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 build structures and warm themselves over a fire. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "To many, the word tree evokes images of such ancient... 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 cultivated on farms called vineyards, often to produce wine. Beans, peas, potatoes, squash, cucumbers, melons, and other food plants... 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 the large number of oranges produced there. In fact, many visitor centers offer samples of orange juice to incoming guests. Oranges also represent preparing for cold and flu season as they are extremely high in vitamin C... 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. Corks used as stoppers for wine bottles are produced from the bark of the Mediterranean cork oat, and Aleppo oak is used to make ink. The wood of oak trees is also used in furniture manufacture and construction... Read more
Oceans have always been fascinating to people due to their abundant variety and alien features. Over seventy percent of the Earth's surface is covered by saltwater, yet some researchers have said that we know more about the surface of the moon than the ocean depths... 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. The name "carnation" may be derived from the term "coronation," as flowers were often used in ceremonial crowns, or from the Latin carnis or incarnacyon due to the flowers flesh-toned hues... Read more
