It is thought that polar bears have evolved from the brown bear. Thousands of years ago, somewhere around the Ice Age, a population of brown bears became dependent on the abundance of seals in the icy waters of the north….
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Most tigers live in forests or grasslands, for which their camouflage is ideally suited, and where it is easy to hunt prey that are faster or more agile. Among the big cats, only the tiger and jaguar are strong swimmers;…
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Botanical Name: Arctium Lappa Common name: Burdock Group: Dicot Family: Asteraceae Description: This is a herbaceous, biennial plant belonging to the genus Arctium and has prickly purple flowers and large coarse and ovate leaves which are woolly underneath. The plant…
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In order to appreciate how animals have been named, it is first important to understand that there is a classification system by which all living organisms are categorized. Carolus Linnaeus first devised the system during the 1700’s that is still…
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Ever wondered where the phrase “as dead as a Dodo” comes from? Here is a salutary lesson in man’s callousness in driving a species to extinction, due to its extinction occurring during recorded human history, and being directly attributable to…
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Viola is one of 22 genera of plants in the violet family Violaceae. There are about 500 different species throughout the world. Many are found in the Northern Hemisphere where the climate is temperate; however, there are some found in…
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Christmas trees are of many different species, but all have certain things in common. Unless they are the artificial kind, made of aluminum or plastic, Christmas trees are conifers, that is, cone-bearing trees. Also, because tradition demands a certain shape…
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Hawthorns are a large genus of small trees and shrubs from the rose family. Scientifically known as “Crataegus” the Cockspur Thorn is native to temperate regions of the northern-hemisphere. Identifying species is never easy. Firstly, the leaves of the Cockspur…
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Chrysanthemum indicum is perennial flowering plant that belongs to the genus Chrysanthemum. The genus Chrysanthemum contributes close to 30 plant species to the family Asteraceae that forms a group of perennial flowing plants. Chrysanthemums naturally occur in Asia and the…
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Blueberries are a popular summer treat. They are endemic to North America, and are often used to complement garden landscapes. The berries and flowers add an accent and fall colors of this plant are beautiful. In the past, Native peoples…
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