Non flowering plant

Aloevera

 

Aloevera is a succulent plant species .The species is frequently lited  as being used in herbal medicine since the beginning of the first century  AD . Extracts from aloevera are widely used in the cosmetic and alternatives medicine industries , being marketed as variously having rejuvenating healing , or soothing properties .Three is, however little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of aloevera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes and what positive evidence is available is frequently contradicted by other studies .

Description

Aloevera is a stemless or stemmed succulent plant growing to 60-100 cm (24-39in) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy ,green or grey -green  ,with some varities showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surface. The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spick upto 90cm(35in) tall each flower pendulous ,with a yellow tubular corolla 2-3cm long

Traditional medicine

Aloevera is used in traditional medicine as a multipurpose skin treatment .In Ayurvedic  medicine it is called kathalai as are extracts from agave earlier records  aloeveara use appear in the ebers papayrus from the 16 th century BC. The used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of many countries .

Distribution  

The natural range of aloevera is unclear as the species has een widely cultivated throughout the world .The species was introduced to China and various parts of southern  Europe in the 17th century .The species is widely neutralised else where occurring in temperature and tropical region of Australia Barbados, Belize ,Nigeria, Paraguay, Mexico and the USA state of Florida and Texas .The actual species distribution has been suggested to be the result of human cultivation.

Red wax palm

Introduction

The red sealing wax palm or lipstick palm, is a palm that is native to Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. It is the only species of the genus Cyrtostachys  that can be found to the west of the Wallace Line, the faunal boundary separating the ecozones of Asia and Wallacea  Cyrtostachys renda‍ '​s name is derived from several words: the Greek prefix κυρτό- (cyrto-) meaning bent or curved, the Greek word σταχυς (stachys) meaning "an ear of grain", and "renda" a Malayan Aboriginal word for palm,  which happens to be homonymous to the Portuguese word "renda," meaning income.

Because of its bright red crownshafts and leaf sheaths, Cyrtostachys renda has become a popular ornamental plant exported to many tropical regions around the world  Although it is not the source of sealing wax, the red sealing wax palm got its name because its crownshafts and leaf sheaths have the same color as the wax used to seal letters close and later (from about the 16th century) envelopes.

Description

The plant's stipe grows up to 10 centimetres (3.9 inches) in diameter. Its petioles  grow up to 15 centimetres (5.9 inches) long and have pinnate leaves have about 50 pairs of pinnae. The plant's fruits are ovoid, 1.4 centimetres (0.55 inches) in diameter, green, turning to a dark bluish-black when ripe.The lipstick palm is generally grown for its brightly colored and unusual foliage and it is considered as a plant in high demand for gardening and a landscaping projects.Because of difficulties propagating them and their striking colour.

 

Propagation can occur with fresh seeds, although they are slow to germinate, or through dividing out suckers In the wild, the most suitable environment for growth occurs in areas of Southeast Asian lowland peat swamp forests with the following characteristics: good soil drainage, high sand content in the soil, a thin peat layer in the soil, a low carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N)  in the soil, low acid and nutrient levels in the soil and water but relatively high organic substance levels. The palm grows well in full sun or shade but needs humid conditions and well-draining soil. However, it also tolerates flooding and can grow in standing water as its native habitat is peat swamp forests.  It will not tolerate cold temperatures or periods of drought.

 

Philodendron

 

 

Introduction

Philodendron   is  a   large    genus   of    flowering  plants   in    the    Araceae     family,     consisting   of   about   900   species   according   to   TROPICOS   (a   service   of   the   Missouri   Botanical   Garden   Other sources   quote   different   numbers   of    species:   S.J.   Mayo   reports   about   350-400   formally recognised   species,   Thomas    Croat   lists   about    700 .   Regardless   of   number   of   species,   the genus     is   the   second-largest    member    of    the    arum    family.   Taxonomically,   the  genus Philodendron   is   still   poorly   known,    with    many    undescribed    species.    Many    are    grown   as ornamental    and    indoor    plants.   The   name    derives   from   the    Greek   words   philo    or  "love" and   dendron   or   "tree".   They   are   commonly   called   by   their   generic   name.

Distributon

Philodendron   species   can   be   found     in   many   diverse   habitats   in   the   tropical   Americas   and the   West   Indies .  Most   occur   in    humid    tropical    forests,    but    can   also  be  found   in   swamps and   on   river   banks,    roadsides   and   rock   outcrops.   They   are   also   found   throughout   the   diverse   range   of   elevations    from   sea   level   to   over   2000 m   above   sea   level    Species   of   this genus    are   often   found  clambering   over   other  plants,   or    climbing    the   trunks   of    trees   with  the   aid   of  aerial   roots.   Philodendrons   usually   distinguish    themselves   in   their    environment   by   their large   numbers   compared   to   other    plants,    making   them   a  highly   noticeable   component   of   the   ecosystems   in    which    they    are    found.    They   are   found  in   great   numbers   in   road clearings

Philodendrons   can   also     be   found    in    Australia,    some    Pacific    islands,    Africa   and   Asia, although   they    are   not    indigenous    and   were    introduced    or    accidentally    escaped.

Description

 The   leaves    are    usually    large    and    imposing,    often   lobed   or    deeply  cut,  and  may  be  more  or  less pinnate.  They   also   be   oval,   spear-shaped,    or  in   many   other   possible    shape    variations.   The   leaves   are    borne   alternately   on   the   stem.  An interesting    quality    of   philodendrons    is    they   do   not   have   a  single   type   of  leaf  on  the   same   plant.   Instead,   they   have   juvenile   leaves   and   adult   leaves,  which    can  be  drastically   different   from   one   another .   The    leaves     of   seedling     philodendrons    are  usually     heart-shaped.    Early     in   the    life   of   the    plant,     but     after   it   has  matured     past    the     seedling    stage,    the    leaves   will    have    acquired    typical    juvenile   leaf's    shape   and   size.   Later   in   the    philodendron's   life,   it   starts   producing   adult   leaves  ,a   process     called    metamorphosis.    Most     philodendrons   go   through   metamorphosis     gradually;    there    is    no    immediately     distinct    difference   between     juvenile    and   adult   leaves . Aside    from    being      typically    much    bigger   than    the    juvenile    leaves,     the    shape   of    adult   leaves    can      be   significantly   different.   Secondary    hemiepiphytes    start    off    on    the    dark    forest    floor  and   climb     their     way    up    a    tree,     displaying     their    juvenile    type    leaves    along    the    way.    Once   they     reach   a    sufficient     height,     they    begin     developing    adult   type   leaves .   The    smaller    juvenile    leaves   are   used    for  the    darker    forest    floor   where    light    is      in    scarce     supply,     but      once     they     reach   a   sufficient    height    in   the   canopy    the   light    is    bright    enough    that    the    bigger    adult    leaves    can serve    a    useful     purpose   Another    possible     trigger      occurs    in    primary    hemiepiphytes.   These   philodendrons    typically     send    their     aerial    roots     downward.   Once    their     roots     have   reached    the    ground    below,    the    plant    will    begin    taking    up    nutrients    from   the    soil,    of    which    it   had    been    previously    deprived.   As   a    result,    the     plant    will     quickly    morph     into    its    adult      leaves    and     gain    in    size    dramatically  .    Another    interesting    quality    of      philodendrons    leaves    is    they    are    often    quite    different     in   shape    and    size     even    between    two     plants    of    the     same     species.    As    a     of   all   these    different    possible    leaf    shapes,    it     is   often    difficult    to     differentiate   natural       variations  from     morphogenesis.