Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Other Flowers
These are other flowers that I managed to find in my backyard, but was unable to identify them. They were pretty, so I felt obligated to share. This concludes my Virtual Plant Collection!
Bougainvillea, Bougainvillea glabra
Common Name: Bougainvillea
Scientific Name: Bougainvilea glabra
Clade: Angiosperms
Date Collected: 4/26/11
Location Collected: In my backyard, in a strip of soil, hanging down and over a chain-link fence
Habitat: Growing in moderately dry soil, within two feet of other plants such as hydrangeas; exposed to direect sunlight most of the day; watered at least once a day
Nativity: Native to Brazil
Special Notes: This species of Bougainvillea is most commonly used for bonsai. Its name comes from a French explorer named, Louis Antoine de Bougainville.
Resources:
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Orchids, Phalaenopsis cultivars
Common Name: Orchids
Scientific Name: Phalaenopsis cultivars (species that is used for cultivation)
Clade: Angiosperms
Date collected: 4/26/11
Location Collected: Inside of house, growing in a plastic pot
Habitat: Grows inside of a plastic pot, with loose soil inside of the pot; in an area where sunlight shines through and hits the orchid; frequently watered
Nativity: Native to Southeast Asia
Special Notes: The flowers of some species resemble moths in flight, which in turn gave them the name Moth orchids. This species is extensively hybridized, so that mayn colors and forms can be achieved.
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Common Haircap Moss, Polytrichum commune
Common Name: Common Haircap Moss, Common Hair Moss
Scientific Name: Polytrichum commune
Clade: Non-vascular plants
Date Collected: 4/26/11
Location Collected: In my backyard, next to a tree
Habitat: Growing next to a tree where it was very shaded; area is watered constantly; sunlight hits the moss, but only for very short periods, no foot traffic in particular area
Nativity: Native to temperate and boreal areas in the Northern Hemisphere; also found in New Zealand and Australia.
Special Notes: This and three other mosses (Fern, Rock Cap, and Cushion) are the easiset to grow and are sold commercially.
Resources:
Begonia, Begonia cultivars
Common Name: Begonia
Scientific Name: Begonia cultivars (scientific name for all cultivated species)
Clade: Angiosperms
Date Collected: 4/26/11
Location Collected: In the front yard of my house, with a plethora of other flowers including roses and petunias
Habitat: Growing in moist soil, with many other flowers; direct sun hits the flower for most of the day; watered constantly; grown in a clump of other begonias
Nativity: Native to the tropics
Special Notes: This specfic type of species is grown and hybridized specifically for cultivation. There is also a society by the name of The American Begonia Society, that is dedicated to all things related to Begonias. There is also a type of begonia named B.kimjongili, after the North Korean leader. There is also a B.kimilsungia, which is named after the predecessor of Kim Jong Il, Kim Il Sung.
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Petunia, Petunia hybridia
Common Name: Petunia
Scientific Name: Petunia Hybridia
Clade: Angiosperm
Date Collected: 4/26/11
Location Collected: In the front of my house, next to various other plants such as roses, begonias, etc.
Habitat: Grows in very moist soil, next to many other plants; exposed to sunlight constantly; soil is watered frequently; many of the plants are clustered together
Nativity: The original parent of this cross was from South America.
Special Notes: This specific species is a cross between P. axillaris and P. integrifolia, which were derived from South America. There are a variety of different colors and are frequently cultivated and sold at flower shops.
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Carolina Jasmine, Gelsemium sempervirens
Common Name: Carolina Jasmine/Jessamine, Yellow Jasmine/Jessamine
Scientific Name: Gelsemium sempervirens
Clade: Angiosperms
Date Collected: 4/26/11
Location Collected: In my backyard, growing in a flower pot with a mixture of many other wildflowers.
Habitat: Growing in a wooden pot with a mixture of other wild flowers; exposed to much sunlight during the day, soil was somewhat dry and there were many plants in the container, crowding out the plant
Nativity: Native to parts of the United States
Special Notes: This flower is the state flower of South Carolina. The flowers are very toxic, secreting a sap that can irritate skin and cannot be ingested due to poisonous alkaloids being present.
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Bigleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea Macrophylla
Common Name: Bigleaf Hydrangea, Penny Mac, Hortensia
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla
Clade: Angiosperms
Date Collected:4/26/11
Location Collected: In my backyard, growing next to many other plant on a strip of dirt next to the concrete walkway
Habitat: Grows in very moist soil, next to many other plants; exposed to direct sunlight for most of the day; grows about one foot high in a shrub
Nativity: Native to areas in Japan and China
Special Notes: The blossoms of this plant can vary in color, from pink to purple to blue. This variation in color is dependent of the acidity of the soil and the aluminum uptake of the plants. For example, in very acidic soil the blossoms become a deep purple.
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Calla Lily, Zantedeschia Aethiopica
Common Name: Calla Lily, Easter Lily, Lily of the Nile
Scientific Name: Zantedeschia Aethiopica
Clade: Angiosperm
Date Collected: 4/26/11
Location Collected: In my backyard, next to a multitude of various plants.
Habitat: Growing in very moist soil, next to many plants; much sunlight hits this plant daily; grows about two feet high and with other lilies
Nativity: Native to tropical parts of South Africa
Special Notes: This is the National Flower of St. Helena. It is also displayed in many Diego Rivera's Paintings, such as "Calla Lily Vendor".
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Male Fern, Dryopteris fillix-mas
Common Name: Male Fern, Common Male Fern
Scientific Name: Dryopteris fillix-mas
Clade: Seedless
Date Collected: 4/26/11
Location Collected: In the Backyard of my house; Next to a wall in the middle of two other potted plants
Habitat: Growing in moist soil next to two plants; in an area where direect sunlight hits it for most of the day; little foot traffic allows the plant to grow somewhat big.
Nativity: Native to California
Special Notes: The particular plant that is growing in my backyard has Fiddleheads (named due to their similarity to the head of a violin, or fiddle), which are the young unfurled fronds of the fern. These Fiddleheads can be used in cooking, and are quite delicious. This particular type of fern is also a very potent homeopathic medicine to eradicate tapeworms from one's body.
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Night-Blooming Jasmine, Cestrum Nocturnum
Scientific Name: Cestrum Nocturnum
Clade: Angiosperm
Date Collected: 4/26/11
Location Collected: Backyard of my house, Next to a window
Habitat: Growing in very light, moist soil; in an area where moderate light hits the plant; many plants growing around it; about four feet in height.
Nativity: This specific plant is native to tropical America/West Indies.
Special Notes: The Night-Blooming Jasmine produces a very strong, pleasant scent when in bloom.
Resources:
Cestrum Nocturnum, Wikipedia
Floridata, Cestrum Nocturnum
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