Friday, May 4, 2012

Bitter sweet flowers pictures.

The brightly coloured berries and lovely flowers will invite you and your kids. But those terrible berries will never tell you that they will cause danger to you. Be cautious.





Threat Description

Bittersweet nightshade is a trailing or low climbing perennial woody vine in the potato family growing up to 10 ft. in length. The stiff stems are erect to clambering, purple above and greenish below with a hollow pith and single bundle scar. Simple alternate leaves are 2-4 in. in length, broadly ovate often with basal lobes, dark green above and lighter below, and hairless with entire margins. Leaves and stems have an unpleasant odor when bruised or crushed. Flowers develop during summer as hanging clusters of bright purple petals (occasionally white) with yellow anthers. Hanging clusters of bright red berries ripen in autumn and are oval, 3/8-1/2 in. long and contain numerous seeds. The root system is made up of a taproot and rhizomes. Bittersweet nightshade is located in moist disturbed sites, thickets, roadsides, fence rows, woods, cliffs, marshes, and pond and river banks. It is often found growing among non-native blackberries in parks and along un-maintained roadsides. This sprawling vine often drapes low over trees and shrubs. All parts of the plant are toxic, affecting humans, livestock, and wildlife.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Dragon root flower pictures.





Description: A vining, terrestrial or epiphytic cactus, with fleshy stems reaching from a few inches up to 20ft long (in mature plants). The plant may grow out of, and over the ground or climb onto trees using aerial roots. Flowers are ornate and beautiful, and many related species are propagated as ornamentals. They bloom only at night, and usually last just one night where pollination is necessary to set fruit. In full production, pitahaya plants can have up to 4-6 fruiting cycles per year.

Hardiness: Will tolerate temperatures to 104F, and short periods of frost, but prolonged cold will damage or kill the plant.

Growing Environment: Dragon Fruit grows best in dry, tropical or subtropical climates where annual rainfall ranges from 20-50" per year. In wet, tropical zones, plants may grow well but sometimes have problems setting fruit reliably. The plants aren't usually too picky as to soil type, but because of their epiphytic nature, it is recommended to grow them in soil that is supplemented with high amounts of organic material. The plant has been grown successfully in sandy soils. Shade is sometimes provided in hot climates.

Propagation: By seed, or by stem cuttings.

Uses: The fruit is popular eaten chilled, out of hand. It is also used to flavor drinks and pastries. Unopened flowerbuds are cooked and eaten as vegetables.
Native Range: The exact origin is unknown, but is likely from Southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica. It is cultivated around the world in tropical regions.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Mugwort flowers pictures.





Mugwort flowers from August until September with reddish brown or yellow flowers. The flowers are rather small and stand in long narrow clusters at the top of the stem. The stem is vague purple to red. The leaves are feathery and deeply cut into. The top is dark green. The underside is white felt-like and hairy. 
The herb is to be found on fallow grounds and near roads, train banks and fields.
Mugwort is a quite hairy, remaining and fragrant plant. The plant becomes approximately 1 meter high.