Odd Plants
View allAll Photos Tagged Plantae
• Red bottlebrush, crimson bottlebrush, lemon bottlebrush
• Árbol del cepillo, escobillón rojo, limpiatubos
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Myrtales
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Melaleuca
Species:M. citrina
Synonyms: Metrosideros citrina, Callistemon lanceolatus, Callistemon citrinus
Origin: Bottlebrushes are members of the genus Melaleuca and belong to the family Myrtaceae. They are closely related to paperbark melaleucas, which also have 'bottlebrush' shaped flower spikes. Most Bottlebrushes occur in the east and south-east of Australia. Two species occur in the south-west of Western Australia and four species in New Caledonia. Bottlebrushes can be found growing from Australia's tropical north to the temperate south. They often grow in damp or wet conditions such as along creek beds or in areas which are prone to floods.
This species is probably the best known bottlebrush and is widely cultivated. The bright red flower-spikes appear in summer and autumn. Crimson Bottlebrush grows well in wet conditions and usually reaches 4 m. Plants should be lightly pruned and fertilised after flowering. Neglected or mis-shapen plants respond to hard pruning.
Paso Centurión, Cerro Largo, Uruguay
Common Name: garden phlox
Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes' (Polemoniaceae - Polémoniacées)
Other Names: Summer Phlox, Flame Pink, Garden Phlox, Fall Phlox, Perennial Phlox, Tall Phlox.
Autres noms : phlox des jardins ou phlox vivace.
White Passion Flower found in the Royal Botanical Gardens Centre's Mediterranean Garden located in the City of Burlington Ontario Canada.
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This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. They may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.
Classificação científica
Reino: Plantae
Género: Asclepias
Ordem: Gentianales
Clado: Angiospérmicas
Clado: Eudicotiledóneas
Família: Asclepiadaceae
Origin and Habitat: Parodia herteri has a very restricted range in Brazil, (Rio Grande do Sul) and Uruguay ( Rivera, Artigas, Cerro Galgo), extent of occurrence is approximately 4,500 km2.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
(unranked):Angiosperms
(unranked):Eudicots
(unranked):Core eudicots
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Cactaceae
Subfamily:Cactoideae
Tribe:Notocacteae
Genus:Parodia
Species:P. herteri
24 years old specimen from my collection
Habitat: Grows in a a sandy and rocky soil, in grasslands or pampas at low altitude (100-400 metres above sea level). It is not abundant and several subpopulations have already disappeared. It has several ongoing major threats that have drastically reduced the species' population and its habitat. The major threats for the species are fires, agriculture, forestry, grazing and urban sprawl. The species is used as an ornamental in specialized collections, but specimens are not collected from the wild.
Also commonly known as the African daisy, Gerbera is native to tropical regions of South America, Africa and Asia.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Asterales
Family:Asteraceae
Subfamily:Mutisioideae
Tribe:Mutisieae
Genus:Gerbera
The first scientific description of a Gerbera was made by J.D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described Gerbera jamesonii, a South African species also known as Transvaal daisy or Barberton daisy.
Also commonly known as the African daisy, Gerbera is native to tropical regions of South America, Africa and Asia.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Asterales
Family:Asteraceae
Subfamily:Mutisioideae
Tribe:Mutisieae
Genus:Gerbera
The first scientific description of a Gerbera was made by J.D. Hooker in Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1889 when he described Gerbera jamesonii, a South African species also known as Transvaal daisy or Barberton daisy.
Classificação científica
🌺
Reino: Plantae
Ordem: Malvales
Género: Hibiscus
Família: Malvaceae
Classe: Magnoliopsida
Divisão: Magnoliophyta
Classificação científica
🌺
Reino: Plantae
Ordem: Malvales
Género: Hibiscus
Família: Malvaceae
Classe: Magnoliopsida
Divisão: Magnoliophyta
• Giant Chin Cactus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
(unranked):Angiosperms
(unranked):Eudicots
(unranked):Core eudicots
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Cactaceae
Subfamily:Cactoideae
Tribe:Trichocereeae
Genus:Gymnocalycium
Species:G. saglionis
Origin: Gymnocalycium saglionis has a wide range and is locally abundant in Argentina (Jujuy, Catamarca, La Rioja, Salta, San Juan, Tucumán). It was Originally found in Dept. Trancas, ca. 12 km al norte de Tapia en la ruta 9 a Vipos, 700 m, Tucumán.
From my collection
Personal and current note:
All my May flowers, I mean every possible color here, bloomed in May. The Christmas cactus are known in the northern hemisphere as the Christmas Cactus (late autumn or early winter), but in the state of São Paulo it has the popular name of the May flower, native to a mountain range in the state of Rio de Janeiro , overhangs trees. The rest of the country calls it the silk flower and it makes sense because of the transparency and delicacy of the flower petals.
It's a shame to be so perennial.
Once a year and for a maximum of 6 days or a maximum of seven days of flowering.
This orange May flower is tricolor. It has an orange inner part, a yellow to orange upper part and a pink stigma. It's very beautiful!
PS. It was like this last year:
***
S. Truncata Group 'Gold Charm'; note the very pointed teeth at the end of the segments, zygomorphic flowers held above the horizontal, and yellow pollen.
May flower: the cactus that offers beauty instead of thorns:
The May flower - common name of the species Schlumbergera truncata - is one of those plants that we tend to despise most of the year. It is, after all, a true botanical commonplace:
since the days of grandma's gardens, it has been hanging around on any balcony or housed in cachepots on some furniture in the living room. It is also a champion of popularity in floras - ready to be pushed by sellers every time the consumer searches for a plant “for beginners”.
This is all true, yes. But, as I was able to feel myself this week, the fact that it is party rice does not eliminate the extraordinary value and the pleasure of having a May flower inside the house. And pleasure is precisely in the miracle that works, out of nowhere, in your metabolism. During most of the year, the May flower is a discreet little thing, with its branches formed by fragile and evergreen buds releasing at most new buds. Suddenly, sometime between the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, behold that dull plant explodes in buttons with extremely striking shapes and colors - mine, for example, pump out between May and July.
After flowering, it often withers, loses part of the buds and spends the rest of the year trying to recover from the excruciating effort of flowering.
The May flower is from the cactus family, but has no thorns. In its original habitat, the Atlantic Forest, it presents an epiphyte behavior. In other words: like orchids and many bromeliads, it uses tree trunks as a support. Thanks to horticultural improvement, the variety of colors available on the market today is immense. You can splurge, as you can see in this photo that illustrates this post, the very rare flower of May YELLOW.
Despite the fact that the May flower is a peaceful and favorable cultivation plant, some precautions are mandatory to avoid unpleasantness. Here is a basic guide to success:
1) SOIL - As it is a succulent, the may flower requires perfect drainage. She does, however, enjoy a lot of organic matter. So, plant it in pots with holes, filled with pebbles and sand at the bottom and the remaining two thirds completed with vegetable soil. Curiosity: if these conditions are met, the May flower can grow a lot and live for years in small pots.
2) WATERING - Do not overdo it and do not leave dishes filled with water under the pot, to avoid waterlogging and root rot. But also be sure to water frequently - two to four times a week, depending on the weather. She likes the slightly damp earth.
3) LUZ - This is, perhaps, the main catch. The May flower hates receiving direct sunlight, but enjoys well-lit environments. The right places for her, therefore, are balconies and bright interiors, but fresh. Or under the treetops.
4) FLOWERING - The May flower releases its buds when two variables combine: the nights become longer and the minimum temperatures are close to 10-15 degrees. And so it lives up to its name: in the Southeast of Brazil, these ideal conditions are usually registered between mid-May and the end of June.
5) POST-FLOWERING STRESS - May flower is a perennial species, that is, it does not die after giving flowers. Often, however, it cannot withstand the thud of its metabolic explosion: after so much effort, the stem buds become wilted and break easily. In the extreme, the plant dies from stress. To avoid this, it is necessary to redouble the care with nutrition. After flowering, increase the watering slightly and add a little earthworm humus or phosphorus-rich fertilizer (the “P” of the renowned NPK trio).
Last tip: take advantage of the loose buds to produce new seedlings. It's very easy, just fix a piece of them in moist soil.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Amaranthaceae
Genus:Suaeda
Species:S. vermiculata
Synonyms: Chenopodium alexandrinum
Faro del Tostón (El Cotillo), La Oliva, Fuerteventura, Islas Canarias
Endemic of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
(unranked):Angiosperms
(unranked):Eudicots
(unranked):Core eudicots
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Cactaceae
Subfamily:Cactoideae
Tribe:Trichocereeae
Genus:Echinopsis
Species:E. calochlora
From my collection
Some other Echinopsis of 2020:
• Echinopsis subdenudata flic.kr/p/2kaGtuT
• Echinopsis eyriesii flic.kr/p/2kbh6KH
• Hybrid (white / broad petals) flic.kr/p/2kgRjQE
Hybrid Echinopsis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
(unranked):Angiosperms
(unranked):Eudicots
(unranked):Core eudicots
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Cactaceae
Subfamily:Cactoideae
Tribe:Trichocereeae
Genus:Echinopsis
From my collection
Many other fruits are also wonderful in their season, but the pear at its finest can be so much more exceptional in terms of its luscious texture, richness of taste, and its fragrances reminiscent of rose water, musk, and vanilla.
Pears grow in the Alcinous' orchard, in The Odyssey:
"A LARGE ORCHARD of four acres, where trees hang
their greenery on high, the pear and the
pomegranate, the apple with its glossy burden, the
sweet fig and luxuriant olive ... Pear after
pear, apple after apple, cluster on cluster of grapes,
and fig upon fig, are always coming to perfection ..."
The Odyssey by Homer, written 800 BC
L’Acero del Canada ha foglie opposte caduche, con nervature profonde, da tri- a pentalobate e lunghe fino a 13 cm; i lobi, poco incisi, sono separati da angoli ottusi. Di colore verde scuro, d'autunno assumono sfumature di gradazioni brillanti dal giallo oro all'arancione, fino al cremisi e allo scarlatto; la muta più spettacolare avviene nella zona settentrionale dell'areale, dove c'è la giusta alternanza di giornate soleggiate e notti fredde.
Canada Maple, has opposite deciduous leaves, with deep veins, from three to five-lobed and up to 13 cm long; the lobes, slightly incised, are separated by obtuse angles. Dark green in colour, in autumn they take on shades of brilliant gradations from golden yellow to orange, up to crimson and scarlet; the most spectacular moult occurs in the northern part of the range, where there is the right alternation of sunny days and cold nights.
Les feuilles d’érable du Canada sont caduques, opposées, à nervures profondes, de trois à cinq lobes et mesurant jusqu'à 13 cm de long ; les lobes, légèrement incisés, sont séparés par des angles obtus. De couleur vert foncé, elles prennent en automne des nuances brillantes allant du jaune doré à l'orange, jusqu'au cramoisi et à l'écarlate ; la mue la plus spectaculaire se produit dans la partie nord de la chaîne, où il y a une bonne alternance de jours ensoleillés et de nuits froides.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to view, comment, and fave my photo. It’s really appreciated.
Apocynaceae: Dogbane family
Periwinkle - Vinca minor Apocynaceae:)
Vinca mineur (Apocynacées)
Name also: Dwarf Periwinkle, Common Periwinkle, Small Periwinkle, Myrtle, Creeping Myrtle, Running Myrtle, Greater Periwinkle
Autres noms français : Bergère, Buis bâtard, Petit sorcier, Violette des morts ou de serpent ou des sorciers, Petite pervenche, Herbe à capucine, Pucelage, Violette mineure.
Photographed the Kiwifruit flowers in the 360 Kiwi Vineyards located in Te Puke Western Bay of Plenty in Bay of Plenty in New Zealand
Kiwifruit is native to central and eastern China. The first recorded description of the kiwifruit dates to the 12th century
during the Song dynasty.
In the early 20th century, cultivation of
kiwifruit spread from China to New Zealand, where the first commercial plantings occurred.
The fruit became popular with British and American servicemen stationed in New Zealand during World War II, and later became commonly exported, first to Great
Britain and then to California in the 1960s
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This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. They may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.
Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy' is an interesting mutation originated in cultivation in California, with leaves appearing to be positioned upside-down and with the flowers heavily distorted.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
(unranked):Angiosperms
(unranked):Eudicots
(unranked):Core eudicots
Order:Saxifragales
Family:Crassulaceae
Subfamily:Sedoideae
Tribe:Sedeae
Subtribe:Sedinae
Genus:Echeveria
Species:E. runyonii
From my collection
The genus name "Lampranthus" means "shining-flowers" in Latin.
Lampranthus roseus is an evergreen plant in the Aizoaceae family.
The vine is a plant of the genus Vitis native to Asia.
In Catalonia, the Vitis vinifera species is grown in vineyards or vinyards to obtain grapes.
The fruit of several Vitis species are grown commercially for consumption as fresh grapes and for fermentation into wine.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to view, comment, and fave my photo. It’s really appreciated.
Hybrid specimen with beautiful white flowers
My Night Blooming Cactus
Echinopsis subdenudata (Cactaceae)
They bloom one night only and than withers away.
Ne s'ouvre qu'une nuit, fane au matin.
• Kenilworth ivy / ivy-leaf toadflax / Coliseum ivy
• Hierba de campanario / Palomilla de muro / Picardia
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Lamiales
Family:Plantaginaceae
Genus:Cymbalaria
Species:C. muralis
Solymar, Canelones, Uruguay
• Prickly pear / Orange tuna
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Cactaceae
Genus:Opuntia
Species:O. elata
Proa al Mar, Maldonado, Uruguay
Sunflowers
While it is so grey and rainy in Europe right now, think it's time to bring a little sunshine with those sunflowers or Helianthus, as seen and photogrpahed in the Philippines.
And ere is some background information from Wikipedia about the sunflowers:
Sunflowers are usually tall annual or perennial plants that in some species can grow to a height of 300 cm (120 in) or more. They bear one or more wide, terminal capitula (flower heads), with bright yellow ray florets at the outside and yellow or maroon (also known as a brown/red) disc florets inside. Several ornamental cultivars of H. annuus have red-colored ray florets; all of them stem from a single original mutant. During growth, sunflowers tilt during the day to face the sun, but stop once they begin blooming. This tracking of the sun in young sunflower heads is called heliotropism. By the time they are mature, sunflowers generally face east. The rough and hairy stem is branched in the upper part in wild plants, but is usually unbranched in domesticated cultivars. The petiolate leaves are dentate and often sticky. The lower leaves are opposite, ovate, or often heart-shaped.They are distinguished technically by the fact that the ray florets (when present) are sterile, and by the presence on the disk flowers of a pappus that is of two awn-like scales that are caducous (that is, easily detached and falling at maturity). Some species also have additional shorter scales in the pappus, and one species lacks a pappus entirely. Another technical feature that distinguishes the genus more reliably, but requires a microscope to see, is the presence of a prominent, multicellular appendage at the apex of the style. Sunflowers are especially well known for their symmetry based on Fibonacci numbers and the golden angle.
Quite a bit of variability is seen among the perennial species that make up the bulk of those in the genus. Some have most or all of the large leaves in a rosette at the base of the plant and produce a flowering stem that has leaves that are reduced in size. Most of the perennials have disk flowers that are entirely yellow, but a few have disk flowers with reddish lobes. One species, H. radula, lacks ray flowers altogether.Helianthus species are used as food plants by the larvae of many lepidopterans. The seeds of H. annuus are used as human food.
And ofcourse:
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Asterales
Family:Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Supertribe: Helianthodae
Tribe: Heliantheae
Genus: Helianthus
• Ñire, Ñirre, Haya antártica
• Antarctic beech
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Fagales
Family:Nothofagaceae
Genus:Nothofagus
Species:N. antarctica
Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Muscari armeniacum (Hyacinthaceae)
Hyacinthus botryoides
Common name: Common Grape Hyacinth.
Nom commun: Muscari botryde
Photographed the Utah Juniper on one of the walking trails at the Echo Canyon Welcome Center Rest Area Westbound I-80 in Summit County Utah U.S.A.
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This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. They may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.
Reino: Plantae
División: Magnoliophyta
Clase: Magnoliopsida
Orden: Dipsacales
Familia: Caprifoliaceae
Subfamilia: Caprifolioideae
Género: Lonicera
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A8vrefeuille
Tufted Loosestrife photographed on Prout's Island on Lake Sesekinika in Sesekinika in Grenfell Township Northeastern Ontario Canada
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This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. The photos may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.
Photographed the Tiger Lily in one of the Flower gardens on Prout's Island on Lake Sesekinika in Grenfell Township in Northeastern Ontario Canada
Lance-leaved tiger lily is native to China, but is widely cultivated in North America. It often escapes from cultivation and is quite common and widespread in New England in fields, roadsides and lawn edges. The large bulbs are edible, and the flowers are sometimes eaten in salads.
This species is distinctive for having alternate leaves with small bulbils forming in the upper leaf axils.
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This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. They may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.
Pink Stargazer Oriental Lily found in one of the Flower Gardens on A12 Prout's Island on Sesekinika Lake in Sesekinika in the Township Grenfell in Northeastern Ontario Canada
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This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. They may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.
• Old Woman Cactus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
(unranked):Angiosperms
(unranked):Eudicots
(unranked):Core eudicots
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Cactaceae
Subfamily:Cactoideae
Tribe:Cacteae
Genus:Mammillaria
Species: M. hahniana
Subspecies: M. hahniana bravoae
Mammillaria hahniana, the old lady cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to central Mexico. It grows to 25 cm (10 in) tall by 50 cm (20 in) broad. The solitary spherical stems, 12 cm in diameter, are covered in white down and white spines. Reddish purple flowers are borne in spring and summer, sometimes forming a complete ring around the apex of the plant.
From my collection
Night-blooming cactus
January 14, 2019
Scientific classification:
Superdomain: Neomura
Domain: Eukaryota
(unranked): Archaeplastida
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Caryophyllidae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cereeae
Genus: Cereus
Species: C. forbesii
From my collection
Many thanks to all who have taken the time to comment on/or select this image as a personal favourite. Cheers!
Red Bottlebrush Shrub flower photographed in the Vilar do Golf Resort located in Quinta do Lago in Almancil in the Algarve of Southern Portugal.
Callistemon species have commonly been referred to as bottlebrushes because of their cylindrical, brush like flowers resembling a traditional bottle brush. They are mostly found in the more temperate regions of Australia, especially along the east coast and typically favour moist conditions so when planted in gardens thrive on regular watering.[citation needed] However, two species are found in Tasmania and several others in the south-west of Western Australia. At least some species are drought-resistant and some are used in ornamental landscaping elsewhere in the world.
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This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. They may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.
In the Southern Hemisphere, spring has gently arrived, bringing with it the peaceful beauty of blooming flowers and calm, sunny days.
Gerbera, also known as the African daisy, is native to tropical regions of Africa and has been successfully introduced to Latin American and Southeast Asian countries. This species is widely cultivated as a decorative garden plant and as a popular cut flower. The domesticated cultivars are primarily hybrids of Gerbera jamesonii and Gerbera viridifolia, collectively referred to as Gerbera × hybrida.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Asterales
Family:Asteraceae
Subfamily:Mutisioideae
Tribe:Mutisieae
Genus:Gerbera
Thousands of cultivars exist, displaying remarkable variation in shape, size, and color — including white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The flower heads (capitula) range from about 7 cm in diameter (Gerbera ‘Mini Harley’) to 12 cm (Gerbera ‘Golden Serena’). The center of the flower is sometimes black, and often a single bloom can have petals of several different colors.
In temperate climates, Gerbera exhibits a bimodal blooming pattern, with flowering peaks in late spring to early summer and again from late summer to early autumn. Although a perennial species, it is often grown as an annual in regions that experience severe frost.
In loving memory of my mother
María Eugenia Ibáñez Somma
💜 December 26, 1950 – October 22, 2025
In the Southern Hemisphere, spring has gently arrived, bringing with it the peaceful beauty of blooming flowers and calm, sunny days.
Gerbera, also known as the African daisy, is native to tropical regions of Africa and has been successfully introduced to Latin American and Southeast Asian countries. This species is extensively used as a decorative garden plant or as cut flowers. The domesticated cultivars are primarily hybrids of Gerbera jamesonii and Gerbera viridifolia, referred to as Gerbera × hybrida.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Asterales
Family:Asteraceae
Subfamily:Mutisioideae
Tribe:Mutisieae
Genus:Gerbera
Thousands of cultivars exist, exhibiting significant variation in shape, size, and color, including white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The flower-heads (capitula) range from 7 cm in diameter (Gerbera 'mini Harley') to 12 cm (Gerbera ‘Golden Serena’). The centre of the flower is sometimes black, and often the same flower can have petals of several different colours. Gerbera exhibits a bimodal blooming pattern in temperate climates, with flowering periods in late spring to early summer and late summer to early autumn. Despite being a perennial, it is cultivated as an annual in regions experiencing severe frost.
Photographed the Caster Bean plant growing off of the Panther Point Trail in the Marshall Hampton Reserve located in Winter Haven in Polk County Florida U.S.A.
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This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. They may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Subclass: Liliidae
Order: Asparagales
Family: Alliaceae
Genus: Allium
Species: A. schoenoprasum
Height: 30-50 cm tall
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are the smallest species of the onion family Alliaceae, native to Europe, Asia and North America. They are referred to only in the plural, because they grow in clumps rather than as individual plants. Allium schoenoprasum is also the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old World.
Its species name derives from the Greek skhoinos (sedge) and prason (onion). Its English name, chive, derives from the French word cive, which was derived from cepa, the Latin word for onion.
Culinary uses for chives involve shredding its leaves (straws) for use as condiment for fish, potatoes and soups. Because of this, it is a common household herb, frequent in gardens as well as in grocery stores. It also has insect-repelling properties which can be used in gardens to control pests.
The medical properties of chives are similar to those of garlic, but weaker; the faint effects in comparison with garlic are probably the main reason for its limited use as a medicinal herb. Containing numerous organisulplide compounds such as allyl sulfides and alkyl sulfoxides, chives have a beneficial effect on the circulatory system, acting upon it by lowering the blood pressure. As chives are usually served in small amounts and never as the main dish, negative effects are rarely encountered, although digestive problems may occur following over-consumption.
Chives are also rich in vitamins A and C, and contain trace amounts of sulfur and iron.
• Tree peony, Moutan peony
• Peonía de árbol
• 모란 (Moran)
Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Paeoniaceae
Genus: Paeonia
Species: Paeonia suffruticosa
The tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa, Korean: 모란, Moran) is a magnificent woody shrub celebrated for its lush, multi-petaled blossoms and elegant structure. Unlike the herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora, 작약, Jakyak), which dies back each winter, the tree peony grows on sturdy woody stems and produces even larger, more dramatic flowers. From April to May, it bursts into bloom with shades ranging from pure white to deep reddish-purple, filling gardens with color and subtle fragrance. By late summer, its fruit splits open to reveal small, round black seeds.
In South Korea, the tree peony is more than just a beautiful flower—it carries deep cultural symbolism. For centuries it has represented wealth, honor, prosperity, and refined beauty, appearing in traditional art, poetry, and palace decorations. A notable example is its frequent appearance in the folk paintings known as minwha (민화), where it is used as an auspicious ornamental motif. Though admired throughout the country, tree peonies remain a cherished sight in spring, when their short but spectacular blooming season draws admirers from near and far.
Ojukheon Museum (오죽헌 박물관), Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea