Sunday, June 13, 2021

Possumwood - The Dynamite Tree

 Hura Crepitans, The Sandbox Tree, also known as Possumwood and Jabillo, is an Evergreen Tree of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), native to tropical regions of North and South America including the Amazon Rainforest


Large Sandbox Tree in Honolulu



Hura Crepitans in Vietnam



Spiny Trunk of Hura Crepitans








Leaf of Hura Crepitans



Sandbox Tree at Puentes Colgantes near Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica



It is also present in parts of Tanzania, where it is considered an invasive species. It can be recognized by its smooth brown bark covered in many dark, pointed spines which have led to its being nicknamed monkey no-climb. Because its fruit Explodes when Ripe, it has also received the colloquial nickname The Dynamite Tree.



इस पेड़ को 'Possumwood' के नाम से जाना जाता है। इसकी सबसे खतरनाक बात ये है कि इसपर लगे हुए फल पकने के बाद किसी बम की तरह धमाका करते हुए फट जाते हैं, जिसके बाद इसके बीज 257 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से हवा में फैल जाते हैं।

अगर गलती से भी कोई इंसान इसकी चपेट में आ जाए तो वो गंभीर रूप से घायल हो सकता है।


ये पेड़ उत्तर और दक्षिण अमेरिका सहित अमेजन वर्षावन में पाए जाते हैं।



The Sandbox Tree can grow to 60 metres (200 ft), and its large ovate leaves grow to 60 cm (2 ft) wide. They are monoecious, with red, un-petaled flowers. Male flowers grow on long spikes, while female flowers grow alone in axils. The Sandbox Tree's fruiting bodies are large capsules which can explode when ripe, splitting into segments and launching seeds at 70 m/s (250 km/h). One source states that ripe capsules catapult their seeds as far as 100 m (330 ft). Another source states that seeds are thrown as far as 45 m (150 ft) from a tree, averaging about 30 m (100 ft).

Its fruits are Pumpkin-shaped capsules, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) long, 5–8 cm (2–3 in) diameter, with 16 carpels arranged radially. Its seeds are flattened and about 2 cm (34 in) diameter.



ये पेड़ 60 मीटर (200 फीट) तक बढ़ सकते हैं, और इसके बड़े अंडाकार पत्ते 2 फीट (0.61 मीटर) चौड़े हो सकते हैं। इसके फल कद्दू के आकर के होते है।


एक स्रोत में कहा गया है कि जब फल पकने के बाद फटता है तो इसके बीजों 100 मीटर (330 फीट) दूर तक जा सकते हैं।


Fishermen have been said to use the milky, caustic 
sap from this Tree to poison fish. The Caribs made arrow poison from its sap. The wood is used for furniture under the name "Hura". Before more modern forms of pens were invented, the trees' unripe seed capsules were sawn in half to make decorative pen sandboxes (also called pounce pots), hence the name 'Sandbox Tree'.

Saturday, May 8, 2021

10 Most Expensive Flowers of The World

 How Expensive could a Flower be? 

Well, if you thought that a bud picked from the ground is one of nature's simpler gifts, you may just be wrong. Here are The World's 10 Most Expensive Flowers that will alter your perception of 'Free Nature'.

 
1. Kadupul Flower



The native flower of Sri Lanka, the Kadupul Flower is the world's most expensive because it is priceless! The Kadupul Flower does not have a price tag because the moment it is picked, it usually dies. Also, every Flower survives the night, but dies at dawn, which is characteristic its Cactus Roots. The fragrance of the Kadupul is noted worldwide for its calming qualities, but unfortunately, unless its scent is trapped in a bottle, most will never have the chance to waft its soothing scent.


2. Juliet Rose



Deemed one of the world's most elegant and beautiful flowers, the Juliet Rose runs is known as the $15.8 Million Flower! The Rose was introduced to the market in 2006 at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, and its breeder, David Austin spent 15 years and nearly 3 million pounds to develop the Flower. Currently, a bouquet of them will run you about $150, which is by no means cheap!


3. Shenzhen Nongke Orchid



This Orchid was engineered by botanists and its name is derived from the group of researchers that conducted the experiment that made it. The researchers spent 8 years growing and observing the Flower, and it is expensive not only due to its rarity, conditions of cultivation and background, but also for its Stunning Appearance. It takes about 4 to 5 years for this Orchid to blossom, and it is supposed to have a wonderful taste.


4. Gold of Kinabalu Orchid



Orchids are stunning, but Very Delicate Flowers that can be grown in every climate. One of the most expensive is the Gold of Kinabalu orchid that runs at $6000 per piece and can only be found in the Kinabalu National Park in Malaysia. Also, growing this Flower is more difficult than most because its bloom can take up to 15 years!


5. Saffron Crocus



The Saffron Crocus is more famous as a spice than as a Flower, but it is still one of the most Stunning and Expensive Flowers out there. Its yellow center is what eventually becomes the highly valued Spice Saffron, but it can take up to 80,000 Flowers just to create 500 grams of spice. For this reason, a pound of Saffron Flowers can cost between $1200- $1500!


6. 17th Century Tulip Bulb



Tulips are some of the most common and simple Flowers, but in the 17th century, they were rare and extremely hard to come by. The deep colors of this particular Tulip are said to be stronger than in any other Flower at that time. During the 17th century, they ran at about 10,000 guilders, or $5,700 a bunch, and today they remain a noted status symbol.


7. Hydrangea



One of The Most Popular Flowers for weddings and elegant events, these colorful and full shrubs can grow to a height of 1 to 3 meters tall! Their are most plentiful in the early spring and late autumn and come in an array of colors including white, blue, pink, light purple and violet, sometimes even in blends. Yet these Gorgeous Flowers run at about $6.50 a stem because they require a lot of effort to harvest and cultivate.


8. Gloriosa



A Native Flower of South Africa and some Asian Countries, the price per Flower for every Gloriosa is about $6- $10. Its unique appearance of long tendrils and red, orange and yellow petals is what makes the Flower unique, as well as its scarcity in many locations around the world.


9. Lily of the Valley



This Majestic White Flower runs at about $15- $50 a bundle, but is still very popular because of its delicate look. The Flower only grows once a year, during early spring and is expensive because it has a maximum lifespan of 2 weeks.


10. Lisianthus



With a bundle of Lisianthus running at $10- $35, this is one of the world's Most Expensive Flowers. Wide, ruffled and delicate oval petals 'dipped' in violet and long, leafy stems characterize the beautiful Lisianthus Flower. The Flower is expensive because it only keeps for 2-3 weeks after being cut and cannot be frozen many other varieties.







 


Saturday, May 1, 2021

The Parrot Flower - Parrot Balsam

 


Impatiens Psittacina, known variously as the
"Parrot Flower" or "Parrot Balsam" is a species of Balsam from Southeast Asia. 




That was described by the botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker and was noted for its Flower that resemble a "Flying Cockatoo"




It is known from Thailand, Burma and parts of India