Chinese perfume plant (Aglaia odorata)

🎄🎄MEMBERS OF THE MAHOGANY FAMILY : MELIACEAE 🎄🎄

Chinese perfume plant (Aglaia odorata) is a much branched shrub growing up to 5- 10 m tall. It's dwarf variety however grows only about 2-3 m high and is popular as a potted house plant. It can even be trained into a bonsai.

🌿The plant is usually grown as an ornamental hedge in gardens for its tiny fragrant flowers, and showy glossy foliage.

🌿The shiny green leaves are pinnately compound with obovate leaflets having a wide and rounded tip. These leaflets occur in pairs with a terminal leaflet larger than the rest.

⚜️Tiny yellow flowers have a citronella like fragrance and occur in a thyrse inflorescence. These mature into red, round fleshy fruits about 1-1.2 cm in size.

🌿On maturity the seeds split to reveal the brightly colored aril surrounding the seeds. Each fruit contains 1-3 seeds.The aril is edible and consumed by birds and squirrels aiding in seed dispersal.

⚜️The plant is useful in traditional medicine and is also a source of essential oil used in perfumery.

The roots are boiled with water to make a drink to increase appetite. In the Philippines, the roots and leaves are used as a tonic.

🌿A tea of the leaves is used for treating excessive menstrual bleeding and the flowers are used to ease childbirth and treatment of vertigo.The dried flowers are used to cure mouth ulcers and reduce fever.

In China, the dried branches and leaves are boiled in water and used to reduce pain from rheumatic joints, injuries from falls, superficial infections and toxic swelling.

⚜️The dried flowers retain their perfume indefinitely and can be used to produce perfume for clothes and used as air freshener pellets for cupboards etc.

Aglaia odorata dried flowers and leaves are an effective organic herbicide for controlling barn grass and weeds in fields.

Scientific name: Aglaia odorata

(Genus Aglaia is derived from the Greek word Αγλαιη which means splendour or beauty and also refers to one of the three Graces in Greek mythology. Species odorata refers to the fragrance produced by the flowers )

Common name: Chinese perfume plant

Family: Meliaceae

Native Distribution: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Laos.

 

References: 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglaia_odorata

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/1/6/1609

Picture credits: Jyoti Prateek

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/myplantdiaries?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Plants of Singapore

CAYENNE PEPPER

It is a member of the Capsicum family, which also includes bell peppers, jalapeños, and habaneros. Cayenne peppers are known for their fiery heat, which is caused by the compound capsaicin.

Cayenne pepper has a number of health benefits. Here are some of the most notable:

Boosts metabolism: 

-Cayenne pepper has been shown to boost metabolism, which can help you burn more calories and lose weight.

Reduces inflammation: 

-Capsaicin has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce pain and swelling.

Improves digestion: 

-Cayenne pepper can help to improve digestion by stimulating the production of stomach acid and increasing peristalsis, the movement of food through the digestive tract. It has also been used to treat and heal ulcers. 

Relieves pain: 

-Capsaicin can also help to relieve pain, including pain from arthritis, headaches, and muscle pain.

Lowers blood pressure: 

-Cayenne pepper may help to lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow.

Protects against cancer: 

-Some studies have shown that capsaicin may help to protect against cancer by suppressing the growth of cancer cells.

Cayenne pepper is a versatile spice that can be used in a variety of dishes. It can be added to soups, stews, chili, and sauces. It can also be used to make tea or taken as a supplement.

If you are considering adding cayenne pepper to your diet, it is important to start slowly and gradually increase your intake. Too much cayenne pepper can cause side effects such as heartburn, and diarrhea.

Here are some tips for adding cayenne pepper to your diet:

Start with a small amount and gradually increase your intake.

*Add cayenne pepper to cooked dishes, such as soups, stews, chili, and sauces.

*Make cayenne pepper tea by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to hot water.

*Take cayenne pepper supplements as directed by your doctor.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any health concerns, talk to your doctor before adding cayenne pepper to your diet.

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/Tomhil55?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Health is Wealth

Silver Boodyara also known as koping-koping (Aglaia argentea)

🎄🎄MEMBERS OF THE MAHOGANY FAMILY : MELIACEAE 🎄🎄

Silver Boodyara also known as koping-koping (Aglaia argentea) is an evergreen tree from the family Meliaceae. It is found in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Thailand.

It is also known as iloilo in the Philippines. The city of Iloilo is named after the tree.

🎄The tree grows up to 30m tall and mature trees may have buttresses.The bark is brown – grey and produces white latex when injured.

🌿The leaves are pinnately compound with sub-opposite, oblong elliptic leaflets that are shiny green above and covered with whitish brown peltate scales below giving the underside of leaflets a silvery appearance.

🌷It is a dioecious species so there are separate male and female plants. The flowers are tiny and produced in panicles. The flowering stalks are covered in brown peltate scales. The flowers on both are similar, having 5 petals and 5 sepals. Male flowers have 5 stamens and female flowers have a superior ovary.

🍈The fruit is ovoid maturing to yellowish brown. Each has 3 locules with one seed each surrounded by an edible sweet-sour, whitish aril. The fruit does not split open on maturity.Aril of the seed is edible and also eaten by monkeys and hornbills.

🎄The tree is valued for its timber that is used in construction.

🧿 ETYMOLOGY

Genus Aglaia is derived from the Greek word Αγλαιη which means splendour or beauty and also refers to one of the three Graces in Greek mythology. Specific epithet argentea is Argente in latin, which means silvery, referring to the silvery underside of the leaflets.

Scientific name: Aglaia argentea

Common name: Silver Boodyara

Family: Meliaceae 

SOURCE

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/3/5/3508

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglaia_argentea

PICTURE CREDITS

Wee Foong Ang

https://www.flickr.com/photos/weefoong/albums/72157631095532702/

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/myplantdiaries?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Plants of Singapore

The Pithraj Tree (Aphanamixis polystachya)

The Pithraj Tree (Aphanamixis polystachya) is a medium sized (about 20m tall), evergreen tree from the family Meliaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia, including Singapore.

Its name has roots in the Greek aphanos, invisible; Greek mixis, mating; Greek poly, many; Greek stachys, branch, referring to the much-branched male flowering shoot.

The tree has long imparipinnate compound leaves (that is having an unpaired terminal leaflet), alternately arranged and made up of 9-21 leaflets, each leaflet being oblong-elliptic, and wavy on the margins, with an acute tip.

Flower clusters occur in leaf-axils. Flowers have 5 nearly circular sepals,. Its female flowering shoots are up to 110 cm long, while male and bisexual flowering shoots are up to 50 cm long. Its sweetly scented flowers are 4 x 9 mm across and produced in panicles, with cream to yellow coloured petals. Flowers are pollinated by insects.

Its pink-red-purplish fruits grow in clusters, are round to pear-shaped, and 2 x 4 cm across. Each fruit bears 1 - 3 seeds that are covered with brownish-red or orange oily pulp, and have a dark brown or black seed coat. The fruits split into 3 paets on maturity to reveal the pulp. However the fruits are poisonous to humans.

The plant can be propagated by seeds.

 It grows in lowlands and hill forests over a wide range of soils from sandy to clayey.

Like many other plants, the seeds produce an oil content of 40-44% . The oil is inedible but ideal for bio-fuel that is refined to get bio-diesel.

The Pithraj Tree is said to be popular in traditional Indian medicine, like Ayurveda, The bark, is used for treatment of ulcers, liver and spleen problems.

Oil extracted from the seeds is medicinal and applied externally for rheumatism and skin diseases.

Common name: Pithraj tree

Botanical name: Aphanamixis polystachya

Family: Meliaceae

Native Distribution: From India, Sri Lanka, southern China, Taiwan, Bhutan, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific islands. 

Source:

https://uforest.org/Species/A/Aphanamixis_polystachya.php

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/7/2716

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Pithraj%20Tree.html

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/myplantdiaries?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Plants of Singapore

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GREEN/ SPRING ONIONS, LEEK , CHIVES AND GARLIC CHIVES

All of these green stalks are alliums or part of the Amaryllidaceae family. They may look similar, but the good news is that, to tell them apart, you do not need to know their scientific names.

GREEN ONION/SPRING ONION

You might think you know that green onions are called spring onions, but is there really a difference?

If you are familiar with green onions, you should be familiar with spring onions and scallions. That's because these are all the same thing just with different names. Allium fistulosum or the green onion is literally the young stalk of an onion. The green onion stalks, complete with the bulbs, can be harvested from either young white or red onions. The bulbs won't develop and show their white and red varieties until it's a more mature plant. 

LEEK

Leeks are not green onions. While both are considered part of the onion family, these are two different herbs. Known scientifically as Allium porrum, the leek looks like a large green onion stalk. Even the young and thinner leeks are much bigger than green onions would be.

Besides the size there is a considerable difference in the way leeks grow compared to the green onions. You'll notice that leeks develop a distinctive fork as the plant grows from bulb to its leaves.   

CHIVES

Chives are actually another kind of plant altogether from the green onions and the leeks. It has a different scientific name (Allium schoenoprasum) . Most of the Alliums are bulb-forming except Allium schoenoprasum (common chive) that grows from rhizomes. Chives are sometimes called "onion chives" because that's what chives tastes like. However, it's not a green onion. 

There are actually two kinds of "chives" you might find in the market: chives (Onion Chives) and garlic chives or Chinese chives. You might sometimes be fooled into buying garlic chives instead of real chives. 

How can you tell which is which? 

If you look at the plant itself, the green leaf blades of the garlic chives are flat compared to the real chives which are hollow and circular. The stalk of the chives is also much smaller, thinner, and much greener throughout the stalk than the stalks of the green onions or even the garlic chive. You can tell chives apart from the garlic plants as well as from the flower buds these sometimes have. If you allow the buds to flower, chives sport purple flowers while garlic chives will have white flowers. 

Source:

https://www.yummy.ph/lessons/prepping/difference-between-leeks-and-scallions-and-green-onions-and-chives-a00249-20210123

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/myplantdiaries?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Plants of Singapore

MALPIGHIACEAE family

 MALPIGHIACEAE family is home to some very beautiful shrubs, trees and vines native to the tropics and subtropics. It is a large family with about 73 genera and over 1300 species. Some characteristics that can help identify its members are listed as follows:

🌷 Leaves are simple, opposite or arranged in whorls and have stipules. They frequently have paired glands on the petiole or base of the blade

🌷 Flowers are bisexual, usually radially symmetrical, with pentamerous perianth of well differentiated 5 sepals and petals. The petals are generally yellow or pink, claw shaped with their margins ciliate, toothed, or fringed. The sepals have basal glands that secrete sugar rich nectar. 

🌷Stamens are arranged in 2 whorls and carpels are 3 in number.

🌷These flowers are either produced singly, or in racemes, panicles or cymes.

🌷The fruit is a drupe, nut, or samara (with variable shape of wings) usually indehiscent

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/malpighiaceae

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malpighiaceae

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/malpighi.htm

https://www.facebook.com/Seminisia/posts/868518086553868

https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/bunchosia_argentea.htm

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Byrsonima_crassifolia_%2829493577323%29.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158071275976552&set=gm.10157877702043213

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/myplantdiaries?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Plants of Singapore

Barbados Cherry Bush (Malpighia glabra), also known as Wild Crepe Myrtle and Acerola, is a native of Puerto Rico and the USA

Hi, let's meet, Barbados Cherry Bush (Malpighia glabra), also known as Wild Crepe Myrtle and Acerola, is a native of Puerto Rico and the USA. The plant is a member from the type genus Malpighia of the family Malpighiaceae 

It is a shrub or small evergreen tree, less than 6 m tall, with spreading, more or less drooping branches on a short trunk.

The glabrous leaves are opposite, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, with entire or

undulating margins, dark green and glossy above, with short petioles.

Inflorescences are sessile or have a short-peduncle, produced in axillary cymes of 3-5 flowers. The individual flowers are bisexual, 1-2 cm in diameter, bearing 5 pinkish, translucent, slender clawed petals with crinkled margins.

The fruit, commonly known as Acerola cherry is a bright-red, juicy drupe, about 1-3 cm in diameter and usually produced in pairs or threes, obscurely 3-lobed; has a thin skin, flesh is soft. Seeds are 3 per fruit, triangular in shape and ridged. 

The fruit is sour initially, but sweet and juicy when ripe. It is very rich in vitamin C, up to 65 times that of an orange. Eaten fresh or as flavoring for drinks, it is commonly used in parts of South America to flavor ice creams, drinks, and cocktails.

Medicinal uses: In Suriname's traditional medicine the leaves are used against dysentery and diarrhea. Also used for liver ailments; fruit used against the common cold.

Source:

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Barbados%20Cherry.html

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/5/3/5385

https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Malpighia_glabra.

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/myplantdiaries?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Plants of Singapore

Avocado Seed Health Benefits

Avocado is a popular fruit that is known for its health benefits. But did you know that the seed of the avocado is also edible and has its own set of health benefits?

Avocado seeds are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They contain:

Fiber: 

-Avocado seeds are a good source of fiber, which can help to regulate digestion and promote bowel regularity.

Vitamins: 

-Avocado seeds contain vitamins A, C, and E, which are all important for immune health, vision, and skin health.

Minerals: 

-Avocado seeds contain minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are important for heart health, bone health, and muscle function.

In addition to these nutrients, avocado seeds also contain a number of beneficial plant compounds, including:

Antioxidants: 

-Avocado seeds contain antioxidants that can help to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Phytosterols: 

-Avocado seeds contain phytosterols, which are plant compounds that can help to lower cholesterol levels.

Acetogenins: 

- Avocado seeds contain acetogenins, which have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

There is some research to suggest that avocado seeds may have a number of health benefits, including:

Heart health: 

- Avocado seeds may help to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Blood sugar control: 

Avocado seeds may help to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes.

Cancer prevention: 

Avocado seeds may have anti-cancer properties.

Immune health: Avocado seeds may help to boost the immune system.

Digestive health: 

Avocado seeds may help to improve digestion and promote bowel regularity.

However, more research is needed to confirm these benefits.

How to eat avocado seeds

Avocado seeds can be eaten raw, roasted, or brewed into tea.

To eat raw avocado seeds, you will need to remove the hard outer shell. The inner seed can then be chopped or ground into a powder.

To roast avocado seeds, you will need to preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the seeds out on a baking sheet and roast for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

To brew avocado seed tea, you will need to boil the seeds in water for 10-15 minutes. Strain the tea and enjoy.

Safety precautions

It is important to note that avocado seeds contain a small amount of a toxin called persin. Persin can be harmful to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Therefore, it is important to keep avocado seeds out of reach of pets.

It is also important to note that there is not enough research to recommend avocado seeds for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Therefore, it is best to avoid eating avocado seeds if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Overall, avocado seeds are a healthy and nutritious food that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. However, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and to take precautions before consuming them.

References

Avocado Seed Discoveries: Chemical Composition, Biological Properties, and Industrial Food Applications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9789361/

Is It Safe and Healthy to Eat the Seed of an Avocado?: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/eating-avocado-seed

Why You Should Sip on Antioxidant-Rich Avocado Seed Tea: https://www.wellandgood.com/avocado-seed-tea/

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/Tomhil55?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Health is Wealth

The Peanut Butter Fruit, also known as Bunchosia argentea or Bunchosia armeniaca

If you're vegan and a fan of peanut butter, this fruit is for you. The Peanut Butter Fruit, also known as Bunchosia argentea or Bunchosia armeniaca, is an exotic fruit native to Northwestern South America. It has a sweet, soft pulp with a peanut butter-like flavor and texture.

The plant is a small tree, growing up to 5m tall, and can also be kept as a bush. It quickly adapts to a variety of soil types and starts fruiting within 3 years of growing from seed.

The leaves are large and ovate with wavy margins. The lightly scented, yellow flowers with claw-like petals ( characteristic of the Malpighiaceae family) are produced in clusters and are followed by an abundance of egg-shaped fruits that have a beak-like tip. These mature from green to orange and then dark red. Each fruit has 2 seeds.

 The flesh of the fruit is rich and sweet, with a texture similar to peanut butter, and yet it is a much healthier food option. The fruit can be eaten fresh or made into milkshakes.

Not only is the Peanut Butter Fruit tree delicious, it also offers extraordinary health benefits. It is rich in vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B-complex, beta-carotene, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and dietary fiber. It is also known to have antioxidant properties and protect the cardiovascular system. The tree can produce up to 200-300 fruits at once, which can be used in various recipes or enjoyed as is. The Peanut Butter Fruit tree is a great choice for a backyard garden.

The plant prefers full sun to semi-shade and requires regular watering. The soil must be kept moist but not waterlogged.

Common name: Peanut Butter Tree

Scientific name: Bunchosia armeniaca

Family: Malpighiaceae 

Native place: Northwestern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil and Perú)

 Source:

https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/bunchosia_argentea.htm

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunchosia_armeniaca

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/FloraFaunaWeb/Flora/2/7/2764

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/myplantdiaries?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Plants of Singapore

The Australian Gold Vine (Tristellateia australasiae)

Hi, today let's take you to meet another fascinating member of the Malpighiaceae family.

The Australian Gold Vine (Tristellateia australasiae), is an ornamental, flowering woody climber from Australia.

It is known by many common names like, Maiden's Jealousy, Galphimia Vine and Golden Rod, or Golden Shower Vine.

It is often confused with a similar looking shrub Galphimia glauca, that has almost identical flowers as this vine.

Both plants have elliptical, glabrous leaves and yellow flowers with typical claw shaped petals.

Naturally occurring around swamps, estuaries and creeks it is cultivated for its ornamental flowers.

What makes this plant all the more interesting is its use by the aboriginal people in Australia, as a remedy for treating high blood pressure and poisoning.

Source:

Tristellateia australasiae - UBD Botanical Research Center

Reference 

https://www.facebook.com/myplantdiaries?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Plants of Singapore