buttercup

Ranunculus

Ranunculus is a genus of about 500 species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. Members of the genus are known as buttercups, spearworts and water crowfoots. Ranunculus asiaticus, the Persian buttercup, is a species of Ranunculus native to the eastern Mediterranean region in southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe (Crete, Karpathos and Rhodes), and northeastern Africa. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 45 cm tall, with simple or branched stems. The basal leaves are three-lobed, with leaves higher on the stems more deeply divided; like the stems, they are downy or hairy. The flowers are 3–5 cm diameter, variablyContinue Reading…

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Surfaces

In mathematics, a two-dimensional surface is a geometrical shape that resembles a deformed plane. The most familiar examples arise as boundaries of solid objects in ordinary three-dimensional Euclidean space R³ such as spheres. The exact definition of a surface may depend on the context. Typically, in algebraic geometry, a surface may cross itself (and may have other singularities), while, in topology and differential geometry, it may not. The simplest examples of two-dimensional surfaces can be obtained by gluing the sides of a square according to different rules. Above are surfaces called a cylinder, a torus, a Klein bottle and aContinue Reading…

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Immortelle

Helichrysum arenarium is also known as sandy everlasting , and as immortelle, is herbaceous perennial plant belonging to Asteraceae family and it is native to Europe, Central Asia, and China. It grows to be an average of 0.3 m tall. The plant grows 10–30 (50) cm high with obliquely descendent, strong and short rhizome. The stem is usually branched at the upper part and carries alternate leaves, which are 2–5 cm in length. Both the leaves and the stem are covered with gray or silvery wooly hairs. The flower heads are arranged in loosely, a cross between umbel and panicle. They are 3Continue Reading…

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Fucus

Fucus is northern-hemisphere genus of macroscopic marine seaweeds called wracks. It includes a relatively small number of species. Fucus vesiculosus (on the picture) is perhaps the best-known species, is known to have a number of useful compounds. The plants consist of a flattened, dichotomously-branched thallus which has a small stipe and a holdfast. The blade usually has a locally-thickened area which is centrally placed called a midrib. Air bladders are Fucus vesiculosus found in some species and these help to keep the plant afloat when submerged. This algae has traditionally been used in Eastern countries, especially in China, mainly to treatContinue Reading…

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Hyssop

Hyssopus officinalis, commonly called hyssop, is a herbaceous plant of the genus Hyssopus native to Southern Europe, the Middle East, and the region surrounding the Caspian Sea. Hyssop is a brightly coloured shrub or subshrub that ranges from 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) in height. The stem  is woody at the base, from which grow a number of straight branches. Its leaves are lanceolate, dark green in colour, and from 2 to 2.5 cm (0.79 to 0.98 in) long. During the summer, the plant produces bunches of pink, blue, or, more rarely, white fragrant flowers. Foliage, flowers and plant oils have a long history of culinary and folk medicine uses. Leaves haveContinue Reading…

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Babassu

 Attalea speciosa (babassu, babassu palm, babaçu, cusi) is a palm native to Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Bolivia. It is now widespread in Mexico. The babassu palm is an perennial evergreen palm, reaching up a height of 15 to 30 m. The trunk is slender, ringed with leaf scars, 20-50 cm in diameter. A dense rounded crown, 8 m in diameter, is formed by 15-20 huge leaves up to 9 m long. Attalea speciosa bears 2-4 inflorescences of whitish or yellowish flowers. Bunches are 1 m long, weigh 40-90 kg and bear 250 to 600 fruits twice a year. The fruits are oblong nuts (8-15 cm longContinue Reading…

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Manuka

Leptospermum scoparium, commonly called manuka, manuka myrtle, New Zealand teatree, broom tea-tree, or just tea tree, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, native to Australia and New Zealand but has been introduced and cultivated in a number of countries, including the United States, Britain, South Africa and Madeira. It is typically a shrub growing to 2–5 m (7–16 ft) tall, but can grow into a moderately sized tree, up to 15 m (49 ft) or so in height. It is evergreen, with dense branching and small leaves 7–20 mm long and 2–6 mm broad, withContinue Reading…

myrtus1

Myrtus

Myrtus communis, the common myrtle, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It is an evergreen shrub native to southern Europe, north Africa, western Asia, Macaronesia, and the Indian Subcontinent. The plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree, growing to 5 metres (16 ft) tall. The leaves are 2–5 centimetres (0.79–1.97 in) long, with a fragrant essential oil. The flowers are white or tinged with pink, with five petals and many stamens that protrude from the flower.The fruit is a berry, blue-black when ripe. Plant has long history of cultivation and use. Symbol of loveContinue Reading…

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Verbena

Aloysia citrodora is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family Verbenaceae, native to western South America. Common names include lemon verbena. It was brought to Europe by the Spanish and the Portuguese in the 17th century and cultivated for its oil. Lemon verbena is a perennial shrub or subshrub growing to 2–3 m high. The 8-cm-long, glossy, pointed leaves are slightly rough to the touch and emit a powerful scent reminiscent of lemon when bruised (hence the Latin specific epithet citrodora—lemon-scented). Lemon verbena leaves are used to add a lemon flavor to fish and poultry dishes, vegetable marinades,Continue Reading…

oblepiha

Seabucktorn

The sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) belongs to the family Elaeagnceae. Sea buckthorn is native to Europe and Asia and was introduced to Canada some time ago. The sea buckthorn is a medium deciduous shrub six to 13 feet (2 to 4 m) in height. The trees are dioecious meaning there are male and female plants. Tremendous potential for functional food and nutraceutical uses. Very high vitamin C and anti-oxidant properties. Only female plants produce fruit. Unfortunately, plant type cannot be determined until flowers are produced. Flowers are small, yellow and appear before the leaves being produced on three-year-old wood.Continue Reading…

nigella

Nigella Sativa

Nigella sativa (black caraway, also known as black cumin, nigella, and ,kalonji) is an annual flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to south and southwest Asia. N. sativa grows to 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in) tall, with finely divided, linear (but not thread-like) leaves. The flowers are delicate, and usually colored pale blue and white, with five to ten petals. The fruit is a large and inflated capsule composed of three to seven united follicles, each containing numerous seeds. The seeds of N. sativa are used as a spice in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. The black seeds taste likeContinue Reading…

schisandra

Schisandra

Schisandra chinensis (common name: magnolia vine, schisandra) is a deciduous woody vine native to forests of Northern China and the Russian Far East. The plants are vigorous climbers and can reach 30 feet in length. Their leaves are fragrant, and in the spring they produce even more fragrant flowers. The plants are dioecious, which means you’ll need to plant both a male and a female plant in order to get fruit. In mid-summer, their berries ripen to deep red. Schisandra is sometimes called the five flavor fruit because its berries’ shells are sweet, their meat sour, their seeds bitter andContinue Reading…