North America

Pictures of Flowers Catkin Pictures and Catkin Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 14, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Catkin Pictures and Catkin Kind

Catkin is a flower cluster that consists of numerous small flowers arranged around a long central axis. Catkins have no petals or inconspicuous petals. Catkins are found in many plant families. Catkin bearing plants include many other trees or shrubs such as birch, willow, sweet chestnut, sweet fern and few herbaceous plants. Catkin is also called as ament.

Each flower of catkins lacks a petal unlike many other wild flowers. Since there are no petals, grayish or yellowish-green catkins are rarely thought of as flowers. Each catkin is either staminate (male, producing pollen) or distillate (female, producing seeds). Wind pollinates female catkins. In Salix species, the pollination occurs by insects. Pussy willow is the most familiar catkin. Majority of catkins are long and drooping. Catkins contain many, usually unisexual, flowers that are arranged closely along a drooping central stem. Catkins can be found in many plant families. Catkins appear on the branches of willows, birch and many other plants long before other spring flowers blossom.

Pictures of Flowers Catkin Pictures and Catkin Kind

Pictures of Flowers Calla Pictures and Calla Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 13, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Calla Pictures and Calla Kind

Calla or calla lily is a beautiful garden flower of the arum family. It is native to cool temperate regions of Northern Hemisphere, Northern Asia, North America and Central, Eastern and Northern Europe. Calla is an herbaceous perennial flowering plant that grows in bogs and ponds. 6-12 cm long leaves are round to heart shaped. The greenish-yellow inflorescence is produced on a spadix about 4-6 cm long enclosed in a white spathe. The fruit of calls is a cluster of red berries, berry containing several seeds.

Calls plant is very poisonous when fresh because of high oxalic acid contents. However, the rhizome is edible after drying, grinding, leaching and boiling. Calla grows from a bulb that must be planted in rich and well-watered soils. Often, it is planted in the soil mixed with manure. In many parts of North America, calla is grown indoors or in a greenhouse. In California and Texas, it can be grown outdoors in gardens and flowerbeds.

Pictures of Flowers Calla Pictures and Calla Kind

Pictures of Flowers Blazing Star Pictures and Blazing Star Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 13, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Blazing Star Pictures and Blazing Star Kind

Blazing Star, Gay-feather or Button Snakeroot is a genus of ornamental plants native to North America, Mexico and the Bahamas. The plant grows abundantly on prairies and meadows in the eastern and western United States. Blazing star is often used as a popular summer flower in the bouquets. It is a perennial plant surviving the winter in the form of corms. Flower heads have disc florets and no ray florets.

Blazing star is a tall and slender plant that can grow from 1-6 feet tall. Thick clusters of small purple or red blossoms grow along the stems on thin spikes up to 18 inches long. Flower heads are surrounded by bracts or modified leaves, which have the color same as that of the flowers. The spikes of blossoms resemble a shooting star and thus the name blazing star. The name blazing star is also given for many aster, goldenrods and thistles species. Blazing star species are used as food plants by the larvae of some other species of plants.

Pictures of Flowers Blazing Star Pictures and Blazing Star Kind

Pictures of Flowers Belladonna Pictures and Belladonna Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 13, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Belladonna Pictures and Belladonna Kind

Belladonna is a perennial herbaceous plant, which is well known for atropine drug. The drug is produced from the foliage, which along with the berries are extremely toxic and possess hallucinogenic properties. The species are native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. It has also been naturalized in few parts of North America where it can often be found in shady, moist areas with limestone rich soil. The name comes from the Italian word, which means beautiful woman. In the past, it was used by women to enlarge the pupils of their eyes.

Belladonna is also often grown in gardens for its beauty. The plant grows about 2-3 tall with drooping bell shaped flowers that are bluish-purple or dull red. Many people have died ignorantly eating belladonna berries. Belladonna is an important antidote for poisoning with certain insecticides and mushrooms. Belladonna is sometimes used for relief from cough and stomach problems. It is also used for relaxing the eye muscles and expanding the pupil.

Pictures of Flowers Belladonna Pictures and Belladonna Kind

Pictures of Flowers Bachelor’s Button Pictures and Bachelor’s Button Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 12, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Bachelor’s Button Pictures and Bachelor’s Button Kind

Bachelor’s Button is a small annual flowering plant native to Europe. The plant grows to about 40-90 cm high with grayish green branched stems. Its small flowers are shaped liked and thus the name Bachelor’s Button. Flowers are usually blue but some of the varieties may have pink, purple or white blossoms. Bachelor’s buttons are also called as cornflowers or bluebottles.

Originally, Bachelor’s button grew wild in Europe, north of the Mediterranean, but later on, it has spread widely in many parts of the world. In fact, it often grew as a weed in crop fields growing grains such as wheat, rye, barley or oats. In North America, Australia and other countries, the plant has been naturalized as an ornamental plant in gardens. The plant has also been often prized historically for its blue pigment. It is also often used as an ingredient in tea blends and herbal teas. As per the folklore, Bachelor’s Button was worn by young men in love. If the flower faded quickly, it was construed that the man’s love was unrequited.

Pictures of Flowers Bachelor’s Button Pictures and Bachelor’s Button Kind

Pictures of Flowers Arbutus Pictures and Arbutus Kind

By Pictures of flowers

on February 12, 2009

Pictures of Flowers Arbutus Pictures and Arbutus Kind

Arbutus is a genus of flowering plants native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, Western Europe and North America. Due to the superficial resemblance of fruits to Strawberry, European species are generally known as Strawberry Trees. Arbutus is one of the loveliest spring flowers. In Massachusetts, Arbutus is the state flower and often known as Mayflower. Several evergreen plants ranging in size from the tiniest plant to a tall tree are known by the name Arbutus, trailing Arbutus being the most common species.

With its fragrant clusters of waxy white blossoms often tinged with pink, Arbutus is considered as the most attractive wild flowers in North America. Arbutus grows best in sandy or rocky soils especially in pinewoods, where it creeps along the ground almost hidden beneath dry needles and leaves. In Vancouver islands, Arbutus bark and leaves are often used to crate medicines for cold, stomach problems, tuberculosis and as the basis for contraceptives. Although the fruits of Arbutus are edible but it is rarely eaten, as it has minimal flavor. Besides, Arbutus is a great fuelwood because it burns hot and long.