Cool Plants and Trees

[freeztar]

My favorite plant here in the SE US is the spotted touch me not (Impatiens capensis):

http://www.mta.ca/~rthompso/nativeflora/group7/jewelweed3.JPG

 

The flower has a catapulting system that launches seeds several feet away from the plant. The catapult mechanism can be activated by an animal brushing against it, hence the name "Touch me not". It is also commonly called "jewelweed" because when held underwater, the underside of the leaf has a silvery metallic sheen, very cool! It is also the only known cure for poison ivy!

[Racoon]

Saguaro, the Giant Cactus - Carnegiea gigantea

 

Saguaro are found only in the Sonoran desert. The giant saguaro is the king of cacti. A full-grown saguaro is usually more than 35 feet in height and is at least 75 years old, sometimes reaching a height of 50 feet and life span of 200 years. Some have arms but all are green and have a wax-like skin that helps prevent water loss. Rare and endangered this extraordinary giant cactus has been protected within Saguaro National Park since 1933 .

 

[Michaelangelica]

The Carob Tree is interesting

The seed pods have a chocolate like sugary flavour. Great stock food and drought tolerant.

The seeds were used as a jeweler's measure for a "carrot" /carob.

Hence our measurement of precious gems today.

Each seed weights one "carrot"

Carob is rich in protein, A and B vitamins, and such essential minerals as phosphorus and calcium. It's also much lower in fat and—especially because it's naturally sweet—in calories than chocolate or chocolate products. Furthermore, carob is nonallergenic . . . and doesn't contain theobromine, a stimulant which is present in chocolate.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Nature_and_Environment/1980_September_October/Carob__The_Natural_Sweet

 

Countrywoman under a carob tree

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Spain/photo253808.htm

another photo:

http://www.pbase.com/valterj/image/50799062

 

It seems to have a long tap root that protects it from dry seasons.

When I grew it in pots, the tap root circled around and around the base of the pot. It was very slow growing. Perhaps because it was putting most of its energy into the tap root?

[Racoon]

The Rubber Tree :eek_big:

 

Where you can get Rubber!

 

 

&

 

[Michaelangelica]

Does it bounce?

[ronthepon]

Hey, cool visual display style, Racoon!

[Michaelangelica]

This is awesome apparently it only blooms every 35 years or so.

Nature is so extravagent and incredible.

I am in awe of this.

http://www.gridskipper.com/travel/new-york/a-corpse-flower-grows-in-brooklyn-193640.php

Racoon could you post some pics of it here ??

A silly, purile write up about it:-

At the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, botanists and others who enjoy the smell of rotting death are lining up to watch the humongous corpse flower bloom. The species, a native of Sumatra, blooms very rarely and when it does, releases the smell of putrefaction. The plant's bud grows nearly 7" a day and looks like a big yellow dick, hence it's scientific name amorphophallus titanum or, to you non-Latinos, "giant shapeless penis." The bloom lasts only 24 to 48 hours so unless you book it to the Gardens by 6pm on Friday (Aug 11) or get there early tomorrow (the Gardens open at 10), you'll have to get your corpse-smell fix somewhere else.

 

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

BBG Corpse Flower blog [bBG]

Live Webcam [bBG]

[Racoon]

I am in awe of this.

 

Racoon could you post some pics of it here ??

 

Very cool and fascinating indeed micheal :D

I believe the Corpse Flower has the distinction of being the worlds largest flower and is quite rare. :cup:

 

 

[Racoon]

Giant Sequoias :eek:

 

Giant Sequoia is the world's largest tree in terms of total volume. They grow to an average height of 50-85 m (150-280 ft) and 5-7 m (16-23 ft) in diameter. Record trees have been reported to be 93.6 m (307 ft) in height and 8.85 m (29 ft) in diameter. The oldest known Giant Sequoia based on ring count is 3,200 years old. Sequoia bark is fibrous, furrowed, and may be 60 cm (2 ft) thick at the base of the columnar trunk. It provides significant fire protection for the trees. The leaves are evergreen, awl-shaped, 3-6 mm long, and arranged spirally on the shoots. The seed cones are 4-7 cm long and mature in 18-20 months, though they typically remain green and closed for up to 20 years

 

The Giant Sequoia was well known to Native American tribes living in its area. Native American names for the species include Wawona, Toos-pung-ish and Hea-mi-withic, the latter two in the language of the Tule River Tribe.

 

 

link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Sequoia

[Mercedes Benzene]

I believe the Corpse Flower has the distinction of being the worlds largest flower and is quite rare.

 

I've seen it on display before in D.C.

Imagine what it would be like to see it in the wild! :eek:

[pgrmdave]

What is the purpose of a flower so large? Aren't flowers designed to attract pollinators, hence their size, shape, and colors? What kind of pollinator is that big?

[Janus]

Two plants that can be found around where I live:

 

Foxglove:

 

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed/27/27.4.html

 

and

 

Cascara:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhamnus_purshiana

 

Both of medicinal value.

[Michaelangelica]

What is the purpose of a flower so large? Aren't flowers designed to attract pollinators, hence their size, shape, and colors? What kind of pollinator is that big?

Really BIG flies?

There are many plants that use a "rotting meat fragrance" to attract pollinating flies. The Corpse Flower does seem to have overdone it a little -

unless there were once dinosaur flies?

 

On the Giant Sequoias,

I saw a small forest of them when I visited California many years ago.

They were awesomely impressive, majestic trees.

I could never cut one down. It would be like burning down a medieval cathedral.

 

I saw a "baby" one, 35 years old, in a park in Rotorua NZ; it was impressive too.

[Ganoderma]

i am not certain but i think sitka spruce, western red cedars and douglas firs have seqouia beat for size. i am not sure about the states but canadas biggest is the carmanah giant which is 95ish m tall and pretty damn wide...i never measured it though. whenever i went hiking around there (it was my home for 20 years) i would always find a new tree that looked liek it could fit a large truck inside it. lots of history in this area, but i think there are probably bigger ones hidden in the mountains. certainly there are ones that appear bigger, but life is doomed to the chainsaw in BC.

 

i know its not a plant or tree, but many peopl eclump fungi in with plants...so maybe i can slip this one in. Honey mushroom, some BIG fungi!!!

 

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s828525.htm

 

my problem is. mushrooms creat spores. a mushroom apperantly that size would then produce trillions of trillions of spores. i highly doubt that this mushroom is all one, but a lot that grew into each other and appear to be one. i havnt seen any genetic testing on it, if that is possible?

 

 

Giant Sequoias :)

 

Giant Sequoia is the world's largest tree in terms of total volume. They grow to an average height of 50-85 m (150-280 ft) and 5-7 m (16-23 ft) in diameter. Record trees have been reported to be 93.6 m (307 ft) in height and 8.85 m (29 ft) in diameter. The oldest known Giant Sequoia based on ring count is 3,200 years old. Sequoia bark is fibrous, furrowed, and may be 60 cm (2 ft) thick at the base of the columnar trunk. It provides significant fire protection for the trees. The leaves are evergreen, awl-shaped, 3-6 mm long, and arranged spirally on the shoots. The seed cones are 4-7 cm long and mature in 18-20 months, though they typically remain green and closed for up to 20 years

 

The Giant Sequoia was well known to Native American tribes living in its area. Native American names for the species include Wawona, Toos-pung-ish and Hea-mi-withic, the latter two in the language of the Tule River Tribe.

 

 

link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Sequoia

[Michaelangelica]

When you drive through Tasmania you see huge semi-trailers with just one bit of a tree on board.

The old growth forests produce such BIG trees.

Most go to make paper in Japan.

http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/forests/tasmania/big_tree/

Largest tree in Australia killed by Forestry Tasmania

 

Photo: El Grande after regen burn, Florentine Valley, Tasmania 2003

El Grande after regen burn,

Florentine Valley, Tasmania 2003

 

El Grande, Australia's most massive tree, has been killed by Forestry Tasmania's regeneration burn, according to a botanical consultant.

 

According to Forestry Tasmania, the tree had been protected from a regeneration burn in a nearby logging coupe and had been spared.

 

An on-site inspection of this large tree was made on 27 April 2003 by Alan Gray, a botanist with 45 years experience of eucalypts and acacias.

He has noted massive damage to the tree, including damage to its root system from machinery clearing a path around the tree; intense burning inside the hollow tree; and the loss of huge branches from the canopy as a result of flames emerging from hollows up to 65 metres high.

 

The examination of the tree revealed that it was clearly dead, from the roots to the crown.

 

"The burning of the largest flowering plant on Earth is a serious indictment of Tasmania's forest practices and should be investigated," said Geoff Law, Campaign Coordinator for the Wilderness Society.

 

The Wilderness Society has written to the Forest Practices Board requesting an investigation. more . . .

 

Please donate to this campaign to help us ensure the permanent protection of Tasmania's forests and wildlife.

TAKE ACTION! Send an email to Jim Bacon

Send an email to Dr David Kemp

 

Logging regime will destroy more giant trees in Styx Valley

Expert says 'El Grande' has been killed

[Tarantism]

there are some really great redwood forests out here in CA. especially in big sur and the santa cruz mountains. many a relaxing hike have i taken in between the trees. :D

[Michaelangelica]

Scented geraniums

These are geraniums, not with scented flowers, but with highly scented leaves.

There are ones that smell of rose, peppermint, nutmeg, apple, cedarwood and I believe a strawberry though I have never smelled that one.

They grow in all shapes and sizes from little pot plants to 1m high. It is great to put them near pathways where you brush against them when you walk past them. This releases the fragrance.

Many are sold at herb specialists as all can be used to flavour food and the rose scented one is soporific. It is often used in sleep pillows to help one sleep.

 

I believe they are native to S. Africa. They like lots of sun, good drainage, little water and are incredibly hardy.

 

 

Velvet peppermint Geranium tumbling out of big pot