Plants

Plants with high nicotine content are a fascinating group, producing this alkaloid as a natural defense against pests and herbivores. Found across various families, these species range from those cultivated for their potent leaves to wild varieties thriving in harsh environments, with nicotine levels varying from trace amounts to several percent by weight. Their chemical … Read more

Indoor plants that excel at producing oxygen are vital for enhancing air quality in homes and offices. These green companions use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, with some even working overtime at night thanks to a special process that keeps them efficient in low-light conditions. Their ability to thrive indoors makes them perfect … Read more

The Silk Floss tree, scientifically named Ceiba speciosa, is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South America. Its natural habitat spans across the northeastern parts of Argentina, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. Here, it thrives in a variety of environments, from the humid, semi-deciduous forests to more open, savanna-like areas. This … Read more

The Wollemi Pine, scientifically named Wollemia nobilis, is native to a very specific and restricted area within the Wollemi National Park in New South Wales, Australia. This tree grows in a temperate rainforest within a series of narrow, steep-sided, sandstone gorges, roughly 150 km northwest of Sydney. The exact location remains undisclosed to protect this … Read more

The Monkey Puzzle tree, known scientifically as Araucaria araucana, is native to the temperate rainforests of south-central Chile and adjacent parts of Argentina. It thrives in the Andean mountains at elevations between 1,000 and 1,500 meters, where it endures cold winters with significant snowfall and wet summers. This tree prefers volcanic soils, which contributes to … Read more

What is a Heart-Shaped Leaf Tree? A heart-shaped leaf tree, scientifically termed “cordate,” is a type of tree with leaves that has a shape reminiscent of the classic heart symbol. These leaves typically have a broad base that tapers to a pointed tip, resembling the two upper curves and pointed end of a heart. Trees … Read more

Peaches are botanically classified as Prunus persica and are considered “stone fruits,” and are closely related to apricots, plums, cherries and almonds. There are hundreds of varieties of peaches, including heirloom varieties and hybrid crosses. Peaches come in two different types, yellow-fleshed or white-fleshed and are identified as either freestone or clingstone, signaling to whether … Read more

Maracuyas, also known as Yellow passionfruit botanically classified as Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa, are a tropical species belonging to the Passifloraceae family. The plant most common species of passionfruit. The fruits grow on vigorous, evergreen climbing vines that naturally creep along nearby bushes, trellises, walls, fences, and trees. Maracuyas are native to subtropical climates throughout … Read more

Despite the name suggesting a unique variety, it’s essentially a persimmon of the Diospyros kaki species, often closely related to or identical to the Fuyu in characteristics. It is a non-astringent persimmon similar to the Fuyu. It’s orange, with a shape that can range from flat-round to slightly elongated, but generally tomato-like in form. Like … Read more

Gerbera jamesonii is a species of flowering plant in the genus Gerbera belonging to the basal Mutisieae tribe within the large Asteraceae family. It is indigenous to South Eastern Africa and commonly known as the Barberton daisy, the Transvaal daisy, and as Barbertonse madeliefie or Rooigousblom in Afrikaans. Gerbera jamesonii was first collected near Barberton, … Read more