flowerheads

Pictures of Flowers Safflower Plant Pictures and Safflower Plant Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on March 6, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Safflower Plant Pictures and Safflower Plant Kind

Safflower is an herbaceous thistle-like annual plant. The plant has many branches with long sharp spines on its leaves. It grows 30-150 cm tall with globular flowerheads. Brilliant yellow, red or orange flowers bloom in the month of July. Each branch of the plant typically has 1-5 flowerheads, which contain about 15-20 seeds per head. Safflower plants have strong taproot with which it can thrive in dry climates. The plant is susceptible to frost injury.

Traditionally, Safflower plants were grown for its seeds that were used in food coloring and flavoring. Besides, it was also used in medicines and for making red and yellow dyes. However, due to cheaper varieties of synthetic dyes, it is no more used for making dyes. All over the world, the plant is extensively cultivated for extracting vegetable oil from its seeds. Latest research has also reported that genetically modified safflower can be used to make insulin. Safflower oil is colorless, odorless and nutritionally similar to sunflower oil. Safflower oil is used as cooking oil, salad dressing and for the production of margarine.

Pictures of Flowers Safflower Plant Pictures and Safflower Plant Kind

Pictures of Flowers Hydrangea Pictures and Hydrangea Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 22, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Hydrangea Pictures and Hydrangea Kind

Hydrangea is a genus of 70 species of flowering plants native to China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the Himalayas and other parts of southern and eastern Asia and North and South America. Hydrangea flowers are extremely popular and common in the Azores Islands of Portugal particularly on Faial Island, which is popularly known as Blue Island due to large number of blue hydrangeas present on the island. China, Korea and Japan has the greatest diversity of hydrangeas.

Most of the hydrangeas are shrubs about 1-3 meters tall while few are small trees. Some of the hydrangeas are Liana that reaches up to 30 meter high by climbing up the trees. Hydrangeas can be deciduous or evergreens; however, the widely cultivated species are deciduous. Flowers grow in large flowerheads at the end of the stems from early spring to late autumn. Flowers in most of the species are white while blue, red, pink, light purple or dark purple flowers can also be found in some of the species. Difference in colors is normally observed in soils with different pH values. Acidic soil produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce pale cream and alkaline soil result in pink or purple flowers. Hydrangeas are popular ornamental plants.

Pictures of Flowers Hydrangea Pictures and Hydrangea Kind

Pictures of Flowers Artichoke Pictures and Artichoke Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 12, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Artichoke Pictures and Artichoke Kind

Artichoke is a perennial flowering plant native to Southern Europe around the Mediterranean. The plant grows about 5-7 feet tall with deeply lobed, arching and silvery green leaves. Flowers of Artichoke develop in a large head from an edible bud with numerous triangular scales. Edible portion of the buds mainly consists of the fleshy lower potions and the base. Artichoke is a vegetable with very delicate flavor. Edible buds are sold fresh or canned and can be eaten boiled, baked, fried, stuffed and in salads and soups.

New plants of Artichoke are generally grown from sprouts or shoots of the older ones. The plants can live for years. Commercial varieties of Artichoke are usually replanted every three or four years. Although Artichoke is technically a perennial but certain species are also grown as annuals that provide a limited harvest at the end of the first growing season. Commercial Artichoke requires good soil, regular watering and feeding in addition to frost protection during winter. Peak season for Artichoke harvesting is the spring. Under standard conditions, Artichoke can remain fresh for two weeks. Besides its use as food, Artichoke is also an attractive plant for its bright floral display. Occasionally, Artichoke is grown in herbaceous borders for its bold foliage and large purple flowerheads.