Nutmeg is a popular fragrant spice. There are at least 80 types of nutmeg. The most common one grows on a striking evergreen tree which has a 7-metre high straight trunk. The tree bears fruit after 8 years of growth. The fruit is pear-shaped and golden yellow in colour. The fruit opens in halves. The […]
Moss is a small flowerless green plant. It has no true roots. It absorbs water and minerals from the soil. It forms low green carpets on the surface of the ground in damp habitats such as rainforests and woodlands. It also grows on moist rocks. As the rocks dry, the moss also dries up, but
Mildew is a parasitic fungus. It grows in moist, hot air and is found on cloth, fibre, leather goods, strawberry, etc. For example, if strawberry is left in a warm and moist place for many hours, it gets covered with a net of cobweb like threads and blackish powder-like substance. This is mildew. Mildew can
Osmosis is the passage of water and dissolved substances through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows transfer of selective particles only. In plants, osmosis can be observed between roots and soil where water and nutrients from soil pass into roots through root hair. In animals, osmosis can be observed in the small intestine where nutrients
Eucalyptus is a very unique looking tree. It has leathery leaves which hang downwards and a tall, straight trunk which is mostly white in colour. It is a very fast growing tree which can sometimes grows 4 metres in a year. Some eucalyptus trees grow as tall as 140 metres. These trees are very useful
When a tree-trunk is cut down, several alternating dark and light bands can be seen. A pair of dark and light band is referred as an annual ring. The annual ring is an indicator of the age of a tree. The older tree, the more the number of rings it will have. The bands in
There are certain plants that feed upon insects. These plants are called carnivorous plants. Most of carnivorous plants are found in and around water. Bladderwort, Venus flytrap, Pitcher plant and Cobra lily are the examples of carnivorous plants. These plants grow in soil that lacks nutrients. Due to this reason they have evolved and developed
Cellulose is a type of carbohydrate present in the cell walls of plants. It gives flexibility to the plant. It is found in many foods, like lettuce, celery and bran. Cellulose provides roughage in human diet. However, it cannot be digested by humans. Only herbivores such as horses and cows can digest it. Raw cotton
Water lilies are aquatic plants that are found growing along the sides of ponds, lakes or streams. Lilies can be seen growing near gardens and small pools. They are also found growing in wilderness. They have big rounded leaves or lilypads and white, yellow or pink flowers. Each flower at least has six petals. Water
Wine is an alcoholic drink made from the fermented juice of grapes or other fruit like blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. The natural and appropriate quantities of sugar present in grapes make them the most suitable product for wine making. Grapes also have natural wine yeast on their skin that converts sugar into alcohol and carbon
The word deciduous literally means, ‘Falling off’. The shrubs and trees that shed their leaves every year at the end of every growing season are known as deciduous plants. They shed all of their leaves to adapt to the changing weather conditions and grow some new leaves when seasons change again. In some parts of
Diatoms are single-celled plants that have transparent cell walls. They are found in both fresh and marine waters. They are very small in size. Each diatom is enclosed in a box-like shell whose edges are held by a girdle. They float over water and attach themselves to rock or large plants with a jelly-like material.
Olive oil is oil obtained from the fruits of olive trees. Earlier, olive oil was obtained by crushing olive fruits between stone rollers. The mashed olive pulp was then squeezed between cloth mats and the oil was filtered. However in modern times, the process is mechanised by using large grinders, hydraulic presses and advanced filtrating
Cacti are usually found in deserts. Cactus spines are modified leaves. They protect the plant from predators. These spines also provide shade to the surface of the cacti by protecting them from the harsh sun. The shade created by the spines also helps to lower the temperature of the surface of cacti, which reduces the
Mushrooms are a type of fungi. They do not contain chlorophyll and hence cannot manufacture their own food. Most mushrooms are edible but there a few varieties that are also poisonous. Toadstools are traditionally poisonous or inedible mushrooms containing a poison which is lethal. However, scientifically, there is no difference between mushrooms and toadstools. Some