Cool Plants and Trees

dagaz · 07-15-2006

Well I'm a rainforest nut, so one of my all-time favourite trees is the Yellow Carabeen (Sloanea woolsii). It is a tall tree with a round trunk, massive plank buttress roots and a dense, glossy canopy. It also has really speccy flowers and fruits when in season. When my last dog died, who was probably my closest canine friend ever (apologies to my current dog) I planted a Yellow Carabben on his grave.

Tarantism · 07-15-2006

Bonsai trees are pretty cool!

Edella · 07-15-2006

The Baobab tree: http://langabi.name/gallery/albums/m...aobab_tree.jpg
The Arabian legend of the baobab is that "the devil plucked up the baobab, thrust its branches into the earth and left its
roots in the air".

Racoon · 07-15-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by ughaibu

Rafflesia arnoldii: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/flower.html

Your link doesn't connect Ughaibu.. (Edit: it does now...)

You're reffering to the Raffesia? (I read the Raffesia Kerri Meijer)
Its an amazing parasitic plant with an incredibly shallow root system:

DEFINITELY take a look at the link with Unusual Pictures of this plant!

http://www.khaolakguide.de/rkmpic1.htm

The Rafflesia Kerrie Meijer gets its name from Sir Stamford Raffles.
One of the world's rarest and certainly it's largest flowers...
This species found at Khao Sok is on the endangered species list.
Please do not step too close to the flower it will destroy it because
there are "invisible roots" in the ground around the blossom !!!

The Rafflesia is a parasitic plant with no roots or leaves.
It absorbs its nutrients with a kind of fungus from its host.
The Rafflesia develops out of a bud (top, left) and blooms for 3 - 4 days.
Afterwards it fades away like a decaying mushroom (it starts - bottom, right).

Mercedes Benzene · 07-15-2006

OOOOOOO. They had one of those at a botanical garden near my house a few years back!
It was gorgeous, but smelled like shit..... i mean... (excrement).

pardon my non-scientific language.

Tarantism · 07-15-2006

the peyote cacti is pretty damn cool!

Racoon · 07-15-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarantism

the peyote cacti is pretty damn cool!

Yes, most cacti are pretty cool!

although I've never tripped on that plant before....

heres a picture.
and under these growing circumstances, I can only imagine what its for. Indians have a sacred tie to this plant, and that itself gives this plant an Important historical importance.