When you see a cork you probably don’t realize that it is made from the bark of a particular tree. That tree is called the cork oak (Quercus suber), and is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa. This tree has strange spongy bark which gives cork its unique qualities. Cork is a remarkable material … Continue reading Cork Oak
There is a perennial plant that grows on the cool moist forested mountain sides in the colder regions of Japan and China which has large umbrella-like leaves, and clusters of seemingly insignificant white flowers. But when it rains these little white flowers transform into something fascinating. This plant is called diphylleia grayi, and when its … Continue reading Skeleton Flower
There is an old Chinese myth about a magical fruit in the shape of Buddha which will give immortality if eaten. Buddha shaped pears do not grow naturally, but a farmer in China named Hao Xianzhang has developed a way to grow pears in the shape of Buddha by putting the small unripe pear in … Continue reading Buddha Shaped Pear
The largest and rarest single bloom in the world grows in the rain forests of south-east Asia, and is named Rafflesia arnoldii. This flower was named after Sire Stamford Raffles and naturalist Dr. James Arnold, who discovered the flower in 1818. There are 28 known species of this flower, all of which grow in south-east … Continue reading Stinky Flower II
Trees have a reason for growing tall, and it’s not to get recognition for the Guinness world record of tallest tree, they grow to compete for sunlight. However, there is a tree which has taken competition to a whole new level and has earned the title of tallest tree in the world. This tree has … Continue reading The Tallest Trees in the World
The oldest tree in the world is a Great Basin bristle cone pine (Pinus longaeva) in the white mountains of California in Inyo National Forest. This gnarled old tree has been named Methuzelah and is estimated to be about 4,845 years old, which dates back to roughly the same time period as Noah’s ark. The … Continue reading The Oldest Trees in the World
If you wander down a trail in the woods on Vashon Island in Washington State you may see a strange sight. Up in a Douglas fir is a bike that has been in the tree for so long that the tree has grown around the bike and appears to be consuming it. This bike in … Continue reading Where Man and Nature Meet
These green globs may appear to be evidence of an alien invasion, but they are actually plants. These strange green lumps are called yareta (Azorella compacta), or “llareta” in Spanish. They may look like rocks covered in moss but they are actually compact shrubs that belong to the family Apiaceae, which is the same family … Continue reading Strange Green Globs of the Andes
Fruit is amazing, it is low in calories, full of vitamins, and tastes delicious. Living in North America one does not often get the chance to experience some of the more strange and delicious fruits that grow in tropical climates. One such fruit is known as the Pitaya or Dragon fruit, but don’t worry this … Continue reading Dragon Fruit
Animals eat meat and plants to gain energy and nutrients, and plants use sunlight to gain energy through photosynthesis. Most people know that photosynthesis is strictly a plant characteristic, but what if there was an animal that could do photosynthesis to gain energy just like plants. Prepare to be dazzled, because there is an animal … Continue reading Sea Slug Gets Nutrients From The Sun Just Like Plants
the extreme horticulturist 