Flowering plants, shrubs and trees provide the environment with much needed oxygen and fight soil erosion. They also provide food and shelter for many animals, as well as contribute to the fertility of soil with their dead leaves and flowers.
Plants that eat other creatures? It sounds like a genetic experiment gone awry. But there's actually nothing unnatural about it; carnivorous plants have been around for thousands of years. Find out all about the Venus Flytrap. See more »
Anemone, a genus of perennial plants of the buttercup family. Anemones are found in north temperate regions and are often called windflowers.
See more »Angelica, the name of a genus and species of perennial herbs of the parsley family found in north temperate regions and in New Zealand.
See more »Anise, an annual herb of the parsley family. Anise is cultivated in Europe, Asia, and South America.
See more »Apple of Sodom, a legendary fruit that was tempting to the sight but crumbled into ashes when touched.
See more »Araucaria, a genus of cone-bearing evergreen trees related to pines. The trees are found in South America and Australia and on islands of the South Pacific.
See more »Arborvitae, COD2, the popular name for a genus of cone-bearing, evergreen trees of the pine family.
See more »Arnica, a genus of perennial herbs native to Asia, Europe, and North America. There are about 10 species.
See more »Arrowroot, the common name of a family of herbs, most of which are tropical. The family is made up of 25 genera and about 400 species, most of which have thick underground stems.
See more »Artemisia, a genus of herbs and shrubs. The artemisias are found in most areas of the Northern Hemisphere.
See more »Arum, the name of a genus of about 12 species of perennial herbs. It is also the common name for a family of plants, most members of which are tropical.
See more »Asafetida, or Asafoetida, a gum resin obtained from the roots of several perennial herbs native to Iran and Afghanistan.
See more »Asphodel, the common name for a genus of plants of the lily family and for several species in this and other genera.
See more »Aspidistra, a genus of plants noted for their large, abundant leaves. They are native to Asia.
See more »Aster, a summer- or fall-blooming herbaceous plant. Most species are perennials and belong to the aster genus, which consists of more than 250 species.
See more »Azalea, a flowering shrub. There are about 25 species of azaleas, which are native to the north temperate zone, especially in North America and eastern Asia.
See more »Babies'-breath, a popular perennial herb of the pink family. It has a large number of tiny white flowers growing on a gracefully branched, feathery stalk.
See more »Bachelor's Button, a hardy, annual garden flower. The bachelor's button is known by a number of other names, including cornflower, bluebottle, and bluebonnet.
See more »Balm of Gilead, the common name of several unrelated trees and the name of an aromatic, resinous liquid obtained from one species.
See more »Balsa, a tree of tropical America. Balsa wood is pale in color, so soft it can be dented with the fingernail, and about one-half as heavy as cork.
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