Uploads from Al JC, tagged pittencrief

shade and light

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:30:23 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

Zantedeschia aethiopica (common names Lily of the Nile, Calla lily, Easter lily, Arum lily, Varkoor, an Afrikaans name meaning pig's ear) Calla aethiopica, Richardia africana Kunth, Richardia aethiopica, Colocasia aethiopica is a species in the family Araceae, native to southern Africa in Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland.

It is poisonous. Keep away from nibbling pets !!!!

Its parts are toxic and will cause burning to the mouth, tongue and lips if ingested as it contains calcium oxalic crystals. It can also cause vomiting and can make it difficult to swallow.

hairy cactus

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:03:24 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

this cactus won't feel the cold lol

Pittencrief Greenhouse

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:55:21 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

Plants all trimmed and ready for summer growth. The first section here the far end one was being planted out.

bird of paradise

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 10:29:47 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

Background by browse.deviantart.com/art/Background-6-53149786

banana plant

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:32:24 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

After fruiting, the banana plant is cut down to the ground. The mother plant will no longer be able to produce fruit, so by cutting it down, you're essentially allowing the roots to regenerate and produce a new plant.

Best viewed on black.

blossom

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:25:34 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

A little reminder that spring isn't too far away.

Through the curtain

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 02:29:24 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

of leaves.

emerging

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:37:43 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

brilliant in the sunlight

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:09:06 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Star Magnolia Mangnolia stellata

Japanese quince Chaenomeles japonica

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:36:55 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

The fruits are very hard and astringent and very unpleasant to eat raw, though they do soften and become less astringent after frost (when they are said to be "bletted"). They are, however, suitable for making liqueurs, as well as marmalade and preserves, as they contain more pectin than apples and true quinces. The fruit also contain more vitamin C than lemons (up to 150 mg/100 g).

The true quince (Cydonia oblonga) possesses several therapeutic properties and many parts of the tree are used to treat different conditions. The bark of the quince stem has astringent properties and is recommended for the treatment of ulcers. The seeds of the quince fruit possess gentle, but dependable laxative, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. The seeds puff up when placed in water and forms a sticky substance that has a comforting and softening action when used internally. This sticky mass formed by soaking the seeds in water is used to heal respiratory ailments, particularly in children. In addition, this gelatinous substance is also applied topically to heal minor burns and bruises.

The quince fruit possesses astringent, cardiac, digestive, carminative (relieving flatulence), anti-vinous (treating alcohol addition), emollient (softening), diuretic, pectoral (treating lung ailments), peptic (promoting digestion), expectorant, refrigerant (alleviating fever), stimulant, restorative (curative) and tonic properties. Raw quince fruits have a very caustic flavor and syrup prepared with it is used to treat diarrhea. This herbal remedy is considered to be safe for use by children. In addition, the quince fruit as well as the juice extracted from it also acts as an effective mouthwash or gargle to heal gum problems, tender throats as well as mouth ulcers. The leaves of this tree enclose pectin and tannin. While the tannin present in quince leaves can be utilized as astringent, pectin has positive impact on the circulatory system as it helps to lower blood pressure.

Quince fruits cannot be consumed fresh. Hence, they are usually used to prepare jam, jelly, marmalade and a type of pudding. Alternately, the fruits may also be peeled and subsequently roasted, baked or cooked as a stew. The flesh of quince fruits turns reddish when they are cooked for a prolonged period. As the fruits have a strong scent, small quantities of it may be added to jams and pies prepared with apples with a view to enhance their flavor. If you add a cube of quince fruit to apple sauce, it helps to enhance the flavour of the sauce. It may be mentioned here that the word ‘marmalade’ originally denoted a jam prepared with quince and is drawn from the Portuguese name for this fruit - ‘marmelo’. Like many other fruits, quince may also be fermented to prepare a variety of wine.

People in Iran and several other regions of the Middle East use the dried pits (the hard inner layer of the pericarp) for treating tender throats as well as drawing out cough. They soak the pits in water for some time and then drink the sticky substance produced as a cough syrup. This herbal medicine is usually used to treat children because it does not contain any alcohol and is completely natural.

paper flower Bougainvillea

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:29:07 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina (Chubut Province) Discovered 1767.

They are thorny, woody vines growing anywhere from 1 to 12 meters tall, scrambling over other plants with their spiky thorns. The thorns are tipped with a black, waxy substance. They are evergreen where rainfall occurs all year, or deciduous if there is a dry season

The actual flower of the plant is small and generally white, but each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three or six bracts with the bright colours associated with the plant, including pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow. Bougainvillea glabra is sometimes referred to as "paper flower" because the bracts are thin and papery. The fruit is a narrow five-lobed achene.

Currently, there are over 300 varieties of bougainvillea around the world now. The sap of the Bougainvillea can cause skin rashes similar to Toxicodendron species.

Properties
- Leaves considered to have antiinflammatory activity.
- Considered anti-diabetic, antibacterial.
- Pinitol considered antidiabetic.

Traditional practitioners in Mandsaur use the leaves for a variety of disorders, for diarrhea, and to reduce stomach acidity.
- Used for cough and sore throat.
- For blood vessels and leucorrhea: a decoction of dried flowers, 10 g in 4 glasses of water.
- For hepatitis, a decoction of dried stems, 10 g in 4 glasses of water.
- In Panama, an infusion of the flowers of B. glabra used as treatment for low blood pressure.
- Nupe people of Niger use a crude extract of leaves for diabetes.

sunlit blue

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:06:39 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

Would have prefered it along a little bit but this was the only way I could get a shot. Plumbago.

Spring splendour

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:12:00 -0700

Al JC posted a photo:

There's nothing like an old tree clothed in its spring blossom.

spikey

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:50:25 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

These cacti are huge, way taller than I am.

standing tall

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:00:19 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

Bromeliad.

Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) is a family of monocot flowering plants of around 3,170 species native mainly to the tropical Americas, with a few species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa.

The bromeliads are a varied group of organisms, adapted to a number of climates. Foliage take different shapes, from needle thin to broad and flat, symmetrical to irregular, spiky and soft. They range in size from moss-like species of Tillandsia to the enormous Puya raimondii from the Andes which produces a flowering stem up to 5 m tall.

Most bromeliads are epiphytic - that is they grow supported on other plants but without harming their hosts by abstracting nutrients from them as a parasite would. Many of them grow perched on trees in the tropical rainforests and cloud forests where atmospheric humidity or rainfall is high enough for them to obtain the water they need to survive. A number of the epiphytic bromeliads, including Billbergia, Aechmea and Neoregelia, are known as urn plants because their overlapping leaves form funnels in which water collects. Plant debris, dead insects and small animals are also trapped in the funnels.

Bromeliads are popular as house-plants because they are relatively easy to grow and many of them have attractive foliage or spectacularly coloured flowers. They grow best in fairly warm humid conditions although their tough leaves enable them to withstand the dry atmosphere prevalent in many houses.

There are many uses of bromeliads in folk medicine, too many as they relate to individual plants to put in here unfortunately.

Powderpuff point of view

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:07:47 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

Taken to show the development.

Its all in the balance

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:47:43 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

Can I have some more please

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:22:53 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

Not the sharpest of shots but cute lol.

unzipped

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:36:54 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

Flame vine, golden shower, orange trumpet vine, Hua Pala Vine

Pyrostegia venusta, Pyrostegia ignea, Bignonia venusta
Family: Bignoniaceae

Origin: Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina and Paraguay

Medicinal -
In Iracambi, used as a tonic and antidiuretic.
In Brazil, used for diarrhea, dysentery, leucoderma and vitiligo.

Scientificly tested-
Antioxidant: Phytochemical screening of P venusta showed the presence of carotenoids, steroids, terpenoids and anthraquinones inpet ether extract and flavonoids and tannins in the methanolic extracts. Results showed antioxidant activity due to the flavonoids and b-carotene, and a potential source of natural antioxidation.
ACE Inhibition: One of the plant extracts studied for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.

The petals look as if they have been unzipped.

Calamondin Orange

nobody@flickr.com (Al JC) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:30:22 -0800

Al JC posted a photo:

Citrofortunella microcarpa, the Calamondin or Calamansi, is a fruit tree in the family Rutaceae, commonly called the calamondin, golden lime, panama orange, chinese orange, acid orange, calamonding, or calamandarin in English. It is believed to originate from China and has spread throughout Southeast Asia, India, Hawaii, the West Indies, Central and North America.

The Calamondin bears a small citrus fruit that is used to flavour foods and drinks. Despite its outer appearance and its aroma, the taste of the fruit itself is quite sour, although the peel is sweet. Calamondin marmalade can be made in the same way as orange marmalade. Like other citrus fruits, the calamondin is high in vitamin C. The juice is extracted by crushing the whole fruit, and makes a flavourful drink similar to lemonade. A liqueur can be made from the whole fruits, in combination with vodka and sugar. In Asian cuisines, the juice is used to season fish, fowl, and pork. It is commonly used as a condiment in Filipino dishes like Pancit

Calamondin citrus has found several medicinal uses. When rubbed on insect bites, the juice will relieve the itching and reduce the irritation. It can also be used as a natural acne medicine or taken orally as cough medicine (often mixed with green tea), and is a natural anti-inflammatory. For problems with constipation the juice is warmed and diluted with water. It bleaches freckles and helps to clear up acne vulgaris and pruritus vulvae.

In Malaysia, it is used as an antidote for poison, and a poultice of pandanus leaves mixed with salt and the juice of citrus microcarpa, can be used to treat abscesses. In Peninsular Malaysia, it is combined with pepper to help expel phlegm. Its root is used in the Philippines at childbirth.