tallest
trees. Green plants provide a substantial proportion of the world's molecular oxygen; the sugars they create supply the energy for most of Earth's
ecosystems and other
organisms, including animals, either
consume plants directly or rely on organisms which do so. (Full article...)
These are
featured articles, which represent some of the best content on English Wikipedia.
Image 1
'Blue Spire' cultivar
Salvia yangii, previously known as Perovskia atriplicifolia (/pəˈrɒvskiəætrɪplɪsɪˈfoʊliə/), and commonly called Russian sage, is a flowering
herbaceousperennial plant and
subshrub. Although not previously a member of Salvia, the genus widely known as sage, since 2017 it has been included within them. It has an upright
habit, typically reaching 0.5–1.2 metres (1+1⁄2–4 feet) tall, with square stems and gray-green leaves that yield a distinctive odor when crushed. It is best known for its flowers. Its flowering season extends from mid-summer to late October, with blue to violet blossoms arranged into showy, branched
panicles.
It is native to the
steppes and hills of southwestern and central Asia. Successful over a wide range of climate and soil conditions, it has since become popular and widely planted. Several
cultivars have been developed, differing primarily in leaf shape and overall height; 'Blue Spire' is the most common. This variation has been widely used in gardens and landscaping. S. yangii was the Perennial Plant Association's 1995 Plant of the Year, and the 'Blue Spire' cultivar received the
Award of Garden Merit from the
Royal Horticultural Society. (Full article...)
Banksia sphaerocarpa, commonly known as the fox banksia or round-fruit banksia, is a species of
shrub or tree in the plant genus Banksia (family
Proteaceae). It is generally encountered as a 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) high shrub, and is usually smaller in the north of its range. This species has narrow green leaves, and brownish, orange or yellow round flower
spikes which may be seen from January to July. It is widely distributed across the
southwest of
Western Australia, growing exclusively in sandy soils. It is usually the dominant plant in scrubland or low woodland. It is pollinated by, and is a food source for, birds, mammals, and insects.
First described in 1810 by botanist
Robert Brown, B. sphaerocarpa has a complicated
taxonomic history, and several
taxa once classified as part of a broadly defined B. sphaerocarpa have since been named as species in their own right. At present, most authorities recognise five
varieties; the largest variety,
B. sphaerocarpa var. dolichostyla (ironcap banksia), is sometimes given species rank as B. dolichostyla. B. sphaerocarpa is classified as Not Threatened under the
Wildlife Conservation Act of Western Australia, although two varieties have been placed on the
Declared Rare and Priority Flora List—var. latifolia has been designated a Priority Two – Poorly Known taxon, and var. dolichostyla falls under Declared Rare Flora. None of the varieties are commonly seen in cultivation. (Full article...)
Image 3
Cucurbita fruits come in an assortment of colors and sizes.
Cucurbita (
Latin for '
gourd') is a
genus of
herbaceousfruits in the gourd
family,
Cucurbitaceae (also known as cucurbits or cucurbi), native to the
Andes and
Mesoamerica. Five edible species are grown and consumed for their flesh and seeds. They are variously known as squash,
pumpkin, or
gourd, depending on species,
variety, and local parlance. Other kinds of gourd, also called bottle-gourds, are native to Africa and belong to the genus Lagenaria, which is in the same family and subfamily as Cucurbita, but in a different
tribe. These other gourds are used as utensils or vessels, and their young fruits are eaten much like those of the Cucurbita species.
Most Cucurbita species are herbaceous vines that grow several meters in length and have
tendrils, but non-vining "bush" cultivars of C. pepo and C. maxima have also been developed. The yellow or orange flowers on a Cucurbita plant are of two types: female and male. The female flowers produce the fruit and the male flowers produce
pollen. Many North and Central American species are visited by specialist
beepollinators, but other insects with more general feeding habits, such as
honey bees, also visit. (Full article...)
Banksia brownii, commonly known as feather-leaved banksia or Brown's banksia, is a
species of
shrub that grows in
southwestWestern Australia. A plant with fine feathery
leaves and large red-brown flower spikes, it usually grows as an upright bush around two metres (6.6 ft) high, but can also occur as a small tree or a low spreading shrub. First collected in 1829 and published the following year, it is placed in Banksiasubgenus Banksia,
section Oncostylis,
series Spicigerae. There are two genetically distinct forms.
Banksia brownii occurs naturally only in two population clusters between
Albany and the
Stirling Range in southwest Western Australia. In the Stirling Range it occurs among
heath on rocky mountain slopes; further south it occurs among
jarrahwoodland in shallow nutrient-poor sand. It has been evaluated as
critically endangered by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); all major populations are threatened by
Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback, a disease to which the species is highly susceptible. Other threats include loss of habitat, commercial exploitation and changes to the
fire regime. Highly valued by Australia's horticultural and
cut flower industries, B. brownii is widely cultivated in areas not exposed to dieback. It prefers a sheltered position in soil with good drainage, and must be provided with some moisture over summer. (Full article...)
Banksia aemula, commonly known as the wallum banksia, is a
shrub of the family
Proteaceae. Found from
Bundaberg south to
Sydney on the Australian east coast, it is encountered as a shrub or a tree to 8 m (26 ft) in coastal
heath on deep sandy soil, known as
Wallum. It has wrinkled orange bark and shiny green serrated leaves, with green-yellow flower spikes, known as
inflorescences, appearing in autumn. The flower spikes turn grey as they age and large grey
follicles appear. Banksia aemula resprouts from its woody base, known as a
lignotuber, after
bushfires.
First described by the botanist
Robert Brown in the early 19th century, it derives its specific name "similar" from its resemblance to the closely related Banksia serrata. No
varieties are recognised. It was known for many years in New South Wales as Banksia serratifolia, contrasting with the use of B.aemula elsewhere. However, the former name, originally coined by
Richard Anthony Salisbury, proved invalid, and Banksia aemula has been universally adopted as the correct
scientific name since 1981. A wide array of mammals, birds, and invertebrates visit the inflorescences and are instrumental in pollination;
honeyeaters are particularly prominent visitors. Grown as a garden plant, it is less commonly seen in horticulture than its close relative B.serrata. (Full article...)
Banksia grossa is a species of
shrub in the
familyProteaceae and is
endemic to
Southwest Australia. It is one of fourteen species of
banksia of the series Abietinae, all of which bear predominantly cylindrical or oval
inflorescences. Collected in 1965, it was first formally described in 1981 by
Alex George. Its thick leaves and large seeds distinguish it from other members of the Abietinae, and are the basis of its species name.
Found in sand or sand over
laterite among
heath between
Eneabba and
Badgingarra in Western Australia, the species grows as a many-stemmed shrub to 1 m (3.3 ft) high with narrow leaves and oval brownish flower spikes up to 10 cm (4 in) high, composed of hundreds of individual flowers. Flowering occurs throughout the cooler months of March to September. Flower spikes develop woody
follicles which bear the seeds. After
bushfire, Banksia grossa regenerates from its woody
lignotuber; bushfires also stimulate the release of seeds, which germinate after disturbance. Visitors to (and likely
pollinators of) inflorescences include insects and a nocturnal mammal, the
white-tailed dunnart. (Full article...)
Image 7
Banksia aquilonia, commonly known as the northern banksia and jingana, is a
tree in the
familyProteaceae and is
endemic to north
Queensland on Australia's northeastern coastline. With an average height of 8 m (26 ft), it has narrow glossy green leaves up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long and 6 to 10 cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) high pale yellow flower spikes, known as
inflorescences, appearing in autumn. As the spikes age, their flowers fall off and they develop up to 50
follicles, each of which contains two seeds.
Acacia pycnantha, most commonly known as the golden wattle, is a tree of the family
Fabaceae. It grows to a height of 8 metres (26 feet) and has
phyllodes (flattened leaf stalks) instead of true leaves. The profuse fragrant, golden flowers appear in late winter and spring, followed by long seed pods. Explorer
Thomas Mitchell collected the
type specimen, from which
George Bentham wrote the
species description in 1842. The species is native to southeastern
Australia as an
understorey plant in
eucalyptus forest. Plants are cross-pollinated by several species of
honeyeater and
thornbill, which visit
nectaries on the phyllodes and brush against flowers, transferring pollen between them.
A. pycnantha has become a weed in areas of Australia, as well as in Africa and Eurasia. Its bark produces more
tannin than any other wattle species, resulting in its commercial cultivation for production of this compound. It has been widely grown as an ornamental garden plant and for cut flower production. A. pycnantha was made the official
floral emblem of Australia in 1988, and has been featured on the country's postal stamps. (Full article...)
Image 9
Flowers emerging from base of cone
Isopogon anethifolius, commonly known as narrow-leaf drumsticks or narrow-leafed drumsticks, is a
shrub in the family
Proteaceae. The species is
found only in coastal areas near
Sydney in New South Wales, and to the immediate west. It occurs naturally in
woodland, open forest and
heathland on
sandstone soils. An upright shrub, it can reach to 3 m (9.8 ft) in height, with
terete leaves that are divided and narrow. The yellow flowers appear in the Spring, from September to December, and are prominently displayed. They are followed by round grey cones, which give the plant its common name of drumsticks. The small hairy seeds are found in the old flower parts.
Isopogon anethifolius regenerates after
bushfire by resprouting from its woody base, known as a
lignotuber, as well as from seed. It was
described by
Richard Salisbury in 1796, and was first grown in the United Kingdom the same year. One of the easiest members of the genus Isopogon to grow in cultivation, I. anethifolius grows readily in the garden if located in a sunny or part-shaded spot with sandy soil and good drainage. (Full article...)
Alloxylon flammeum, commonly known as the Queensland tree waratah or red silky oak, is a medium-sized tree of the family
Proteaceae found in the
Queensland tropical rain forests of northeastern Australia. It has shiny green elliptical leaves up to 18 cm (7.1 in) long, and prominent orange-red
inflorescences that appear from August to October, followed by rectangular woody seed pods that ripen in February and March. Juvenile plants have large (up to 25 cm (9.8 in) long) deeply lobed pinnate leaves. Previously known as Oreocallis wickhamii, the initial specimen turned out to be a different species to the one cultivated and hence a new scientific name was required. Described formally by
Peter Weston and
Mike Crisp in 1991, A. flammeum was designated the
type species of the genus Alloxylon. This genus contains the four species previously classified in Oreocallis that are found in Australasia.
Alloxylon flammeum is a
canopy or
emergent tree of the
Mabi rainforest community of north Queensland. Its terminal tubular flowers indicate that the species is pollinated by birds. Readily adaptable to cultivation, Alloxylon flammeum prefers a site with good drainage and responds well to extra moisture and fertilisers low in
phosphorus. It is listed nationally as vulnerable under the Australian
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as most of its habitat has been
cleared for agriculture and logging. (Full article...)
Image 12
Brachychiton rupestris (
commonly known as the narrow-leaved bottle tree or Queensland bottle tree) is a
tree in the
familyMalvaceae,
endemic to
Queensland,
Australia.
Described by Sir
Thomas Mitchell and
John Lindley in 1848, it earned its name from its bulbous
trunk, which can be up to 3.5 metres (11 ft) in
diameter at breast height (DBH). Reaching around 10–25 metres (33–82 ft) high, the Queensland bottle tree is
deciduous, losing its leaves seasonally, between September and December. The
leaves are simple or divided, with one or more narrow
leaf blades up to 11 centimetres (4 in) long and 2 centimetres (0.8 in) wide. Cream-coloured
flowers appear from September to November, and are followed by woody, boat-shaped
follicles that
ripen from November to May. No subspecies are recognised.
As a
drought deciduoussucculent tree, much like the
baobab (Adansonia) of
Madagascar, B. rupestris adapts readily to cultivation, and is quite tolerant of a range of soils and temperatures. It is a key component and
emergent tree in the endangered central semi-evergreen vine thickets (also known as bottletree scrub) of the Queensland
Brigalow Belt. Remnant trees are often left by farmers on cleared land for their value as shade and fodder trees, and as homes for various birds and animals. (Full article...)
Two subspecies—P.t.terminalis and P.t.recurva—are recognised; both are found on well-drained
acidic soils in
sclerophyll forests, and P.t.terminalis is also found on granite
outcrops. Although similar in appearance, they differ in leaf length and curvature. Both have a restricted range, with P.t.terminalis found in an area of under 100 square kilometres (39 square miles; 25,000 acres). (Full article...)
Image 14
Banksia aculeata, commonly known as prickly banksia, is a
species of plant of the family
Proteaceae native to the
Stirling Range in the
southwest of
Western Australia. A shrub up to 2 m (7 ft) tall, it has dense foliage and leaves with very prickly
serrated margins. Its unusual pinkish,
pendent (hanging) flower spikes, known as
inflorescences, are generally hidden in the foliage and appear during the early summer. Although it was collected by the naturalist
James Drummond in the 1840s, Banksia aculeata was not
formally described until 1981, by
Alex George in his monograph of the genus.
A rare plant, Banksia aculeata is found in gravelly soils in elevated areas. Native to a habitat burnt by periodic
bushfires, it is killed by fire and regenerates from seed afterwards. In contrast to other Western Australian banksias, it appears to have some resistance to the soil-borne
water mouldPhytophthora cinnamomi. (Full article...)
Banksia paludosa, commonly known as the marsh or swamp banksia, is a species of shrub in the
plantgenusBanksia. It is native to
New South Wales, Australia, where it is found between
Sydney and
Batemans Bay, with an isolated population further south around
Eden. There are two recognised subspecies, the
nominate of which is a spreading shrub to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in height, and subsp. astrolux is a taller shrub to 5 m (16 ft) high found only in
Nattai National Park.
Native
mammals, such as the
brown antechinus and
sugar glider, are important pollinators of B. paludosa. Several species of
honeyeaters visit the flower spikes, as do ants and the
European honey bee. The response to
bushfire depends on the subspecies; subspecies paludosa regenerates from underground
lignotubers, while plants of subspecies astrolux are killed by fire and regenerate from large stores of seed which have been held in cones in the
plant canopy. B. paludosa is sometimes seen in cultivation, with
dwarf forms being registered and sold. (Full article...)
White tea,
yellow tea,
green tea,
oolong,
dark tea (which includes
pu-erh tea) and
black tea are all harvested from one of two major varieties grown today, C. sinensis var. sinensis and C. s. var. assamica, but are
processed differently to attain varying levels of
oxidation with black tea being the most oxidized and green being the least.
Kukicha (
twig tea) is also harvested from C. sinensis, but uses twigs and stems rather than leaves. (Full article...)
Image 5
A parasitic plant is a
plant that derives some or all of its nutritional requirements from another living plant. They make up about 1% of
angiosperms and are found in almost every
biome. All
parasitic plants develop a specialized organ called the
haustorium, which penetrates the host plant, connecting them to the host vasculature – either the
xylem,
phloem, or both. For example, plants like Striga or Rhinanthus connect only to the xylem, via xylem bridges (xylem-feeding). Alternately,
plants like Cuscuta and some members of Orobanche connect to both the xylem and phloem of the host. This provides them with the ability to extract resources from the host. These resources can include water, nitrogen, carbon and/or sugars. Parasitic plants are classified depending on the location where the parasitic plant latches onto the host (root or stem), the amount of nutrients it requires, and their photosynthetic capability. Some parasitic plants can locate their
host plants by detecting volatile
chemicals in the air or soil given off by host
shoots or
roots, respectively. About 4,500
species of parasitic plants in approximately 20 families of
flowering plants are known.
There is a wide range of effects that may occur to a host plant due to the presence of a parasitic plant. Often there is a pattern of stunted growth in hosts especially in hemi-parasitic cases, but may also result in higher mortality rates in host plant species following introduction of larger parasitic plant populations. (Full article...)
Image 6
Carnivorous plants are
plants that derive some or most of their
nutrients from trapping and consuming
animals or
protozoans, typically
insects and other
arthropods, and occasionally small
mammals and
birds. They still generate all of their
energy from
photosynthesis. They have adapted to grow in waterlogged sunny places where the
soil is thin or poor in
nutrients, especially
nitrogen, such as acidic
bogs. They can be found on all continents except Antarctica, as well as many Pacific islands. In 1875,
Charles Darwin published Insectivorous Plants, the first
treatise to recognize the significance of carnivory in plants, describing years of painstaking research.
True carnivory is believed to have
evolved independently at least 12 times in five different
orders of flowering plants, and is represented by more than a dozen
genera. This classification includes at least 583 species that attract, trap, and kill
prey, absorbing the resulting available nutrients.
Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula),
pitcher plant (Cephalotus follicularis), and
bladderwort (Utricularia gibba) can be seen as exemplars of key traits genetically associated with carnivory: trap leaf development, prey digestion, and nutrient absorption. (Full article...)
Image 7
Herbal medicine (also called herbalism, phytomedicine or phytotherapy) is the study of
pharmacognosy and the use of
medicinal plants, which are a basis of
traditional medicine. With worldwide research into
pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedies, such as the anti-malarial group of drugs called
artemisinin isolated from Artemisia annua, a herb that was known in
Chinese medicine to treat fever. There is limited
scientific evidence for the safety and efficacy of many plants used in 21st-century herbalism, which generally does not provide standards for purity or dosage. The scope of herbal medicine sometimes include
fungal and
bee products, as well as
minerals,
shells and certain animal parts.
Paraherbalism describes
alternative and
pseudoscientific practices of using unrefined plant or animal
extracts as unproven medicines or health-promoting agents. Paraherbalism relies on the belief that preserving various substances from a given source with less processing is safer or more effective than manufactured products, a concept for which there is no evidence. (Full article...)
Image 8
Pollination is the transfer of
pollen from an
anther of a plant to the
stigma of a plant, later enabling
fertilisation and the production of
seeds. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, for example beetles or butterflies; birds, and bats; water; wind; and even plants themselves. Pollinating animals travel from plant to plant carrying pollen on their bodies in a vital interaction that allows the transfer of genetic material critical to the reproductive system of most flowering plants. When
self-pollination occurs within a closed flower. Pollination often occurs within a species. When pollination occurs between species, it can produce
hybrid offspring in nature and in
plant breeding work.
In
angiosperms, after the pollen grain (
gametophyte) has landed on the
stigma, it germinates and develops a
pollen tube which grows down the
style until it reaches an
ovary. Its two
gametes travel down the tube to where the gametophyte(s) containing the female gametes are held within the
carpel. After entering an ovule through the
micropyle, one male nucleus fuses with the
polar bodies to produce the
endospermtissues, while the other fuses with the
egg cell to produce the
embryo. Hence the term: "
double fertilisation". This process would result in the production of a seed, made of both nutritious tissues and embryo. (Full article...)
Date palms reach up to 30 metres (100 feet) in height, growing singly or forming a
clump with several stems from a single root system. Slow-growing, they can reach over 100years of age when maintained properly. Date fruits (dates) are oval-cylindrical, 3 to 7 centimetres (1 to 3 inches) long, and about 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, with colour ranging from dark brown to bright red or yellow, depending on variety. Containing 61–68percent sugar by mass when dried, dates are very sweet and are enjoyed as desserts on their own or within
confections. (Full article...)
Iris is a
flowering plantgenus of 310 accepted
species with showy
flowers. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is flags, while the plants of the
subgenusScorpiris are widely known as
junos, particularly in
horticulture. It is a popular garden flower.
The scuppernong is a large variety of
muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia), a species of
grape native to the Southern United States. It is usually a greenish or bronze color and is similar in appearance and texture to a white grape, but rounder and larger and first known as the 'big white grape'. The grape is commonly known as the "scuplin" in some areas of the
Deep South. It is also known as the "scufalum", "scupanon", "scupadine", "scuppernine", "scupnun", or "scufadine" in some parts of the South. The scuppernong is the state fruit of North Carolina. (Full article...)
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Jelena de Belder-Kovačič (23 August 1925 – 31 August 2003) was a Slovenian-Belgian botanist and horticulturist, who worked extensively on the
taxonomy and preservation of plant specimens, gaining an international reputation for her development of the
Kalmthout and Hemelrijk
Arboreta. Several varieties of plants she cultivated were recognized with awards from the
Royal Horticultural Society in London and she was elevated to Baroness by
Albert II of Belgium for her contributions to
dendrology. (Full article...)
A banana is an elongated, edible
fruit – botanically a
berry – produced by several kinds of large
herbaceousflowering plants in the
genusMusa. In some countries,
cooking bananas are called plantains, distinguishing them from dessert bananas. The fruit is variable in size, color, and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in
starch covered with a
rind, which may have a variety of colors when ripe. The fruits grow upward in clusters near the top of the plant. Almost all modern edible seedless (
parthenocarp) bananas come from two wild species – Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. Most cultivated bananas are M. acuminata, M. balbisiana, or hybrids of the two.
Musa species are native to tropical
Indomalaya and
Australia; they were probably domesticated in
New Guinea. They are grown in 135 countries, primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent to make
banana paper and textiles, while some are grown as
ornamental plants. The world's largest producers of bananas in 2022 were
India and
China, which together accounted for approximately 26% of total production. Bananas are eaten raw or cooked in recipes varying from curries to banana chips, fritters, fruit preserves, or simply baked or steamed. (Full article...)
Aquatic plants are
plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments (
saltwater or
freshwater). They are also referred to as hydrophytes or macrophytes to distinguish them from
algae and other microphytes. A macrophyte is a plant that grows in or near water and is either emergent, submergent, or floating. In lakes and rivers, macrophytes provide cover for
fish,
substrate for
aquaticinvertebrates, produce
oxygen, and act as food for some fish and wildlife.
Macrophytes are primary producers and are the basis of the food web for many organisms. They have a significant effect on soil chemistry and light levels as they slow down the flow of water and capture pollutants and trap sediments. Excess sediment will settle into the benthos aided by the reduction of flow rates caused by the presence of plant stems, leaves and roots. Some plants have the capability of absorbing pollutants into their tissue.
Seaweeds are multicellular
marinealgae and, although their ecological impact is similar to other larger water plants, they are not typically referred to as macrophytes. (Full article...)
Grandidier's baobab (Adansonia grandidieri) is the biggest and most famous of Madagascar's six
baobab species. It has a massive cylindrical trunk, up to 3 m (9.8 ft) across, and can reach up to 25 m (82 ft) in height. The large, dry fruits of the baobab contain kidney-shaped seeds within an edible pulp. It is named after the French botanist and explorer
Alfred Grandidier, who documented many of the animals and plants of Madagascar.
Roystonea regia, commonly known as the royal palm, Cuban royal palm, or Florida royal palm, is a species of
palm native to
Mexico, the
Caribbean,
Florida, and parts of
Central America. A large and attractive palm, it has been planted throughout the tropics and subtropics as an ornamental tree. Although it is sometimes called R. elata, the
conserved nameR. regia is now the correct name for the species. The royal palm reaches heights from 15–24 m (50–80 ft) tall. Populations in
Cuba and Florida were long seen as separate species, but are now considered a single species.
Widely planted as an ornamental, R. regia is also used for thatch, construction timber, and in some forms of
traditional medicine, although there is currently no valid scientific evidence to support the efficacy or use of any palm species for medicinal purposes. The fruit is eaten by birds and bats (which disperse the seeds) and fed to livestock. Its flowers are visited by birds and bats, and it serves as a roosting site and food source for a variety of animals. Roystonea regia is the
national tree of Cuba, and has a religious role both in
Santería and Christianity, where it is used in
Palm Sunday observances. (Full article...)
Despite its prominence in the industry, the grape is a relatively new variety, the product of a chance
crossing between
Cabernet Franc and
Sauvignon blanc during the 17th century in southwestern
France. Its popularity is often attributed to its ease of cultivation—the grapes have thick skins and the vines are hardy and naturally
low yielding,
budding late to avoid frost and resistant to
viticultural hazards such as
rot and insects—and to its consistent presentation of structure and flavours which express the typical character ("
typicity") of the variety. Familiarity has helped sell Cabernet Sauvignon wines to consumers, even from unfamiliar wine regions. Its widespread popularity has also contributed to criticism of the grape as a "colonizer" that takes over wine regions at the expense of indigenous grape varieties. (Full article...)
Charlotte was born into the ruling family of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a
duchy in northern Germany. In 1760, the young and unmarried George III inherited the British throne. As Charlotte was a minor German princess with no interest in politics, George considered her a suitable consort, and they married in 1761. The marriage lasted 57 years and produced 15 children, 13 of whom survived to adulthood. They included two future British monarchs,
George IV and
William IV; as well as
Charlotte, Princess Royal, who became
Queen of Württemberg; and
Prince Ernest Augustus, who became
King of Hanover. (Full article...)
Image 4
Commelina communis flowers
Commelina communis, commonly known as the Asiatic dayflower, is an
herbaceousannual plant in the
dayflower family. It gets its name because the blooms last for only one day. It is native throughout much of
East Asia and northern parts of
Southeast Asia. In China, the plant is known as yazhicao (
simplified Chinese: 鸭跖草;
traditional Chinese: 鴨跖草;
pinyin: yāzhīcǎo), roughly translating to "duckfoot herb", while in Japan it is known as tsuyukusa (露草, tsuyukusa), meaning "dew herb". It has also been introduced to parts of central and southeastern Europe and much of eastern North America, where it has spread to become a
noxious weed. It is common in disturbed sites and in moist soil. The flowers emerge from summer through fall and are distinctive with two relatively large blue petals and one very small white petal.
The Asiatic dayflower plant serves as the
type species for its large genus.
Linnaeus picked the name Commelina in honour of the two Dutch botanists of the Commelijn family, using the two large showy petals of Commelina communis to symbolise them. Linnaeus described the species in the first edition of his landmark work, Species Plantarum, in 1753. Long before the plant was studied in Europe, however, it had been used for generations in
traditional Chinese medicine. The flowers have also been used in Japan to produce a dye and a pigment that was used in many world-renowned
Ukiyo-ewoodcuts from the 18th and early 19th centuries. In the modern era the plant has found limited use as a
model organism in the field of
plant physiology due to its complex pigment chemistry and the ease of viewing its
stomata. (Full article...)
An oak is a
hardwood tree or shrub in the
genusQuercus of the
beech family. They have spirally arranged leaves, often with lobed edges, and a nut called an
acorn, borne within a cup. The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere; it includes some 500 species, both
deciduous and
evergreen. Fossil oaks date back to the Middle
Eocene.
Molecular phylogeny shows that the genus is divided into
Old World and New World
clades, but many oak species
hybridise freely, making the genus's history difficult to resolve.
Ecologically, oaks are
keystone species in habitats from Mediterranean semi-desert to subtropical
rainforest. They live in association with many kinds of
fungi including
truffles. Oaks support more than 950 species of
caterpillar, many kinds of
gall wasp which form distinctive
galls, roundish woody lumps such as the
oak apple, and a large number of pests and diseases. Oak leaves and acorns contain enough
tannin to be toxic to cattle, but pigs are able to digest them safely. Oak timber is strong and hard, and has found many uses in construction and furniture-making. The bark was traditionally used for
tanning leather.
Wine barrels are made of oak; these are used for aging alcoholic beverages such as
sherry and
whisky, giving them a range of flavours, colours, and aromas. The spongy bark of the
cork oak is used to make traditional wine bottle corks. Almost a third of oak species are threatened with extinction due to climate change,
invasive pests, and
habitat loss. (Full article...)
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Hypericum × inodorum 'Golden Beacon' in Belgium
Hypericum × inodorum, called tall tutsan or the tall St John's wort, is a bushy
perennialshrub with yellow flowers native to Western Europe. It has been known since 1789, but confusion around its name, identity, and origin persisted throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Rice is a
cereal grain, and in its domesticated form is the
staple food for over half of the world's
human population, particularly in
Asia and
Africa, due to the vast amount of soil that is able to grow rice. Rice is the
seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or, much less commonly, O. glaberrima (African rice). Asian rice was domesticated in China some 13,500 to 8,200 years ago, while African rice was domesticated in Africa some 3,000 years ago. Rice has become commonplace in many cultures worldwide; in 2021, 787 million tons were produced, placing it fourth after
sugarcane,
maize, and
wheat. Only some 8% of rice is traded internationally. China, India, and Indonesia are the largest consumers of rice. A substantial amount of the rice produced in developing nations is lost after harvest through factors such as poor transport and storage. Rice yields can be reduced by pests including insects, rodents, and birds, as well as by weeds, and by
diseases such as
rice blast. Traditional
rice polycultures such as
rice-duck farming, and modern
integrated pest management seek to control damage from pests in a
sustainable way.
Many varieties of rice have been bred to improve crop quality and productivity. Biotechnology has created
Green Revolution rice able to produce high yields when supplied with nitrogen fertilizer and managed intensively. Other products are rice able to express human proteins for medicinal use; flood-tolerant or
deepwater rice; and drought-tolerant and
salt-tolerant varieties. Rice is used as a
model organism in biology. (Full article...)
The leaflets of the plant are
obovate-oblong and equal-sided, and of a silky texture. The fruits (
legumes) are typically 1 to 2 in (25 to 51 mm) long and contain six or seven brownish seeds. The species typically grows in areas where the soils are relatively deep, especially in semi-arid and
wadi areas, and on terraces and slight inclines and hills. (Full article...)
Zombia antillarum, commonly known as the zombie palm, is a species of
palm tree and the
only member of the genus Zombia. It is
endemic to the island of
Hispaniola (both the
Dominican Republic and
Haiti) in the
Greater Antilles. Usually found in dry, hilly areas of northern and southern Haiti and the northwest of the Dominican Republic, Z. antillarum is a relatively short fan palm with clustered stems and a very distinctive appearance caused by its persistent spiny
leaf sheaths. Threatened by
habitat destruction in Haiti, Z. antillarum is a popular ornamental species due to its distinctive appearance, low maintenance requirements and salt tolerance. (Full article...)
The
taxonomy of the plant family
Liliaceae has had a complex history since its first description in the mid-eighteenth century. Originally, the Liliaceae were defined as having a "
calix" (perianth) of six equal-coloured parts, six
stamens, a single
style, and a superior, three-chambered (trilocular)
ovary turning into a
capsule fruit at maturity. The taxonomic
circumscription of the family Liliaceae progressively expanded until it became the largest plant family and also extremely diverse, being somewhat arbitrarily defined as all species of plants with six
tepals and a superior ovary. It eventually came to encompass about 300
genera and 4,500
species, and was thus a "
catch-all" and hence
paraphyletic. Only since the more modern taxonomic systems developed by the
Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) and based on
phylogenetic principles, has it been possible to identify the many separate taxonomic groupings within the original family and redistribute them, leaving a relatively small core as the modern family Liliaceae, with fifteen genera and 600 species.
Elke Mackenzie (11 September 1911 – 18 January 1990), born Ivan Mackenzie Lamb, was a British polar explorer and botanist who specialized in the field of
lichenology. Beginning her education in
Edinburgh, Scotland, Mackenzie later pursued
botany at
Edinburgh University, earning a
Bachelor of Science degree in 1933 and a
Doctor of Science in 1942. In the two years she was involved in
Operation Tabarin, a covert World War II mission to Antarctica, she identified and documented many
lichen species, several of them previously unknown to science.
In 2022, barley was fourth among grains in quantity produced, 155 million tonnes, behind
maize,
wheat, and
rice. Globally 70% of barley production is used as
animal feed, while 30% is used as a source of fermentable material for
beer, or further
distilled into
whisky, and as a component of various
foods. It is used in soups and stews, and in
barley bread of various cultures. Barley grains are commonly made into
malt in a traditional and ancient method of preparation. In English folklore,
John Barleycorn personifies the grain, and the alcoholic beverages made from it. English
pub names such as The Barley Mow allude to barley's role in the production of beer. (Full article...)
Image 14
In mathematics, the three-gap theorem, three-distance theorem, or Steinhaus conjecture states that if one places n points on a circle, at angles of θ, 2θ, 3θ, ... from the starting point, then there will be at most three distinct distances between pairs of points in adjacent positions around the circle. When there are three distances, the largest of the three always equals the sum of the other two. Unless θ is a rational multiple of π, there will also be at least two distinct distances.
This result was conjectured by
Hugo Steinhaus, and proved in the 1950s by
Vera T. Sós,
János Surányi [
hu], and
Stanisław Świerczkowski; more proofs were added by others later. Applications of the three-gap theorem include the study of plant growth and musical tuning systems, and the theory of light reflection within a mirrored square. (Full article...)
Image 15
Postelsia palmaeformis growing in its native habitat at low tide
Postelsia palmaeformis, also known as the sea palm (not to be confused with the
southern sea palm) or palm seaweed, is a species of
kelp and classified within
brown algae. It is the only known species in the genus Postelsia. The sea palm is found along the western coast of
North America, on rocky shores with constant waves. It is one of the few
algae that can survive and remain erect out of the water; in fact, it spends most of its life cycle exposed to the air. It is an annual, and edible, though harvesting of the alga is discouraged due to the species' sensitivity to overharvesting. (Full article...)
The following are images from various plant-related articles on Wikipedia.
Image 1The Devonian marks the beginning of extensive land colonization by plants, which – through their effects on erosion and sedimentation – brought about significant climatic change. (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 5Structure of a plant cell (from Plant cell)
Image 6A
late Siluriansporangium, artificially colored. Green: A spore tetrad. Blue: A spore bearing a trilete mark – the Y-shaped scar. The spores are about 30–35 μm across. (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 10A
banded tube from the Late Silurian/Early Devonian. The bands are difficult to see on this specimen, as an opaque carbonaceous coating conceals much of the tube. Bands are just visible in places on the left half of the image. Scale bar: 20 μm (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 12Structure of
Azadirachtin, a terpenoid produced by the
Neem plant, which helps ward off microbes and insects. Many secondary metabolites have complex structures (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 13The trunk of early tree fern Psaronius, showing internal structure. The top of the plant would have been to the left of the image (from Evolutionary history of plants)
Image 20Five of the key areas of study within plant physiology (from Botany)
Image 21Thale cress, Arabidopsis thaliana, the first plant to have its genome sequenced, remains the most important model organism. (from Botany)
Image 22Echeveria glauca in a Connecticut greenhouse. Botany uses Latin names for identification; here, the specific name glauca means blue. (from Botany)
Image 23The fruit of Myristica fragrans, a species native to
Indonesia, is the source of two valuable spices, the red aril (
mace) enclosing the dark brown
nutmeg. (from Botany)
Image 241 An oat
coleoptile with the sun overhead.
Auxin (pink) is evenly distributed in its tip. 2 With the sun at an angle and only shining on one side of the shoot, auxin moves to the opposite side and stimulates
cell elongation there. 3 and 4 Extra growth on that side causes the shoot to
bend towards the sun. (from Botany)
Image 29The evolution of syncarps. a: sporangia borne at tips of leaf b: Leaf curls up to protect sporangia c: leaf curls to form enclosed roll d: grouping of three rolls into a syncarp (from Evolutionary history of plants)