Prickly pears tend to be something of a joke. This is unfair. They can be beautiful plants if well grown and can have a rugged beauty if not so well grown; have pretty flowers; most are very easily cultivated. Some…
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Platanus is a genus comprising a small number of tree species native to the Northern Hemisphere, commonly called Planes! Members of the Platanus species are tall trees, reaching 30 to 50 meters in height. Tall and thin they tolerate severe…
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Isopogon is a genus of some 35 southern Australian plant species, most of which are found in Western Australia. Isopogon belongs to the protea family Proteaceae. The common name of the Isopogon is drumsticks or conebush. This is a reference…
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The Hobblebush is a perennial shrub from the family Caprifoliaceae. It is sometimes called Witch hobble or Moosewood. The scientific classification is Viburnum lantanoides. This shrub grows to an impressive six to twelve feet in height. The pendulous (loosely hanging or…
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Blackberry is a member of the Rubus genus, Rosaceae family. Nearly 250 types of blackberry variations are known to grow in Europe, North America and Mid-Asia. In the wild, blackberries grow mainly in dry valleys, hills and the rocky parts…
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Bovine tuberculosis, or bTB, is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium bovis. M. bovis is closely related to the species that causes human TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and is responsible for outbreaks in wildlife, as well as domestic cattle herds. Not only…
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There are over 300 species in the Atriplex genus which forms part of the goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) family. Around 50 of the species are found in Australia. The plants are multi-branched and includes shrubs, annuals and perennials. The leaves are fleshy…
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The western sword fern, or the Polystichum munitum, is considered to be the king of all the northwest ferns. This fern does well in almost any conditions, but will thrive in certain specific ones. It will fit in with most plantings…
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The backlash of agriculture could lead to wars, famine, starvation, pandemics, and weather related disasters. These accelerating events exacerbate destruction, especially through climate change, and could signal the decline of the human race. There are many reasons why some people…
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Cicadas and aphids are bugs. The bugs were for years classified in the order Hemiptera, which means half-wings, and from there into two suborders: Homoptera and Heteroptera. In recent years, some taxonomists have elevated the two suborders to the status of full…
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