Plants

Thursday, 17 September 2026

"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 ...

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Poison ivy

Contrary to popular opinion, it's not poisonous.

It has a bad reputation because of its skin-irritating attributes. Contact with plant sap may result in itching, pain. The substance responsible for the appearance of the above symptoms is urushiol.

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Stinging nettle

For medicinal purposes, nettle leaves are harvested before flowering, roots are dug up in fall or early spring, and the whole plant is used.

Juice squeezed from fresh nettle stalks is also often used, and folk medicine recommends drinking it daily to strengthen during spring fatigue.

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Poison ivy

Urushiol is an organic compound that causes an allergic reaction in most people.

It is produced not only by poison ivy but also by poison oak, poison sumac, or the Chinese lacquer t ...

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Trees

Plants evolved into trees about 385 to 370 million years ago.

Until recently, we did not know what the first representatives of trees looked like because none of ...

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Rice

Dry rice and wet rice are distinguished by their cultivation requirements.

Dry rice, known as "mountain" rice, can be grown without irrigation but yields less. It is most comm ...

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Corpse flower

It can reach up to 3—3.5 meters in height.

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Pears

In Europe and North America, the most popular species is the Common Pear (Pyrus communis).

The tree can reach 20 meters in height and produces fruit 3 to 5 cm in diameter. It was cultivated a ...

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Poinsettia

Poinsettia, in addition to its decorative value, serves as a medicinal, cosmetic and dye plant.

In Mexico and Guatemala, the milky sap from poinsettias was used as shaving cream. In Guatemala, the ...

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Coconut tree

Coconut shells are a good source of charcoal, so they are used as fuel.

They are also used in theaters and for movie soundtracks. The clacking of the nutshell halves against each other mimics the clatter of horse hooves.

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Poison ivy

Urushiol does not only adhere to the skin.

It may also stick to clothing, shoes, and anything rubbed against the plant and remain harmful to humans for many days after.

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24 facts about rapeseed

Probably a hybrid

Rapeseed - one of three varieties of cabbage rapeseed (Brassica napus) is probably an offspring of two different species. It is one of the oilseed cro ...

23 facts about brussels sprout

A small cabbage with amazing flavor

Brussels sprouts are a botanical variety of cabbage belonging to the cabbage family. It probably originated from a cross between head cabbage and kale ...

16 facts about kale

An excellent ingredient for smoothies

Kale was known in ancient times, however, it was also consumed in the Middle Ages. Today we are rediscovering it thanks to its wealth of vitamins, min ...

20 facts about watercress

A leader in the health category

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, watercress is one of the healthiest plants. Although it is one of the oldest plants ...

12 facts about sweet potato

A creeping plant from the tropics

Yams, also known as sweet potatoes, are one of the healthiest foods, even in space. In fact, they have been appreciated by NASA and recognized as supe ...

18 facts about parsley

Healthy from the root to the leaves

It is a vegetable commonly used in cooking. In addition to its taste, it also has many nutrients and can help with some ailments. Parsley root contain ...

18 facts about beetroot

Vitamin bomb

This under-appreciated vegetable is increasingly appearing on our tables and returning to favor. And this is great news because beets are a vegetable ...

18 facts about asparagus

Spring vegetables full of vitamins and nutrients

Asparagus, known to mankind since ancient times (more than 5000 years), still enjoys enduring popularity, especially in French, Italian, Spanish or Ge ...

15 facts about sunflower

Sun-like beauty

They came to Europe quite late because they came from the American continent. Cultivated for seeds, oil, or ornamental value, they quickly conquered t ...

13 facts about cinnamon

One of the most closely guarded merchant secrets

It is a well-known and often used aromatic spice in the kitchen. We most often find it in confectionery, chocolate, and some alcoholic drinks. Althoug ...

18 facts about grapes

Grapes do not come exclusively from one species of vine

Although it originated in the Middle East, it has spread all over the world. Thanks to this plant, it is possible to enjoy countless varieties of wine ...

13 facts about birch

Pioneer tree of the northern hemisphere

Although it is associated mainly with the Central Europe landscape, anyone who thinks that this plant does not occur on other continents is wrong. Var ...

17 facts about rowan

Sorbus aucuparia

Although we know this plant as mountain ash, its scientific name is Sorbus aucuparia. It is a pioneer plant thanks to its frost resistance and low req ...

20 facts about garlic

World leader in medicinal plants

Garlic, well known to all, is a vegetable, spice, and medicinal plant - in this field, it is a leader with clinically proven effectiveness. It is prod ...

17 facts about cocoa bean

Chocolate base

Cocoa is a commonly used term for the seeds of the cocoa tree. Widely known and liked by lovers of chocolate and all chocolate sweets, as well as supp ...