home sectionhome section
Botanists, horticulturists and home gardeners have been interested in the differences between short-day and long-day plants for many years. Learning about these types of plants can help you determine what to grow in your garden or home greenhouse. You can better understand when these types of plants are likely to produce flowers or fruit for you and how to force blooms if you're interested.
Plant and animal cells are very similar with respect to cell contents, cell organization and life cycle. They are both eukaryotic cells because their nucleus contains DNA and is surrounded by a membrane. A plant cell has a cell wall made of cellulose that encapsulates the cell membrane. Animal cells don't have cell walls, and this is where the two cell types have different methods of separating into new cells during cell division.
Bacteria and viruses cause plant diseases. Both infective agents are tiny -- you can see them only under a microscope. Viruses are much smaller than bacteria; to see them you need a powerful electron microscope. Bacteria and viruses cause a wide variety of diseases in all types of plants. The diseases range from fire blight in apples to the mosaic virus in cucumbers. There are a number of methods to avoid or prevent bacterial or viral plant diseases. Bacterial diseases may respond to treatment, but there is no chemical treatment or biological control for viral diseases.
One of the joys of gardening is creating new areas in the landscape to fill in with various plants, like a painter with her brush. Borders and flower beds help to transform empty, unattractive or neglected plots into beautiful spaces. The combination of plants within them can be almost endless, providing interest to a landscape by adding color and texture with plants that can change with the seasons.
Trailing plants spread by creeping along the ground, and climbing plants spread by climbing up supports. Their growth habits determine whether they are called trailing or climbing plants. Some plants can be used only for trailing, some only for climbing and some fit either purpose. Choosing a trailing or climbing plant depends on the traits desired.
Gardeners welcome a good challenge, and growing high-quality grapes in a home garden setting is no small adventure. Beyond simply choosing the correct grape for local conditions and the correct type for the application you have in mind, you must know which grapes are self-fertile. Most garden-variety bunching grapes do not require a pollinator, but will benefit from the extra help at pollination time. Muscadines, however, must have a pollinator to set fruit.
The English marigold is an annual blooming plant that lights up the garden in the summer and early fall with its vibrant flowers that come in shades of orange, cream and yellow. In addition to its use in the landscape, the English marigold is edible and grown as a culinary and medicinal herb.
Inchworms are the larvae of moths of the family Geometridae. Represented by 35,000 species worldwide, these caterpillars are generally recognized by their distinctive method of locomotion which causes their 1-inch bodies to create loop shapes resembling measuring tape. Although many different species of inchworm exist, each with their own unique behaviors, there are several fun facts that apply to all types of this interesting larval insect.
Plants need sunlight to photosynthesize, so receiving the proper intensity level and amount of sunlight is key to their growth and health. However, the sunlight requirements of a plant relate to the species and type of plant rather than whether it grows in a flower pot or in the ground. Understanding your plants' light needs allows them to produce lush foliage and colorful flowers, wherever you plant them.
Most of the familiar plants in your yard and garden belong to the vascular plant subkingdom. Growing from a few inches to many hundreds of feet in height, these large plants command your attention. But underfoot, small and more easily overlooked nonvascular plants like mosses press close to the earth in the shady corners of your garden.
When a seed germinates, a sprout emerges from the soil as a tiny stalk that eventually sprouts leaves. Under the right conditions, the stalk thickens and elongates, providing stability and keeping the plant upright. The stem is the plant's main above-ground organ, and from it grow all the other parts it needs in order to develop according to its species.
Plastics and polysaccharides are two common but rarely understood compounds used in our everyday lives. Polysaccharides have storage (starches), acidic (sulfuric eaters), structural (cellulose) and bacterial (capsults) forms that all work in varying ways. Plastics come from a variety of families that range from high-performance to common polymers. Each has crucial uses that are a part of processes we depend on all the time.
Fertilizing your lawn on a regular basis helps promote growth in bare areas and keeps your grass green. Plants and shrubs also benefit from fertilizer application. You can purchase fertilizer in granule, pellet or liquid form.
Heath and heather are from the Ericaceae family, which includes other well known landscape and garden plants such as rhododendrons and blueberries. These plants thrive in the acidic soils of temperate climates, and they have a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizae fungus. This fungus helps break down nitrogen and makes the soil more acid, which heaths and heathers like. Heaths and heathers are evergreen, wider than they are tall, and are often used as groundcover. Some isolated varieties can be very large, but they aren't common. Foliage is either needle- or scale-like, and flowers are commonly urn-shaped.
Cankerworms, commonly known as inchworms, can cause significant damage to fruit, shade and ornamental trees. Inchworms are not a kind of insect, but a group of caterpillars defined by their method of locomotion. This group includes the spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria), elm spanworm (Ennomos subsignaria) and the linden looper (Erannis tiliaria). The most commonly attacked trees include apple, ash, basswood, beech, elm, hickory, linden, maple and oak. Fortunately, all types of inchworms can be eliminated using the same method.
The easiest way to recognize the presence of a problematic insect on a plant is by simply observing the insect on or near the plant. But sometimes this is not an option because of the small size of the insect, because they are skilled hiders or any other reason. In this case, gardeners should inspect their plants for other indications of the presence of insects. Galls are one example of such indications, and close inspection of the gall can give clues as to the species that produced it.
In the plant kingdom, vascular plants and nonvascular plants are the two broad groups in existence. Nonvascular plants do not have vascular tissue -- also known as conducting tissue, or veins -- and are considered part of a group called bryophytes. Meanwhile, vascular plants do have vascular tissue and are considered tracheophytes.
Vascular systems in plants work to draw nutrients and water from the organism's roots and photosynthetic material from its leaves to the main body of the plant by the transporting system of xylem and phloem. Plants' vascular systems allow them to grow much taller than their nonvascular counterparts while still providing water, nutrients and photosynthetic products to the extremities of the plant.
Fundamental to the understanding of the living world, the cell theory states that all living organisms are made of cells and cell products. Biologists classify all cells into one of two main groupings, prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the distinction being the presence or absence of a membrane-bound cell nucleus. Cells can also be classified according to the way in which they obtain their nutrients. Cells can also be classified as heterotrophs or autotrophs depending on how they obtain their nutrients.
Seeds and spores are both reproductive organs in the plant kingdom. While they both serve the same purpose, they are very different in terms of how they accomplish this purpose. One of the main ways that seeds and spores differ is that spores are how bacteria, plants, fungi and algae reproduce. Seeds are the primary method that flowering plants reproduce.
The family of herbs known as mint, or lamiaceae includes kitchen staples ranging from basil and oregano to sage and rosemary. Mint flavor or aroma, however, comes from the true mints of the genus mentha. Of these, peppermint, also called mentha x. piperita, and spearmint, also known as mentha spicata, are the most familiar and serve medicinal, as well as culinary, purposes. The differences between these two plants determine how each can best be used.
Many different types of plants are grown indoors, from African violets to cyclamens and orchids. Most plants grown indoors need a period of rest after flowering or they won't live very long. When a plant needs rest, it goes dormant. During a dormant period you should hold off watering and fertilizing your houseplants. Moving them to a protected location also aids their rest.
Massey Ferguson is a brand of agricultural equipment produced by U.S.-based AGCO. The company was born from the 1891 merger of a Canadian-based company formed by Alanson Harris and Daniel Massey and an English company owned by Harry Ferguson. The 400 Series tractors, produced in Brazil, were introduced in 2001 to markets in New Zealand and Australia, and then globally in 2003. The MF 415 tractor is marketed as a compact, narrow tractor for use in specialized applications.
Though there are some animals that look like plants, and vice-versa, at the cellular level, animals and plants are so different that it is relatively easy to tell them apart. Animal and plant cells possess distinct characteristics that not only make them appear different, but also serve different functions that are responsible for the individual traits that one can observe in common for either plants or animals. Understanding these differences will help you pass a couple of biology exams, and perhaps instill in you a greater respect for these building blocks of life.
Thuja is genus of coniferous trees and plants. The Thuja genus is native to the Northeastern part of North America. Thuja trees and plants have evergreen-scaled leaves that grow in a dense and compact way. Use them as hedges, screens, foundations, and for their pleasant appearance. Thuja evergold plants rarely exceed 2 feet in height and usually grow in rock and plant gardens because of their longevity.
Massey Ferguson was an independent company until it was purchased by AGCO Corporation in 1995. Massey Ferguson still exists as a brand, and the model 12 lawn tractor was produced from 1967 to 1976 according to TractorData.com. A lawn tractor is similar to a riding lawn mower, except that you can add attachments for additional lawn duties. While AGCO Corporation no longer manufactures this tractor, you can still purchase replacement parts from third-party vendors, especially online retailers.
People grow plants indoors for a variety of reasons. Vegetable seedlings started inside give gardeners a jump on spring, adding weeks to the growing season. Ornamental plants are added as part of a home's overall decoration, and delicate plants are brought in during the cold and set out in the sun on warm days. Though many plants are used as either a houseplant or an outdoor plant, often the same plant can be used either indoors or out, depending on the owner's preferences.
Co-evolution is the term used to describe the process when a certain species puts selective pressure on another species so they evolve together and become mutually dependent for their existence. Examples of co-evolution are the flowering plants that co-evolved with specific pollinators, such as insects, millions of years ago. The pollinator gets nectar for nourishment and, as it gathers nectar, it collects pollen, transfers it to other flowers, and the plant is able to reproduce.
The Massey Ferguson MF14 was a lawn tractor manufactured by AMF and distributed by Massey Ferguson. The MF14 was in production from 1972 to 1976. It was designed for mid- to heavy-duty residential use and could handle light construction tasks. Massey Ferguson's lawn tractor lineup began with the 7-horsepower MF7 in 1967 and continues in 2011 with the 27-horsepower 2927LC. The MF14 filled a gap between the lower-powered MF12 introduced in 1967 and the MF16.
Plants use photons gained from sunlight to perform photosynthesis, a process that gives plants the energy to develop and eventually reproduce. Although no plants can survive without the help of grow lights if removed entirely from sunlight, the plant kingdom has imposed its presence all over the world and inhabited every continent including Antarctica where single-celled plants called snow algae must endure darkness for weeks at a time. Plants that tolerate a lack of sunlight do things differently than those that enjoy the full sun.
Plants are one of the most visible and recognizable kingdoms of life and have existed for millions of years. Ranging from single-celled organisms to towering Giant Sequoia, plants have used the time to expand and evolve in different directions. Two products of this evolution are vascular plants and nonvascular plants. Both survive to this day, but these plant groups are different in key ways.
Marigolds (Tagates erecta) are bright summer bloomers ranging in color from sunny yellow to deep, coppery red to rich, reddish-orange. While planting marigold seeds indoors gives the plants a head start, marigold seeds also do well when planted directly in the garden. Don't be too eager for early spring planting, as marigolds won't tolerate cold weather.
Massey Ferguson, a subsidiary of AGCO, produces tractor equipment and parts. According to TractorData.com, Massey Ferguson produced the 65 tractor from 1958 through 1964, and it was replaced by the Massey Ferguson 165. You can still purchase replacement parts from this tractor from third-party vendors.
Empire Comfort Systems specializes in home indoor and outdoor heating products. It produces the Heritage series of gas heating stoves, which run on either natural gas or propane; these stoves are either direct-vent or vent-free. You receive a five-year limited warranty on the labor for all vent-free parts and a three-year limited warranty on the direct-vent parts. You can purchase Empire products from authorized dealers.
The terms "plant food" and "fertilizer" are often used interchangeably. Indeed, it's true that home gardeners use fertilizer to help their plants get the essential nutrients they need to grow and bloom properly. Scientifically speaking, however, fertilizer is not the same thing as plant food. Most plants get hydrogen, oxygen and carbon from water and from the air, but plants also need other nutrients that they usually get from the soil. The most important of these are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. These are called macronutrients. Fertilizer contains these and other nutrients for plants, as well as fillers. Plants use these…
Since onions can be started in a garden several ways, consider your growing season, the amount of time and money you want to invest, and how soon you hope to harvest before choosing whether to use sets or plants. Although they are similar, there are differences between the two that will affect how you garden and when you harvest.
If you consider the many types of plants that grow on the planet, it is amazing to realize that the majority of plants in existence are seed bearing plants. Pine trees, grains and orchids may look like they have nothing in common, but they are in fact all seed bearing plants, in that they reproduce through the development of seeds.
Harry Ferguson, the mechanical innovator who gave the three-point hitch to the agricultural world, is credited with this quote: "Beauty in engineering is that which is simple, has no superfluous parts and which answers exactly its purpose." This serves as a guiding principle for the manufacturer that has borne his name since 1953, when Ferguson merged his efforts with the century-old Massey-Harris company. In its promotional literature, Massey Ferguson boasts ease of use and efficient performance in its tractors and attachments. While responding to market pressures for increased capacity and power, this builder also seeks to assure farmers of the…
Lemongrass is a plant native to tropical regions such as Southeast Asia. Used as a flavoring in Thai food, lemongrass oil is also sold as a repellent for pests such as mosquitoes.
Conflicting viewpoints exist among biologists on whether lysosomes occur only in animal cells or if lysosomes also exist in plant cells. Some textbooks say that plants lack lysosomes although modern biologists have found evidence of lysosomes in some, but not all, plants.
An organelle is a membrane-bound structure located inside the cell of a plant. Just like an organ, each organelle has a specialized job that allows the cell to function.
The difference between outdoor gardening and houseplants is environment. Plants need water, light, space, nutrients and adequate temperatures to survive. Indoor plants are grown in a climate controlled environment that enables you to adjust for their basic needs. The outdoor gardening environment is ever changing, making it difficult to control all aspects of basic plant needs. Both environments pose their own unique challenges.
Where you garden determines what types of plants you can successfully grow. Heather, also frequently referred to as erica, belongs to the Ericaceae family and boasts many different cultivars, some of which are hardy in warmer regions such as Southern California.
Cankerworm caterpillars, also called inchworms, often feed on the buds and leaves of rose bushes. Two varieties occur in North America: fall inchworms (Alsophila pometaria) and spring inchworms (Paleacrita vernata)
That Boston fern in the greenhouse is a member of a plant family that existed before the dinosaurs. Ferns are older than seed-bearing or fruit-bearing plants, and there are no male or female ferns.
Beginning gardeners need to know the terms annual, perennial and biennial. These terms, often found on the legend of a plant label, tell gardeners vital information about the plant they are considering.
Massey Ferguson started in 1847 in Newcastle, Ontario, Canada, and specializes in farm equipment, especially tractors. A tractor is a large piece of farming machinery that performs different tasks, including making rows for planting, mowing fields and hauling material. The Massey Ferguson 185 tractor is an antique tractor, and it was manufactured between 1971 and 1975. You can still purchase this tractor from online vendors.
Venus flytraps are well known for their carnivorous ways, trapping and devouring insects for sustenance. While they have captured imaginations leading to man-eating depictions in the movies, no Venus flytrap is large enough to trap and digest anything larger than an insect.
Mitosis is the process by which a cell clones itself. The cell's nucleus along with its chromosomes, divide and eventually become the core of two daughter cells. Each of the nuclei in the new cells is identical to what was in the parent cell. Though plants and animals use similar steps for mitosis the biological differences keep the processes from completely mirroring each other.
Don't want to bore or confuse elementary school students with scientific terminology used to classify plants. The point of young students learning about classification systems is for them to see the different groups into which plants can be divided. Keep your lessons centered around obvious differences between groups of plants.
The Alcea rosea, or hollyhock, is a biennial or short-lived flowering perennial. Hollyhocks have been cultivated for hundreds of years; they were probably native to Asia, but are now naturalized in the United States. They are available in many different cultivars.
Cells are the basic building blocks of life. Plants and animals are each composed of trillions of cells. Despite their microscopic size, cells are specialized structures. Plant and animal cells differ from one another and cells within plants and animals differ from each other.
Photosynthesis occurs in organelles known as chloroplasts in plants, according to the University of Illinois. Chloroplasts used to live as free bacteria, which invaded non-photosynthetic cells and eventually became embedded in plants.
Wild blackberries are also referred to brambles. While some blackberry species provide food for forest animals, the difference between others is that some are considered weeds, while others are cultivated for their tasty berries. Wild blackberries flourish along trail edges and roadsides, and some thornless species thrive in gardens.
Quality fertilizer often makes the difference between sad, tired plants and lush, green gardens. There are different types of fertilizer to choose from, and each has a different method for application. The manufacturer's information on commercial products will guide you in your selection; some are specialized, and some are for general use. A light touch is best with chemicals because too much of a good thing can kill the plants it is intended to nourish.
Every living organism is made up of one of two cell types: prokaryotic cells or eukaryotic cells. Plants consist of eukaryotic cells while prokaryotic cells appear as bacterial forms. And while eukaryotic cells are the more evolved, certain similarities in their structures and organelles reveal a direct relationship between the two cell types.
Though most students understand the observable differences between animals and plants, distinctions between the two classifications begin at a cellular level. The most significant differences between human and plant cells are that plant cells are rectangular and contain cell structures such as cell walls and chloroplasts that animal cells do not contain. A successful plant cell structure project accurately represents the cells parts that distinguish plant cells from animal cells. An age-appropriate project should allow students to identify and explore the various structures of a plant cell.
If you have ever noticed a raised, bulbous area on a plant branch or leaf, it could be a gall. Insects can cause galls to form, as can certain bacteria and fungi. Galls are often confused with cankers.
The world is filled with visible vascular plants. Vascular plants produce fruit and flowers and grow to tremendous heights. They are trees, bushes, and vegetables. Nonvascular plants are small and rootless, the simplest of land-dwelling plants. Nonvascular plants' closest ancestors are green algae. The differences between vascular and nonvascular plants allow the former to assume large stature and rigid forms, and prohibit the latter from doing any such thing.
Plants produce offspring through both sexual and asexual, or vegetative, reproduction. While the processes differ greatly, understanding the role both play in the plant life cycle helps gardeners who want to save seeds and propagate plants.
Web resource Biology Online asserts that the cell is one of the most basic units of life. All living things are composed of a mass of millions of cells. Cells help organisms feed themselves and maintain good health. Each organisms' DNA is contained in its cells. The two kingdoms of the natural world, plants and animals, need different things from cells. Ergo, the cells of plants and animals have evolved to exhibit unique traits.
Photosynthesis is a compound word formed from the prefix photo for light and the suffix synthesis for putting things together. As its name would imply, photosynthesis is a process that requires light.
Although lemongrass oil repels mosquitoes, it does not work as well as chemical repellents for several reasons.
Planning a yard or garden includes choosing plants and then working to provide the ideal growing conditions for those plants. One of the most important aspects is giving a plant the right amount and type of sun exposure.
Plant stems serve a variety of important functions. They transport and store nutrients and fluids, support leaves and branches, and elevate them off the ground. Their functions and location distinguish them from several other plant structures that share a superficial resemblance.
Acacia trees grow all over the world. The Acacia Plant website mentions that it is called wattle in Australia and acacia tree or acacia shrub in the United States and Africa. Acacias are warm-weather plants with minimal water requirements.
Plants are a diverse and highly successful category of multicellular organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis. A tree is a type of plant. While trees are similar in many respects to other plants, there are a few important differences.
Papayas are tropical plants that can grow into trees. They are cultivated for their fruit, and rarely are their flowers used for decorative purposes. Lilies, in contrast, are mainly used for decoration and do not bear fruit. In comparison, parts of each of these plants differ, as lilies work from a bulb system and papayas grow from a thin stem structure.
Corn differences in tall and short plants arise from a variety of causes. Corn plants fight for nutrients in closely spaced conventional cornfields, Science Daily reports from a recent Purdue University finding. Corn plant hybrid variety and planting times also affect corn plant height and potentially causes height differences. Tall corn plants typically produce better crop yields than shorter plants; however, short plant corn yields can outnumber those harvested from taller corn plants as well.
The plant Cuphea hyssopifolia goes by multiple common names, including false heather, Mexican heather and false Mexican heather. There is also at least one cultivar identified by the name 'Mexican Heather.' This confusion points out the problem with common names, which make it difficult for people know exactly which plant is being discussed. Less confusing are the differences between false heather and “true” heather.
Termites are destructive insects that weaken and deplete wood material, their food source. Fungi spread spores and decay material, provided humid conditions exist. A few species of termites farm their own fungi for food, and some species of fungus are lethal to termites and will eliminate an infestation. These termites and fungi share a symbiotic relationship in vastly different ways. While termites are destructive to wood and paper products, fungi can be unhealthy in human or animal environments.
An air curtain is a device that resembles an air conditioner and is installed above entryways to reduce the loss of cool or air conditioned air or the entry of warmer air into a room. There are different types of air curtains, and some are designed for commercial purposes while others are more powerful and meant for industrial use.
Night-blooming flowers, such as moonflowers (Ipomoea alba), evening primrose (Oenothera) and four o'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa), differ from day-blooming flowers in several important ways and can add a whole new dimension to your landscape design. They are often overlooked in garden planning, as most gardeners are better acquainted with the more colorful day-blooming flowers.
The ginger plant has been used for over 5,000 years and is most popular in Asia. It shares some similarities with the pinecone lily and rightly so since the pinecone lily is a derivative of the ginger family. Though related there are differences that can also be found between the two.
To find wild azaleas, you have to know where they live. Native species of azalea have been found growing wild as far north as southern Maine but are more common to the southern states, from Alabama to North Carolina to West Virginia, where they are also called honeysuckle bushes for their overwhelmingly sweet fragrance. Knowing the bloom time of wild azaleas in your area will make them easier to locate and identify.
Eukaryotes are any kind of organisms that have complex cells that include mitochondria, nuclei and other cell parts. The three major cell groups are fungi, plants and animals. Many fungi are only related to plants in a superficial way. They might look somewhat like plants and have cell walls that are similar to plant cell walls, but there is a phrenology tree that shows how fungi can be more closely related to animals than plants. Because animals are closer in evolutionary history to fungi than plants, it could be said that a mushroom is closer "kin" to a human than…
Although not necessarily harmful in smaller, controlled numbers, infestations of inchworms can cause severe damage to trees, shrubs, and many varieties of vegetable plants. Methods of removal can include traditional chemical insecticides or more natural types of pest control.
Pollen is a brightly colored powder that bees collect from male plants and spread to female plants. This process is called pollination and allows plants to reproduce. But pollination is only a side effect of bees collecting pollen. Bees collect pollen to take to their hive to use as food, and there are a couple of ways that bees store pollen for their future use.
Plants and trees can be divided into two basic types depending on whether they keep or lose their leaves: deciduous and evergreen.
You can't tell the difference between clean rain and acid rain, but acid rain carries with it extra pollutants that damage the world around us. Composed of high levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), these pollutants come from natural sources like decaying vegetation and volcanoes, but they mainly comes from man-made emissions, like burning fossil fuels. Acid rain delivers devastating effects on nature's ecosystem and can be seen deteriorating buildings and statues.
Hybrid plants are crosses between two different varieties of plants. Some plants hybridize in the wild, while others are crossbred intentionally in order to gain the most valuable attributes from each of the plants. Hybrid plants may be developed for size, disease resistance, flowering, taste, color and a variety of other reasons based on preference. Many modern-day, commercially available plants have been hybridized in some way.
Onions can be grown from seed, transplanted from mature plants or grown from sets. Onions are biennial meaning that they do not set flowers or seed until the second year.
The Empire apple is one of five varieties of apples created by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, it is one the most successful varieties to be produced.
Although the earliest plants evolved in aquatic environments, over time, unique features developed to allow for life on land beginning about 425 million years ago. The differences between the two environments require different physiological structures and adaptations. For example, the acquisition of the necessary minerals, nutrients and gases varies between water and land, as well as the modes of reproduction, and the effects of gravity. Here are some distinguishing characteristics of water and land plants highlighting how they cope with the demands of their respective environments.
A mealworm is the larval stage of the mealworm beetle, which is a species of the darkling beetle. Since they are high in protein, mealworms make an ideal food source for many birds and reptiles. In addition, they are highly useful as a fishing bait. Because of their many uses and relative ease to raise, mealworms are very popular to breed and sell. Marketing them to pet stores can be competitive, so it's a good idea to have a solid plan of attack.
Hard red wheat is a type of grain that is either planted in the fall or in the spring. It has the highest protein content of all the wheat types. Red wheat is an imported product, originating in Jordan, Syria and Turkey.
Plants adapt to their environments . . . or they cease to exist. Adaptation is an evolutionary process that changes the anatomy or physiology of a plant, resulting in increased ability of a population to live in a particular environment.
Asian plants, including the ancient Durian, thrive in different climates. Each plant grows in different locales, from the Southeastern rainforests to southern Russia. Some prefer lush, tropical environments where 100 inches of rain will fall throughout the year. Others reach maturity in the colder, northern climates of Asia.
Scientists believe plants evolved from green algae during four periods, beginning with nonvascular plants about 460 million years ago. Vascular plants appeared about 350 million years ago, followed by seed plants, then flowering plants.
Blueberries and blackberries are both rich sources of vitamins and antioxidants, but there are major differences between the two plants and the berries that come from them.
Plants make their own food through photosynthesis, so the term "plant food" isn't really accurate. Plants need water and sunlight to make their food. They also take nutrients out of the soil. Plant food and fertilizer are similar in that they both add nutrients to the soil so that the plants will grow.
There are many differences between spearmint and peppermint plants, from the leaves, flowers and flavor of the two herb plants to their most popular uses. Each dates back 5,000 years to ancient Egypt and India, where they were valued for the effects of their oils, though those substances were used for different purposes.
The difference between an indoor plant and an outdoor plant mainly has to do with a plant's temperature tolerance. All types of plants were originally outdoor plants, of course, but certain plants are now referred to as indoor plants, or houseplants, because of their low tolerance for cool temperatures, their long life span and their ability to thrive in containers.
Annuals and biennials are short-lived but valuable plants in the garden. They are often called bedding plants because they are used in beds for one season and then discarded. An annual is a plant whose entire life cycle, from germination to seed production to death, takes place within one year. Choosing annuals and biennials requires a little planning but the landscaping rewards are great.
