Monday, September 30, 2013

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech


General Information
Common Name European Beech
Scientific Name Fagus sylvatica
Sun Tolerance Full Sun
Height 25–35 m (80–115 ft)
Spread up to 15 m (up to 50 ft)
Growth Rate Moderate 
Bloom Time Spring
Color Green
Flower Color Green
Type Tree
Native Europe, western Asia
Classification
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
SuperdivisionSpermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Hamamelididae
Order Fagales
Family Fagaceae – Beech family
Genus Fagus L. – beech
Species F. sylvatica

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech
European Beech Scientific name is Fagus sylvatica is one of the best known trees in Europe. It is seen particularly on chalk and limestone formations such as the Cotswold’s, Chilterns and Downs. It is graceful tall tree, reaching heights of up to 49 m (160 ft) tall and 3 m (10 ft) trunk diameter, sometimes called 'The Lady of the Woods'. The thick shade which it sheds usually keeps the forest floor bereft of undergrowth. The mature, almost mono-culture beech wood, has a beauty rarely surpassed. It is also a long living tree that has a typical lifespan of 150 to 200 years, though sometimes up to 300 years.
The new shoots, grey and transparent, develop into long, thin, zigzag twigs which hold pale brown winter buds, set alternately and long and slender, with papery scales, 5–10 cm long and 3–7 cm broad, with 6-7 veins on each side of the leaf . The leaves are a tender pale green when opening in April, later becoming a rich deep green shade. They are oval, end in a short point and have a wavy margin which with the veins on the underside and the leaf-stalks are at first hairy. In autumn the leaves change to glorious tints of bronze, orange and gold. Trees below a height of about 10 ft retain their spent red-brown leaves throughout winter, but larger trees strew them over the forest floor until they are swept by the wind to lie in deep drifts.
The male catkins are borne in groups of two or three soon after the leaves open, each catkin has a long thin drooping stalk which bears two or three slender scale leaves and ends in a tassel of about fifteen greenish flowers. The female catkins are small, green, and lie close to the stem. At first the fruit is an egg-shaped pointed green husk, clad in soft green hairs. In the autumn the husks turn brown, and after splitting into four lobes to release one or two triangular, smooth shining brown seeds (‘beech nuts’), they often persist on the tree until the following spring. Good ‘mast years’ occur infrequently. The nuts provide, with acorns, pannage for pigs.
Fagus sylvatica – European Beech
The thin bark is of a typical bright silver-grey or metallic color and remains smooth throughout the tree’s life. In some parts of the country the naked circular columnar trunks have in part almost a purplish sheen. In outline Beech is large, upright, with a crown comprising a spreading network of fine branches. Its base is almost always but-tressed. The wood is hard and strong, of a bright buff color with mid-brown flecks (‘pith rays’). Among its chief uses are furniture and turnery goods such as tool handles, bowls and spoons.
Beech freely regenerates from fallen seed. It is usually planted pure or as groups in a matrix of other trees or as an underpants. It has a high amenity value.

Beeches with coppery red or deep purple foliage are frequently seen. The Copper Beech, variety purpurea (altropunicea), is a natural ‘spot’ Discovered in the eighteenth century. The rich purplish-brown color of its leaves masks their green chlorophyll within but they function normally. The tree is usually grafted onto stock of the common Beech but will also grow from seed.



Fagus sylvatica – European Beech : Leaves

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech : Leaves

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech : Leaves

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech : Flowers

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech : Flowers

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech : Nut

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech : Nuts

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech : Nuts

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech

Fagus sylvatica – European Beech

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree


General Information
Common Name Spindle Tree
Scientific Name Euonymus europaeus
Sun Tolerance Full Sun
Height  2.5-3 m (8-10 ft)
Spread 2.5-3 m (8-10 ft)
Growth Rate Moderate
Bloom Time late Spring, Early Summer
Color Green
Flower Color Green, Greenish White 
Type Shrub
Native Europe, western Asia
Classification
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
SuperdivisionSpermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Rosidae
Order Celastrales
Family Celastraceae – Bittersweet family
Genus Euonymus L. – spindletree
Species E. europaeus

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree
Euonymus europaeus commonly known as Spindle Tree is native to Europe and Western Asia. This is small but interesting and appears as a shrubs particularly on the chalk downs and locally on lime-rich soils. It is scarcely noticed before autumn, when the displays of its pretty fuchsia-pink seed-pods are conspicuous, accompanied by a delightful show of leaf color, the green leaves changing to russet-red hues before they fall.
The young twigs are green (in autumn a conspicuous component of an otherwise brown hedgerow) and after the first year are four-angled, later developing pale brown cork ribs along the angles of the square, eventually they grow quite round. The winter buds are in opposite pairs. The leaves very from oval to lance-shaped, with a finely toothed margin and a pointed tip. From a shining blue-mid-green (paler on the under-side) they fade in autumn to yellow, russet and crimson.

Euonymus europaeus - Spindle Tree
The small greenish-white flowers are borne in June in loose cluster in the leaf axils. The trees are often either male or female thought flowers including both sexes do occur on the same tree. The female flower produces a four-lobed seed-pod which is pale green at first, but changes to a vivid pink by October. Within a month or two the seed-pod  splist open to expose the four bright orange pulpy coats ( and aril) which each enclose a hard white seed within a pink seed-coat. The seeds are poisonous.
The bark is smooth, greenish at first, later becoming grey to pale brown. The hardness, smoothness and toughness of the whitish wood led to its early use for the spindles used for spinning wool by hand – explaining the tree’s name. The wood also yields a fine charcoal for artists’ use.
Spindle Tree is unpopular with farmers because it is an alternative host to the bean-fly. 



Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree: Leaves

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree : Flowers

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree : Flowers



Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree



Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Tree

Friday, September 20, 2013

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe

General Information
Common Name Cape Aloe
Scientific Name Aloe ferox
Sun Tolerance Full Sun
Height 2 – 3 m (6 - 8 ft)
Spread 1.2 – 1.8 m (4 - 6 ft
Growth Rate Slow
Bloom Time Winter
Color Green
Flower Color Red, Orange, White
Type Cactus & Succulents
Native Africa
Classification
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Subclass Liliidae
Order Liliales
Family Aloaceae – Aloe family
Genus Aloe L. – aloe
Species A. ferox

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe
Aloe ferox commonly known as Cape Aloe. It is well known as Aloe Vera. Aloe ferox is native to southern of Africa. It is usually found in mountainous areas where it favors exposed ridges and rocky grass fields. This is an evergreen slow growing plant that grows to 2 – 3 m (6 – 8 ft). The leaves are a dull green, sometimes with a slightly blue look to them. Each leaf can be up to 1 m long. They may also have a reddish tinge. It blooms in winter. The flowers color is red, orange or white with cylindrical shape. All plant of this species is also relatively popular among gardeners and has been studied for possible medical uses. Aloe has a great medic value. For hundreds of years “Alo Jel” used for Skin care products. Aloe ferox plants are propagated mainly from seed and head cuttings, with plants sowed with approximately one meter separations. When it planted from seeds it takes about 4 to 5 years for the plants to reach the first harvest. At harvest time each leaf reached up to 1-2 Kg at weight. 


Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe : Flower

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe : Flowers

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe : Flowers

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe : Flowers

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe


Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe

Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe


Aloe ferox - Cape Aloe

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh


General Information
Common Name Blue Cohosh, Squaw root or Papoose root
Scientific Name Caulophyllum thalictroides
Sun Tolerance Shade
Height Below 1 m (1–3 ft)
Spread Below 1 m (1–2 ft)
Growth Rate Moderate
Bloom Time Spring
Color Green
Flower Color Gree, Yellow, White
Type Shrub
Native North-America
Classification
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Ranunculales
Family Berberidaceae – Barberry family
Genus Caulophyllum Michx. – cohosh
Species C. thalictroides

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh
Caulophyllum thalictroides common name is Blue Cohosh. It is also called Squaw Root or Papoose root. It is native to eastern North-America. It is found in hardwood forest of the eastern United States, and favors moist coves and hillsides. It is generally well grown in shady locations, in rich soil. This is flowering shrubs plant. Plants may be grown from seed, but usually will not flower until the third or fourth year. It is a medium-tall perennial with blue berry-like fruits and evergreen tree. Blue Cohosh grows 1-3 feet (below 1m). It is valued not for its flowers but for its lacy, ternately-compound, blue-green foliage and its erect clusters of blue, fruit-like seeds. Leaves appear at mid-stem, emerging a smoky blue in spring and turning bluish-green at maturity. Young plants are covered with a whitish, waxy bloom. Inconspicuous, brownish-green to yellowish-green flowers. The roots of Blue Cohosh has a great medic value. It  is used as a medicinal herb by American Indians. Many Native American tribes and mid-wives, would use this herb in conjunction with other herbs and fluids for abortive and contraceptive purposes. 

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Flowers

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Flowers

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Flowers

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Fruits

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Fruits

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Fruits

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Flowers

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Flowers

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Roots

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Roots

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Fruits

Caulophyllum thalictroides - Blue Cohosh : Flowers