Plants

Saturday, 7 February 2026
21 facts about olives
21 facts about olives
"Where the olive refuses to grow, there the Mediterranean world ends"
It is not known exactly when and where the first olive tree, characteristic of the Mediterranean region, grew. Paleobotanists claim that wild olives g ...

Did you know?

Brussels sprout
Brussels sprouts have the highest amount of vitamin C, 94 mg per 100 g, of all brassicas.
It also contains B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6), folic acid, vitamins A, E, and H, beta carotene, and is a source of potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, omega-3 fatty acids.
Dragon blood tree
For people interested in magic and alchemy, the dragon blood tree resin is, in fact, the blood of a dragon, and is used in various mystical rituals.
For instance, it is popularly used as incense.
Forget-me-not
Depending on the species, the forget-me-nots can be toxic to animals and humans.
It is due to a chemical called pyrrolizidine alkaloid, which causes liver damage.
Watercress
For medicinal purposes, watercress is harvested just before flowering.
It is then dried in the shade, separated from other herbs due to the strong odor given off by the cress. A decoction of the cut herbs can be used, or fresh juice diluted with water can be drunk.
Baobab tree
Baobabs provide important nesting sites for some birds.
In particular they are perfect for nesting of the mottled spinetail and four species of weaver.
Carrot
It contains many carotenoids: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin.
Cabbage
Russians consume the most cabbage in the world.
The statistical Russian eats 20 kilograms of cabbage a year, followed by the Belgians who eat 4.7 kilograms, and just behind them the Dutch with 4 kilograms of cabbage consumed annually.
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo was first treated as a fruit tree because of its edible seeds, and later as an ornamental tree.
Broad beans
Broad beans have a low sodium content, are rich in potassium and soluble fiber, which helps reduce cholesterol in the blood, thus regulating blood pressure.
Aloe vera
Systematic use of aloe vera gel on the skin can slightly reduce the visibility of wrinkles.