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Did you know that due to its significance as a food for Aboriginal people, blackbean trees were spread by hand into mountain areas of Australia and are descended from a single seed?

Black Bean Tree - Castanospermum australe

Castanospermum is a monotypic genus in the legume family Fabaceae. The sole species is Castanospermum australe, commonly known as Moreton Bay chestnut or black bean, which is native to rainforested areas on the east coast of Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, and to the southwest Pacific islands of Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Castanospermum australe is a tropical, arge evergreen tree of about 18-35 m tall,  though commonly much smalle, and 5-12 m width with an erect trunk, grey to brown smooth bark, and glossy dark green leaves.  The leaves are 15 cm (5.9 in) long and 6–7 cm broad, pinnate, with 11-15 leaflets.The flowers are pea-shaped, yellow to orange in colour and form into clusters.

The fruit is a cylindrical pod 12–20 cm  long and 4–6 cm diameter, the interior divided by a spongy substance into one to five cells, each of which contains a large chestnut-like seed, 3 - 4.5cm wide. The seed is edible when cooked but requires extensive leaching prior to consumption due to its high saponins content.

Research

The Bottle Gourd is one of the oldest know cultivated plant and has been used by man for both functional and decorative objects all over the world throughout history and is believed to have spanned the entire globe in prehistoric times. It was known mostly by cultures in temperate and tropical zones because this is where gourd grow best. Today Bottle Gourd is still considered one of nature's greatest gifts to mankind. Click on the image.

Herbs

Mediterranean herbs

The very first ancient documents about plants (Babylonian souces, the Old Testament, Homers's works) that came down on us regarded plants mainly under the aspects of utility and medicinal use.  No one knows when herbs were first collected in the wild or planted in gardens, but Egyptian records dating back to 2800 BC show herbs were being prescribed as medicine, and being used for food, cosmetics, perfumes, and dyes. It's obvious that Μediteranean region is the place in which the sience of botany was born. For that reason mediterranean herbs takes an extremely important part in the history of botany. Click on the image.

Home and Garden - Plants for your home

Gardenia

A favorite shrub, the gardenia has very fragrant creamy-white flowers and glossy, dark-green leaves. The genus Gardenia is believed to have been named after Alexander Garden, a physician in Charleston, South Carolina, during colonial days. Gardenias are a member of the family Rubiaceae and belong to the genus Gardenia. There are over 200 species of Gardenias. One species is of primary importance: Gardenia jasminoides containing many cultivars.Gardenia jasminoides is native to China although most named cultivars have arisen in cultivation. Click on the image.

Flower Recipes

Yes, flowers can be eaten! They can also be candied, frozen into ice rings, made into jelly and jams, and made into flower waters! It's true, that it is not for the ordinary, but it is fun for that special event or celebration party! We will start this section with a variety of things you can do with particuliar flowers, and then follow with a list of flowers than can be devoured! Click on the image.

Save money for flowers on a wedding decoration

Anyone who has ever itemized the cost of a wedding knows the flower bill can go through the roof. A fancy bouquet for the bride can run as much as a wedding ring but it's not enough. By the time you add bouquets for the bridesmaids, flower baskets for the flower girls, corsages for the mothers, boutonnieres for the men, centerpieces for the banquet and gift tables and a bouquet to toss to single girlfriends, the tab can easily soar too high. Click on the image.

Send flowers via internet