Pyrus calleryana, popularly called Callery pear is an upright-branched ornamental tree belonging to Rosaceae (Rose family). The plant is native to China South-Central, China Southeast, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan and China North-Central. It is most commonly known for its cultivar ‘Bradford’, widely planted throughout the United States and increasingly regarded as an invasive species. Bradford pear and Callery pear are the most popular common names of Pyrus calleryana. The species is named after the Italian-French Sinologue Joseph-Marie Callery (1810–1862), a French missionary, who discovered and collected this plant in China in 1858 and sent specimens of the tree to Europe. Bradford…
Author: Sylvia
Gabon nuts are tropical fruits grown on Gabon tree, scientifically known as Coula edulis which belongs to the Olacaceae plant family. These nuts are native to tropical West African countries, stretching from Sierra Leone to the Democratic Republic of Congo and then to Nigeria and other West African countries. It is found in Cameroon in evergreen forest up to the loop of the Dja, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon and Niger. Its range in Nigeria includes Uyo, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Lagos, Akure, Kogi, Ajaawa, Ogbomosho and Ibadan. Gabon nuts, African walnuts, congowood and tiger wood are few of the common names…
Akebia quinata, commonly known as chocolate vine, five-leaf chocolate vine is a woody vine in the family Lardizabalaceae (Lardizabala family). The plant is native to Japan, China and Korea, and invasive in the eastern United States from Georgia to Michigan to Massachusetts. It was introduced into the U.S. in 1845 as an ornamental where it has become established in areas with warm climates. Some of the popular common names of the plant include Akebi, Eureumdeonggul, Mu tong fruit, Urum, Five leaf akebia, Chocolate Vine, Raisin vine and Five-leaf. Genus name is the Latinized version of the Japanese name akebi for…
Allium tricoccum commonly known as ramp or wild leek is a North American species belonging to Liliaceae (Lily family). The plant is native to North America, and grows wild mostly in eastern Canada and the northern and southeastern United States, especially in the New England states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire. It is one of the earliest wild edible plants to appear in spring. Historically ramps were considered as a spring tonic and early settlers relied on their restorative qualities after a long winter. Wild Leek, Wood Leek, ramp, ramps, ramson, wood leek, wild…
Plinia cauliflora, commonly known as the jaboticaba, jabuticaba or Brazilian grapetree is a subtropical evergreen tree or large shrub belonging to the Myrtaceae family. The plant is native to the coastal forests and hilly regions of southern Brazil. It also grows around Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, Brazil, also around Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Asunción, Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. Guapuru, Taanumox, Ibapumi, Jabuticabeira, Jabuticaba, Jabuticabeira-preta, Jabuticabeira-rajada, Jabuticabeira-rosea, Jacoticaba de Sao Paulo, Grauda, jaboticabeira, Brazilian Grape, Brazilian Grapetree, Jaboticaba, Jabotica, jabotica, jabuticabeira, guaperu are some of the popular common names of the plant. The word jaboticaba is derived from the…
Araucaria bidwillii, commonly known as the bunya pine and sometimes referred to as the false monkey puzzle tree, is a large evergreen coniferous tree in the plant family Araucariaceae. The plant is native to south-east Queensland Australia and two small disjunct populations in north eastern Queensland’s World Heritage listed Wet Tropics. It has been distributed between Gympie and the Bunya Mountain on the northeastern side of Dalby, Mt. Lewis and Cunnabullen falls north of Queensland. Other places where the Bunya trees are found include parts of Argentina, Chile, New Caledonia, Southern Brazil, New Guinea and Norfolk Island. Bunya-bunya (Aust.), Bunya…
Dacryodes edulis commonly known as African pear, sometimes called safou, atanga and ube is a medium-sized, evergreen tree belonging to the Burseraceae (Frankincense family) whose members are considered by an ovary of 2 to 5 cells, prominent as in ducts in the bark, wood and intra-staminal disk. The plant is native to Gulf of Guinea and extensively cultivated in other tropical parts of Central African countries. The natural range extends from Angola in the South, Nigeria and Sierra Leone in the West and Uganda in the East. It is also cultivated in Malaysia. Some of the popular common names of…
Inocarpus fagifer, commonly known as the Tahitian chestnut, Polynesian chestnut, is a species of flowering plant in the subfamily Faboideae of the legume family, Fabaceae. The plant is native to Indo-Malaysia and is naturalized after ancient aboriginal introduction in Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia (extending to the Marquesas). It is cultivated in the Pacific islands as well as in New Guinea, Indonesia, especially Java and Sulawesi, the Philippines and occasionally in the neotropics. It is the only edible and culturally important member of the genus Inocarpus. It is popularly known as Tahiti Chestnut, Polynesian Chestnut, Otaheite Chestnut, Ailali, Arau, Booi, Dola,…
Marigold scientifically known as Tagetes erecta L. is an herbaceous plant belonging to Aster family (Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae), cultivated commercially for its yellow flowers, both as an ornamental plant and as a source of feed pigments and food coloring additives. The plant is native to Central America, Mexico and Guatemala. It has been intentionally introduced across tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world and now it can be found cultivated and naturalized in North and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania. They are also found in the countries of Central America and the Caribbean: Belize, Bolivia,…
Yuzu scientifically known as Citrus junos is a hybrid citrus fruit also known as yuja belonging to the family Rutaceae. The plant originated in central China over 1,000 years ago and now it grows extensively in Japan, Korea, and other parts of the world. Due to its popularity here, it is cultivated on a grand commercial scale especially in Kochi Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, where large yuzu groves can be found. Apart from Yuzu it is popularly known as Japanese citron. Yuzu is thought to be a hybrid between Ichang papeda and Satsuma mandarin. The yuzu is called…
Ashitaba scientifically known as Angelica keiskei is a bitter leafy flowering plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae). Also, it is known as tomorrow’s leaf due to its rapid growth and regenerative abilities. The plant is native to Japan, where it is found on the Pacific Coast. It is endemic to the area of the Bōsō Peninsula, Miura Peninsula, Izu Peninsula, and the Izu Islands. It has been widely cultivated outside its natural range. Apart from Ashitaba it is popularly known as Asitaba, Longevity herb, Tomorrow’s leaf and Treasure plant. The herb is called ‘Myeong-Il Yeob’ in Korea and ‘Ashitaba’ in…
Gaultheria shallon is a leathery-leaved shrub belonging to the heather family (Ericaceae). The plant is native to western North America. They are abundantly found in the wild in the coastal regions of western North America but have been localized in Europe too. It is popularly known as salal, shallon and Shallal or simply gaultheria in Britain. The plants are mainly popular in the floral industry where the leaves of this plant are used in floral arrangements, however they’re also known for their berry fruit and health benefits. Berries were essential food source for native people. North Americans ate salal berries…
Symphoricarpos albus popularly known as Snowberry is a deciduous shrub that belongs to the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). There are around 15 species of snowberry. The plant is native to North America, where it occurs across much of Canada and the northern and western United States. Common snowberry gets its name from its round and fluffy, creamy white fruit that resembles a snowball. Snowberry, common snowberry, waxberry, thin-leaved snowberry, Northern snowberry, White coralberry, Buckbursh, Waxberry, Ghostberry and Corpseberry are some of the popular common names of the plant. The genus Symphoricarpos comes from two Greek words symphorein which means to ‘bear…
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, commonly called coralberry, is a woody species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). The plant is native to eastern and central United States as well as central Canada (Ontario) and northeastern Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León). It typically occurs in open woods, fields, pastures and thickets throughout the State. Coralberry, Indian Current, Snowberry, Waxberry, snapberry, buckleberry, wolfberry, turkey bush, Indian currant Buck brush and Round snowberry are some of the well-known common names of the plant. Genus name Symphoricarpos comes from the Greek word symphorein meaning bear together and karpos meaning fruit in reference to the fruits…
Yellow loosestrife scientifically known as Lysimachia vulgaris is an herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the primrose family (Primulaceae). The plant is native to Europe and North Asia but was introduced to North America in the 1900s for its decorative purposes. In the State of Washington, L. vulgaris is listed as a Class B noxious weed and is also listed on the Washington quarantine list meaning it is unlawful to transport, buy, sell, offer to sell, or to distribute this plant into or within the State of Washington. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Loosestrife, yellow…
The peyote, scientific name Lophophora williamsii, is a small, spineless cactus belonging to Cactaceae (Cactus family) with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. Peyote is a Spanish word derived from the Nahuatl peyōtl, meaning caterpillar cocoon, from a root peyōni, “to glisten”. The plant is native to Mexico and southwestern Texas. It is found primarily in the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Chihuahuan Desert and in the states of Nayarit, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosí among scrub. Native Americans have known the plant’s hallucinatory properties for thousands of years, and peyote still holds a sacred place in these cultures. In…
Lomatium dissectum is a species of flowering plant in the Apiaceae or carrot family, Apioideae subfamily, and Leptotaenia subgenus known by the common name fernleaf biscuitroot. The plant is native to much of western North America, where it grows in varied habitat. It is found in the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range, Rocky Mountains, Klamath Mountains, eastern Transverse Ranges and the Sierra Nevada in California. It is known as Toza by the Numic speaking tribes of the Great Basin, was commonly used for food, medicine, and ceremonial purposes. It is one of the most widely used plant species in…
Common toadflax, is also known as yellow toadflax, the chilling ‘dead men’s bones’, and the descriptive, ‘butter and eggs’. The Latin name for this species of toadflax is Linaria vulgaris, with Linaria simply meaning toadflax, and vulgaris translating as common. It is a creeping perennial forb belonging to mustard family (Brassicaceae ⁄ Cruciferae). The plant is native to temperate areas of Europe and Asia; it has been widely introduced to North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and is considered as noxious in many of these countries. The name Toadflax is in reference to its similarity to flax and…
Lepidium virginicum, also known as least pepperwort or Virginia pepperweed, is an herbaceous plant belonging to the mustard family (Brassicaceae ⁄ Cruciferae). The plant is native North America, including most of the United States and Mexico and southern regions of Canada, as well as most of Central America. It grows all over Europe, parts of Asia, South America and Australia. It can be found elsewhere as an introduced species. The plant is grown as a weed in most crops and is found in roadsides, landscapes and waste areas. It prefers sunny locales with dry soil. Popular common name of the…
Bay laurel or noble laurel scientifically known as Laurus nobilis is a flowering plant belonging to Lauraceae (Laurel family) very common in the Mediterranean areas. The plant is native to eastern Mediterranean and the east coast of the Black Sea. It is cultivated in southern and Western Europe, including England. It is now distributed in the West Indies, South and Central America and Africa. It is used as bay leaf for seasoning in cooking. Its popular common names include Bay, Bay leaf, Bay leaf laurel, Laurel, Grecian laurel, True laurel, Sweet laurel, Sweet bay, Bay laurel, Wreath laurel, Apollo laurel,…
Krameria triandra, popularly known as rhatany is a genus of shrub belonging to Krameriaceae (Krameria family). The plant is native to found in the semi-desert regions of the South Americas, including Peru, Ecuador, Texas, Chile, Mexico, Bolivia, the West Indies, and northern Brazil. Since Ratanhia belongs to the family Krameriaceae it has several species within its genus, three of which are used in homeopathic remedies. Rhataniatannic acid, a natural astringent, can be extracted from the dried roots of Krameria argentea and Krameria lappacea, both referred to as para rhatany, and Krameria triandra, also called Peruvian ratanhia. Peruvian rhatany, rhatany-root, ratanhia,…
Larch or European larch scientifically known as Larix decidua is one of the few deciduous conifers belonging to Pinaceae (Pine family). The plant is native to mountains of southern, central and Eastern Europe, in the Alps and Carpathian Mountains as well as the Pyrenees, with disjunct lowland populations in northern Poland and southern Lithuania, from southeastern France and south-western Italy to central Romania. It is a large, long-lived and fast-growing tree, occurring mostly in mountainous regions in Central and Eastern Europe. Some of the popular common names of the plants are Common larch, European Larch, creosote bush, Larch and white…
Calumba scientifically known as Jateorhiza palmata is a perennial climbing plant belonging to Menispermaceae (Moonseed family). The plant is native to tropical East Africa particularly Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa (Kwazulu-Natal). It is cultivated in Mozambique, and cultivated and locally naturalized in many tropical countries, including Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and also in India and Brazil. It consists of isoquinoline alkaloids and is used mainly as a bitter tonic particularly in cases of anorexia nervosa. It contains no tannins, hence it can be safely used in iron preparations for the treatment of anemia without the fear of…
Aegopodium podagraria, commonly called bishop’s weed or goutweed is one of the most popular ground covers for quickly covering large areas belonging to carrot family (Apiaceae ⁄ Umbelliferae). The plant is native to Europe, Asia Minor, and Central Asia, but its native range is unclear. It has been introduced to North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan as an ornamental. Ground Elder, Bishop’s goutweed, Goutweed, Ground Elder, Bishop’s Weed, Jack-jump-about, Herb Gerard, Ashweed, Achweed, English Masterwort, Wild Masterwort, Pigweed, Eltroot, Bishop’s Elder, Weyl Ash, White Ash, Bishopswort, Ground Ash, gout wort and snow-in-the-mountain are some of the popular common names…
Peucedanum ostruthium or Imperatoria ostruthium popularly known as Masterwort is a species of flowering plant belonging to the celery, carrot or parsley family (Apiaceae). It is native to the mountains of Central and Southern Europe, including the Carpathians, Alps, northern Apennines, Massif Central and isolated occurrences in the Iberian Peninsula. It has, however, been widely introduced and cultivated and its native range is therefore not entirely clear. It can be a beautiful plant of any decorative or herbal gardens boasting white, pink or blue flowers. Masterwort, Imperatoria, hogfennel, Madnep, Cow Cabbage, Imperatoria, Cow parsnip, Youthwort, Hogweed, Madnep, Heracleum lanatum, Heracleum…
Ilex aquifolium, popularly known as holly, common holly, and English holly is a species of flowering plant belonging to holly family (Aquifoliaceae). The plant is native to northern Africa (i.e. Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia), western and southern Europe (i.e. the UK, France, Portugal, Spain, Albania, Bulgaria, Italy and Yugoslavia) and western Asia (i.e. Iran, Syria and Turkey). It is regarded as the type species of the genus Ilex, which by association is also called “holly”. In the British Isles it is one of very few native evergreen trees. It has a great capacity to adapt to different conditions and is…
Paspalum conjugatum, commonly known as carabao grass or hilo grass, is a tropical to subtropical perennial grass belonging to the genus Paspalum (bahiagrasses or crown grasses) in the grass family Poaceae. It was first described in 1772 in by the Swedish botanist Peter Jonas Bergius. The plant is native to tropical America, but is now found throughout the tropical regions of the world (i.e. it is pan-tropical). Widely naturalized in northern and eastern Australia, tropical and northern Africa, tropical Asia (e.g. Cambodia, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea), Mauritius, the Seychelles and…
Pilosella officinarum (synonym Hieracium pilosella), known as mouse-ear hawkweed, is a yellow-flowered species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. The plant is native to Europe (i.e. Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the UK, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine, western Russia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Yugoslavia, France, Portugal and Spain), western Asia (i.e. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and northern Asia (i.e. western Siberia). Mouse-ear hawkweed is considered as a potential environmental weed or “sleeper weed” in south-eastern Australia. Some of the popular common names of the plants are…
Rupturewort, known scientifically as Herniaria glabra, is a medicinal herb belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family and is associated to dianthus and carnations. There are around 15 to 20 species of annual or perennial plants that belong to the genus Herniaria and most can be found growing wild. Rupturewort is the only member of the species which is cultivated. The plant is native to Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia), Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Turkey), Europe (Belarus; Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania; Russian Federation, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic,…
Grindelia camporum, also variously known as gumweed, gumplant, field gumweed and, simply, big California gumplant is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae (Aster family). The plant is native to central California. It is found mostly in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. However, the plant may also be found to the east, across the North Coast Ranges and around the San Francisco Bay, north to the Cascade Range foothills, west along the Sierra Nevadas, and south along the outer Southern Coast Ranges into Baja California. There are historical records of introductions to Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Gumweed,…