Plants Plants Plants

Well we spent a really nice day wandering around Kew gardens recently. Kew gardens are amazing. The first part of the gardens were established in the eighteenth century by King George the seconds wife and I have managed to forget her name. Kew has the most extensive herbarium in the world (dried plants)with some very old and now extinct specimens from New Zealand. They also have a seed bank where very precious and rare seeds from endangered plants are kept until a safe time comes when they can be reintroduced back into their country of origin. At the moment Kew scientists are concentrating on Madagascar and collecting seeds for the bank as huge amounts of forest has and is being removed from there.

They have an exhibition running that highlights the economic uses of plants. Plants, I've found are used for absolutely everything: from diesel fuel to high quality laquer varnishes.

A very intricate fountain made entirely of shale?



So here are a few 'Did you knows' that usually only Jamie has to listen to, but I thought out of the kindness of my heart I'd share them with you guys as well:

Did you know the Banana tree is not a tree at all its actually the largest herb in the world! (A herb is a plant that doesn't produce any wood). The banana is also one of the most sprayed and fertilised commercial fruit in the world! This is because it is so inbred it has no resistance to diseases.

Did you know that Pepper is the fruit of a South-East Asian Vine. White pepper is the fruit without the black seed coat. Pepper is also the most commonly used spice in the world.

Did you know Macademia trees and their nuts were only discovered in the late nineteenth century in Northern Australia. They were exported to Hawaii and now 70% of the worlds macademia nuts come from Hawaii.

Did you know there is a tree that produces enough hydrocarbons in its seed pods that it can be used to power vehicles (the Japanese used it for just this purpose in the 2nd world war)

Did you know that Ginkgo biloba (yes the ingredient in some health supplements) is supposed to cure Reynauds disease or poor circulation in your extremities. Ginkgo is a strange tree from Sth-East China which was close to extinction last century but through horticulture has made a come back. Its leave are also poisonous if taken in large enough quantities!

Did you know algae are plants as well. They are very simple plants without cells for carrying water or sugars, but the largest ones can grow up to 100m long and the smallest ones are only one cell. Some algae have been used as varnishes, but their most common use is as food stabilisers - many ice creams contain algae products. Most algae grow in salt water.

Did you know the Mango tree originally came from Southern India. It has been imported and spread throughout Polynesia.



Sugar cane blurb



Avenue outside the palm house