The chrysanthemum or mum is a popular garden flower. It is native to Europe and Asia. Its name is derived from the ancient Greek words for "golden flower." Chrysanthemums have many overlapping petals, similar in shape to the dandelion or carnation... Read more
Most of the time, bugs eat plants. But sometimes, the plants eat the bugs! One well-known variety of bug-eating plants is the Venus flytrap. This plant has a "mouth" at the end of its leaves. When small hairs called trichomes are touched by insects, the mouth snaps shut, trapping the insect... Read more
Houseplants or potted plants are more popular today than ever before. Caretakers of such foliage often call themselves "plant parents" and "crazy plant ladies." Millennials make up a large proportion of this group. They grow plants as a hobby, to beautify their homes, and to freshen the air... Read more
Beans are the seeds of plants in the legume family. Worldwide, many varieties of beans are cultivated for food. They are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Often, the seeds are dried for later cooking; sometimes the entire seedpod is eaten, as in the case of green beans... Read more
Red roses have long been used to symbolize love. But a wilted, dead, or dying rose can mean a fading of hope and love or even the end of life. The most memorable depiction may be the enchanted rose from Beauty and the Beast. It was kept beneath glass to ensure that the last petal would not fall a moment too soon... Read more
The peanut is a favorite salty snack, often linked with childhood memories of circuses or airplane rides, where roasted, salted peanuts are provided as snacks. Peanuts are also called groundnuts, earthnuts, monkey nuts, or goobers... Read more
There are about 100 different species of plants in the rose family. They are native to temperate areas in the Northern Hemisphere, namely in Asia, Europe, and North America. Many are... Read more
The olive is an evergreen tree that produces an edible fruit. The oil of the olive has been a staple in the Mediterranean diet and elsewhere for millennia... Read more
Trees are a vital part of the environment the world over. Trees produce oxygen, rid the air of carbon, offer shade, and produce food. Their wood allows humans to... Read more
Jungles go by many names - tropical forest, rainforest, monsoon forest, and cloud forest. Jungles grow in regions where the weather is warm year-round. They are characterized by "luxuriant, tangled, impenetrable vegetation, generally teeming with wildlife." Interestingly, the Sanskrit word from which the term "jungle" is derived describes just the opposite; it means "dry ground or desert."... Read more
The term grape describes about 80 species of vining plants native to the northern hemisphere. The plants grow quite large, reaching lengths of 56 feet (17 meters) or more... Read more
Many plants have a vining habit, producing long, twining stems that rely on outside structures to support them. Grapes are among the most recognizable. Around the world, grapevines are... Read more
The avocado is a fruit that grows on trees native to Central and South America. Depending on the region, avocados are also called aguacate, ahuacatl, alligator pear, and avocado pear. Avocados can be as small as an egg or weigh 1 to 2 kilograms (2 to 4 pounds), depending on the variety. More than 1,000 varieties exist. Some avocados have purple skin, though most are green... Read more
Oranges are a citrus fruit. They originated in China as a cross between a mandarin (often called a mandarin orange) and a grapefruit. They have become a symbol of the state of Florida in the United States due to... Read more
The tree limb, branch, or bough is a division of a tree where smaller portions branch from the main trunk. The tree's crown is home to many animals, including birds, squirrels, and in tropical areas, monkeys... Read more
There are about 450 species of oak trees found throughout the world's temperate zones. Oak trees produce acorns, a food source for animals and, in the past, for people... Read more
The carnation is a flower native to the Mediterranean region. Also called clove pink or grenadine, carnations have a spicy aroma and have been cultivated for at least 2,000 years... Read more
Peach trees are a member of the rose family. It is thought that the first peach trees came from China. The trees had been taken to the Americas by at least the 1600s. These small trees grow in warm climates and produce a juicy, fuzzy-skinned fruit. Peaches with smooth rather than fuzzy skin are called nectarines... Read more
What is a cornucopia? Also called the Horn of plenty, it is a decorative object or motif used to symbolize abundance. The first cornucopias were curved goat horns overflowing with produce and grain. Later, baskets woven in this shape were used... Read more
Pinecones are the seed-bearing fruit of about 120 different species of pine tree. Pines are found throughout the world, especially in the cold northern reaches... Read more