This article evaluates the potential for Bemisia tabaci, commonly called sweet potato whitefly to become invasive in New Zealand. It is not currently known to be extant in New Zealand, but it is on the “100 of the world’s worst…
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Mention ancient reptiles, and most people think of dinosaurs. But dinosaurs were actually very advanced reptiles, and only appeared on the earth many millions of years after the reptile class began. Even the popular movie, Jurassic Park, gives a somewhat…
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The Central American rainforests are almost a fantasy camp for amphibians. They have everything they could ever dream of having: plenty of water, zillions of bugs, lots of shady, damp places to hide. While newts, salamanders and caecilians all live…
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In Chinese culture true balance is achieved by aligning the two complementary forces in the universe; the yin and yang. The yin is the female, negative, or cold force. The yang is masculine, positive, and warm. Everything, including medicinal herbs,…
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Harebell is a member of the bellflower family commonly found across Northern Europe and most of the Northern Hemisphere. This plant grows in clumps and produces tiny, blue bell-shaped flowers at the end of its long, thin stalk. Its stem…
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The Bluebell is a spring flowering plant. It is also called the wood bell or English bluebell. The flowers are a beautiful lavender-blue and they are shaped like a bell. These flowers bloom in the months of April and May….
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“Unmoved I saw you blooming, Your crimson cap uplooming…” John Burroughs, the poet who wrote “To the Bee Balm”, apparently passed by some of it one day without even noticing, until it was pointed out to him by his lady…
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The Ragged Robin is a species of plant that is native to Europe. It can be found growing wild along roadsides, meadows and pastures. Modern farming and the draining of wetlands are causing the populations of this flower to decline….
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The harebell, also known as “bluebell” in Scotland, is a rather delicate, pale blue perennial wildflower. In 2004, it was declared the official County flower of Dumfriesshire (Scotland), Yorkshire (England) and County Antrim (Northern Ireland). Its name comes from an…
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Bitterroot, a small perennial herb, is the state flower of Montana. It gets its name from the extremely bitter flavor of its roots. The latin name is lewisia rediviva. Lewisia means “Lewis” and was named by Frederick Pursh in honor…
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