Plant Profile – Asian Ginseng Panax ginseng, commonly called Asian ginseng, is a perennial herb indigenous to parts of Asia and grown commercially in China and Korea. It is a slow growing plant, reaching a maximum height of only 32…
Read more
Eucalyptus camaldulensis or River Red Gum is one of around 800 species in the genus Eucalyptus and has the widest distribution of all. Frederick Dehnhardt, Chief Gardener at the Botanic Gardens in Naples, described the species in 1832 and named…
Read more
When you think of the desert southwest, you probably picture a tall, stately cactus with branches looking like arms, silhouetted by the sunset. This is the giant saguaro. Saguaros are native to parts of the Sonoran desert, in an area…
Read more
Red cherries, especially the ‘tart’ variety is a superfruit, high in photochemical known as anthocyanins and in common with other fruits and vegetables red in colour, it has been shown to be of benefit to individuals who suffer from rheumatoid…
Read more
Medicinal Plants of Northern and Central Oman Traditional medicine is an alternative for many people who prefer natural remedies over the mass produced conventional drugs that companies create. Until recently, however, traditional medicine was the only source of treatment for…
Read more
The Cook Pine (Araucaria columnaris) is native to Cook Island, which is a small island to the northeast of Australia. It is sometimes called the New Calcedonian Pine or the Coral Reef Araucaria. Since its discovery it has been introduced…
Read more
The chief purpose of tree core sampling is its direct relation to tree ring dating (a science called dendrochronology). By removing a small sample of a tree’s core, scientists can look back into history throughout the entire life of the…
Read more
The Showy Lady’s slipper is sometimes known as the Queen’s Lady’s slipper or the Pink and White Lady’s slipper. The scientific classification is Cypripedium reginae. The Lady’s slipper orchid is native to northern North America. This orchid is very rare and probably always has…
Read more
The woody pear belongs to the genus Xylomelum. There are five species in Xylomelum, two in south-west Western Australia and three in New South Wales and Queensland. All species are known by the common name of ‘woody pear’ after their…
Read more
The gidgee tree (Acacia cambagei) is endemic to Australia. It is also known as the gigyea, gidya and gidgea but these names are all variations on a theme. The name which gives a clue to the essential character of the…
Read more