Plants are considered to be the backbone of a garden. The usually non-hazardous and safe-looking plants may have a life-threatening secret. There are many plants in the world which are a serious threat to the lives of humans and animals.

Let us look into some of the poisonous ornamental plants in the world.

Chinaberry: A native to the Himalayas and eastern Asia, it has been introduced to the southern United States. Chinaberry leaves have insecticidal properties. They are used for storage of grains and fruits. The 5-grooved seeds are used in making rosemaries or articles made of beads. This plant is considered poisonous. The symptoms of poisoning occur few hours after ingestion. These include vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhea, bloody feces, stomach pain, pulmonary congestion, rigidity, lack of coordination and general weakness. Death may occur within 24 hours.

Wisteria: The romantic cascades of lush blue, pink or white are Wisterias. They are found in the South and Southwest of America. It is said that the entire plant, excluding the flowers is poisonous. Please do not attempt to eat the flowers, as precaution is always better than cure. Also known as the kidney bean tree, it causes vomiting, nausea, cramps and diarrhea on ingestion. Treatment includes intravenous hydration and anti-nausea pills.

Foxglove: The enchanting looking purple, white or pink bell-shaped flowers with or without dots are called Foxgloves. This pretty plant is used for the preparation of drugs for cardiac problems. If any part of the plant is eaten, it may cause nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, abdominal pain, wild hallucinations, delirium, and severe headache. Depending on the dose, it may further cause heart block or increased or lowered heart rate. The treatment may include use of charcoal to absorb the toxins or pumping the stomach. Drugs like Lidocaine have to be administered for bringing the heart rate to normal.

Daffodils: William Wordsworth, writer of the lovely poem ‘Daffodils’ would have never imagined that eating the bulbs of this plant could lead to death. The poisonous bulbs on ingestion, cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The ingestion of the stem leads to blurred vision, headache and vomiting. Intravenous hydration and drugs may be recommended by the doctor to treat nausea and diarrhea. The calcium oxalate in the sap causes “daffodil itch”, which is often seen in florists. The symptoms include dryness, fissures, scaling, and redness of skin in the hands, often accompanied by thickening of the skin beneath the nails.

Deadly Night Shade: These night-loving plants have a shade of mystical danger and scientific caution. It is also known as the Bella Donna, which means ‘beautiful woman’ as the Italian women used the sap from these plants to dilate their pupils in order to make them look more beautiful. The use of this deadly plant spread throughout history. The ancient Greeks used it for hallucination and torture. The person who is given this deadly poison often fails to find the difference between truth and fantasy. It is said that the army of Mark Antony was given the Deadly Night Shade as a poison during the parathion wars. It was the same poison that Macbeth used to poison a party of Danes during a truce. It is used as a sedative in Nepal. Moroccans use it to increase the memory and also as an aphrodisiac. It is also used to fortify marijuna by illegal drug traders.

Manchineel tree: The Manchineel tree is native to Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. Its leaves and fruits superficially resemble those of an Apple tree. The tree and its parts contain toxic substances. A white milky substance is secreted during rainfall. It is advisable not to take shade under this tree during rains, as mere contact with the substance causes blistering of the skin. One should be careful while burning this tree, as the smoke may lead to blindness. The fruits of this tree are also deadly. The sap, if used as poison can lead to a slow and painful death.

Yellow Jessamine: The eye-catching yellow flowers of this twining vine are often confused by children as honey-suckle. The plant contains toxic alkaloids gelsemine and gelsiminine. This plant causes nausea and vomiting. The poisoning from this plant is often fatal. The nectar gathered from the flowers may cause brood death in bees. The sap may also cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

These were a few plants which can be described as deadly. Despite the hazards, we grow many of these poisonous plants in our gardens for aesthetic and ornamental beauty of their flowers. Often, these plants crop up unknowingly in our backyards. It really helps when you know the facts about a plant before eating any part of it; however tempting it may be!

It is something that some people see as annoying, other people try to get it to grow on their gardens because of its beauty and still others couldn’t care less…it is called moss and at first glance it does not seem to be that interesting, just some green stuff growing on the ground, but when you take a closer look and really get into the world of moss, it is then that you can find a world that is virtually unexplored a world full of new things that become intriguing and unforgettable. It is the world of Moss.

Mosses are little tiny non vascular plants with little tiny roof-like and stem-like parts…now these are not real leaves, roots and stems because they miss the one very important ingredient which is vascular tissue. The Botanical word for mosses is Bryophytes, which when you translate it into a language that other people can understand means moss-like plants. Interesting huh?

You cannot just find moss anywhere, oh no, the best place to go moss hunting is in shady, moist areas, like say in the forest. There you are sure to find places where the forest floor is just covered in a beautiful layer of the prettiest green moss. These plants can be found all over the world, at all altitudes no less…mosses like to grow on trees just as much as they like to grow on the ground. You’ll surely find a lot of mosses growing around waterfalls; they just seem to love those moist kinds of areas!

When you take a look at a carpet of moss plants you might notice that each individual moss plant has its own little tiny stalk and leaf structures, which many times are only one cell thick! Mosses do not have roots; instead, God gave them these hair-like things that take the place of roots by absorbing water and minerals out of the soil.

One of the good things that moss does for us is the fact that is helps prevent soil erosion in the places where it grows, peat moss is especially good at this because it has its own special way of absorbing water and preventing it from creating runoff which in its turn would eat away at the soil. Not only that, but peat moss also has an antiseptic which can be used in emergencies! Some other things that mosses can do is to break down minerals that can be found in rocks.

When peat moss decays, it is a main factor in the making of something that we call peat…in some countries this peat is collected and dried and then used to heat peoples homes…another thing that you might be a little more familiar with is the use of peat in gardens. Gardeners like to use peat as a fertilizer for the soil and it is also used as mulch to help prevent water escaping the soil, it is really something.

Who would have thought that an organism that many times only has one celled stems, it does not even have any roots to speak of and yet it can do so much good, and it can help us in so many ways! It all points to the fact that we have a wonderful Creator who obviously knew what He was doing when He made moss, I mean, not only does it prevent the erosion of our precious top soil, but it also provides heat and fuel to keep ourselves warm in the winter and it also helps put food in the mouths of our children. How good can it get?!

One thing that is interesting about moss is the fact that has two types of plant, male and female…at the very beginning of the year, the female plant grows a tiny stalk which has a capsule (spore case). The spore case is released and it falls onto the soft moist ground, if it gets into the right kind of ground then the process of turning into a bunch of tiny moss plants begins. Really amazing!

Moss plants are intriguing little guys, they can capture you interest and then hold it, not to mention the fact that they are very beautiful and deserve a little bit of attention from us now and then!

The temperate forest biome is home to some of the largest species of trees (such as the Giant Sequoia and Coast Redwood), and some of the most fascinating animals (such as the Gray wolf and Giant Panda) on the planet. Continue reading for more of such facts about the temperate forests of the world.

The temperate forest biome, as its name suggests, is located in the temperate regions of the world i.e. the ‘northern temperate zone’ and the ‘southern temperate zone’ on the planet. It spans across the continents of North America, Europe and Asia in the northern hemisphere of the planet, and covers a significant portion of the South America and Australia in the southern hemisphere. Even with such vast expanse, temperate forest biome is not really as popular as the other biomes of the world, such as the rainforest biome or the tundra biome; and that is quite surprising considering that it is quite rich in terms of biodiversity.

Facts about Temperate Forest Biome

In a broad sense, the temperate forests are categorized into temperate deciduous forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forest and temperate rainforests. Discussed below are the general details of each of these temperate forest types found across the world.

Temperate Deciduous Forest
Also referred to as the temperate broadleaf forest or temperate broadleaved forest, temperate deciduous forests are typically characterized by the presence of trees which lose their leaves every year as a part of survival adaptations. As with the other temperate forest types, even temperate forests have a temperate climate, with maximum temperature reaching 90°Fahrenheit in summer and 55°Fahrenheit in winter, and an annual precipitation of 35 to 60 inches. Other than the ability to shed their leaves and minimize transpiration, specially modified leaves which absorb sunlight as well as water help plants survive in the temperate deciduous forests. Species like oak, maple, elm, etc., are found in abundance in these forests.

Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
At times simply referred to as mixed forests, these are temperate forests which are typically characterized by four layers – the canopy layer, sub-canopy layer, shrub layer and the herbaceous layer. The name mixed forests can be attributed to the fact that coniferous trees are included as a canopy component in these forests. Mixed forests experience somewhere around 24-60 inches of rainfall every year. The Himalayan broadleaf forests, Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests, East Central Texas forests, Mississippi lowland forests, etc., are some of the best examples of temperate broadleaf forests of the world. Plant species found here include broadleaf trees such as maple and birch, as well as conifers such as pines and firs.

Temperate Coniferous Forests
Temperate coniferous forest are forests in temperate regions which experience heavy rainfall and mild winters. These forests are typically characterized by the presence of gigantic trees such as the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron gigantea) and the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). As opposed to mixed forests which have four layers, temperate coniferous forests only have two layers – the overstory made up of trees like cedar, cypress, Douglas-fir, fir, juniper, pine and spruce, and understory of mosses, ferns and a few shrubs. The Klamath-Siskiyou forests in the United States and the Carpathian montane conifer forest in Slovakia are some of the best examples of temperate coniferous forests.

Temperate Rainforests
Temperate rainforests are forest typically characterized by a rainfall of somewhere between 200-400 cm and mean annual temperatures fluctuating between 39°Fahrenheit and 54°Fahrenheit. While temperate forests cover a significant portion of the planet, temperate rainforests are seen in pockets in North America, South America, Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe. Some noteworthy examples of temperate rainforests are Pacific temperate rain forests, Appalachian temperate rain forests, Valdivian and Magellanic temperate rainforests, Taiheiyo rain forests, etc. These forests boast of being the most biodiverse among the different types of temperate forests on the planet.

Temperate Forest Biome Animals

Even though temperate forests don’t boast of biodiversity at par with tropical forests of the world, there is no doubt about the fact that they provide shelter to a significantly large number of animal species. In fact, quite a few of these species are native to these forests of the temperate regions. Other than which type of temperate forest they come from, animals found in these forests can also be classified in accordance to the continent on which they are found. While North and South America are home to species like bobcats, bears, cougars, wolves, etc., marsupials such as koalas, possums and wallabies are endemic to the Australian continent. Similarly, badgers, boars, wolves, etc., inhabit the temperate coniferous forests of Europe, while animals like the Giant panda, red panda, etc., are found in temperate rainforests of Asia. Other than the animals mentioned above, the list of forest animals found in this region also includes several species of reptiles, birds, insects, microorganisms and primates.

With all these species to its credit, temperate forest biome does boast of being more biodiverse than various other biomes on the planet. If all these animals are able to survive in the temperate forests, it is only because of the super adaptation skills that they are armed with. While temperate forest biome plants shed leaves during the winter season to minimize transpiration and retain water, animals in this biome resort to hibernation to survive the harsh cold and scarcity of food during this season. At the same time, these animals have a range of other adaptations – including camouflage, migration, nocturnal behavior, etc., all of which help them survive in the dense forests of the temperate region.

With such biodiversity, there is no doubt about the fact that the temperate forest biome is important for the overall well-being of the planet. However, human encroachment – mainly for the purpose of agriculture, has resulted in widespread destruction in this biome. Other than large scale deforestation attributed to clearance of land for agriculture, even acid rain – caused due to industrial pollution in the surrounding regions, is known to cause harm to these forests. We have already lost a significant portion of the forest cover in this region, and if the damage continues at this rate we are bound to end up destroying all these forests, and disturb the ecological balance on the Earth.

The grassland biome comprises of vast, rolling tracts of land filled with grasses, herbs and flowers. Read more about it here.

About a quarter of the land on earth comprises of grasslands. The grassland biome, in fact, exists in every continent, apart from Antarctica. The grassland biome lies on both sides of the two belts of desert that encircle the earth. The tropical grassland biome, which is nearest the equator, is hot all through the year. The grasslands that are located farther away from the equator, like the prairies in the United States, known as temperate grasslands, have more varied temperatures, being hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter.

At one time the temperate grasslands covered a large part of the interior region of North America, and this grassland biome was also quite common in South America and Eurasia. When converted to agricultural purposes, these temperate grasslands prove to be highly productive. In fact, most of the fertile agricultural lands in the US as well as the southern part of Canada were originally temperate grassland biomes, which are known as prairies.

The prairies of North America were once home to large herds of bison and American antelopes, which used to be hunted by bears, wolves, and other predatory animals. These animals have largely disappeared now, and most of these grasslands have been transformed into the most productive agricultural areas of the world, which is the reason they are often referred to as the ‘breadbasket of the world.’ Although they remain grasslands, they are not wild any longer.

So, What Exactly is a Grassland Biome?

Grassland biomes are made up of great, rolling tracts of land comprising of grasses, herbs and flowers. The annual rainfall they receive is between 10-30 inches. If they get any more, they would turn into forestlands, and any less rain would turn them into desert areas. Grassland biomes, in fact, are usually regions that are a transition between the desert and the forest.

Grassland biomes are of two types: areas that are humid and wet, where tall grass grows; and areas that are dry, with colder winters and hotter summers, where short grass grows. For instance, the settlers of North America found both types of grasslands as they journeyed west. On crossing the Mississippi River, they found grass that was very tall, some of them reaching up to 11 feet in height. This region received frequent rainfall and was also very humid. However, on approaching the Rocky Mountains, further west, they came across grasses that were much shorter, because here the winters were colder and there was less rain during the summer season. Hence, these came to be known as short-grass prairies.

Generally, shrubs do not grow in grassland biomes, while trees only grow in stream and river basins. The most striking features of grassland biomes are its continuity and openness, almost seeming like an endless sea of grass. Since the soil in grassland biomes are rich in nutrients, when they are converted to agricultural purposes they prove to be very productive.

Grassland Biomes of the World

Apart from the prairies of North America, there are other grassland biomes in the other parts of the world. For instance, the grasslands of South America are known as the Pampas, and in Africa it’s called the Serengeti. Then there are the steppes of Europe, which is another grassland biome that has been converted into an agricultural area that is highly productive.

There is also a vast grassland area that stretches from Ukraine to Siberia, which has a very dry and cold climate, since there is no ocean nearby, and there are no mountains in the vicinity to block the arctic winds. This grassland biome is called the Asian and Russian steppes.

Plant and Animal Life in Grassland Biomes

When the first settlers in North America began moving westward, they discovered that the prairies, as was the term they used for the grasslands, were not just flat grassy areas. That in fact they consisted of many plant life species, 300 bird species, and about 80 animal species.

Grassland Animals: Grasslands around the world are home to unique kinds of animal life that can survive in these biomes. Large sized grazers like the bison, as has been mentioned above, used to roam the grasslands of North America, until the settlers hunted them nearly to extinction as they moved west.

All grasslands have the common features of having plenty of grass as food and lacking cover from predators. Hence the types of animals that inhabit the grasslands around the world are similar, being predominantly plant eating or herbivorous ungulates, which are animals that have long legs and hoofs, like deer and horses, which enable them to outrun their predators.

Some of the animals that belong to the temperate grasslands of North America are: coyotes, prairie dogs, gophers, antelope, bison, eagles, wild turkey, Canadian geese, bobcats, the gray wolf, fly catchers, and various types of insects. There are similar animals that inhabit the steppes, such as foxes, falcons, antelopes, and the lynx.

Grassland Plants: Grasses are the type of plants that predominate the temperate grasslands. Shrubs and trees occur very rarely in this biome. There are several types of grasses that grow in the grassland biome, such as buffalo grass, ryegrass, foxtail, wild oats, and purple needlegrass. Although animals feed on these grasses, they can survive because the point of growth of the grasses is very near the surface of the ground. Besides, they survive even fires due to the underground buds and stems. The trees and shrubs that grow in the grassland biome, on the other hand, are easily destroyed in fires.

There are also many types of wildflowers that grow in temperate grasslands, such as wild indigos, clovers, sunflowers, goldenrods, blazing stars, and asters.

Although the Tundra Biome is one of the most inhospitable habitats in the world, there are surprisingly quite a few interesting tundra plants and tundra animals that exist here.

The world’s major habitats, characterized by the dominant forms of plant and animal life that exist in them, are known as biomes. Each biome’s location is defined by the climate of the region.

What are the Types of Tundra Biome?

Extremely cold temperatures and frozen, treeless landscapes characterize the tundra biome. While some sources claim that the word ‘tundra’ originates from the Kildin Sami term ‘tundar’, which means ‘treeless mountain track’ or ‘uplands’, others say that it has been derived from the Finnish ‘tunturia’, meaning ‘barren land’. The tundra is divided into two types: The Arctic Tundra, which is also present in Antarctica, and Alpine Tundra. The ecological boundary region, or ecotone, which demarcates the tundra and the growth of forest, is referred to as the timberline or tree line.

Where is the Tundra Biome found?

The Arctic tundra lies between the North Pole and the taiga or the coniferous forests. In North America, it occurs in Greenland, Canada and Northern Alaska, in northern Europe, it is mainly found in Scandinavia, and in northern Asia, it is found in Siberia.

The Antarctic tundra occurs on various Antarctic as well as sub-Antarctic islands, which include the Kerguelen Islands, the South Sandwich Islands, and South Georgia.

The Alpine tundra can be found at very high elevations on frozen mountaintop regions. In North America, it occurs in Mexico, U.S.A., Canada, and Alaska. In South America, it is found in the Andes Mountains. In northern Europe, it is found in Sweden, Russia, Norway, and Finland. In Africa, it can be found in Mt. Kilimanjaro. And in Asia, it occurs in the Himalayan Mountains, which is located in Southern Asia, and in Mt. Fuji, in Japan.

What are the Conditions in the Tundra Region?

The Arctic Tundra is considered to be the youngest biome in the world, having been formed 10,000 years ago. Located in the latitudes 55 degrees to 70 degrees north, this vast and treeless territory covers approximately 20 percent of the surface of the Earth, encompassing the North Pole. Of all the biomes in the world, the tundra is considered to be the coldest. With less than 10 inches of rain in a year, it is also the driest.

The main seasons of the tundra region are winter and a short summer. The summers in the tundra sometimes last just for 6-10 weeks, while the winters are long. Spring and fall are just brief interludes that occur between the winter and summer. In the winter, the nights can go on for weeks, with the sun barely rising, and the temperature often plummeting as low a -94 degrees F.

Due to the Arctic tundra being as close as it is to the North Pole, the days in the summer are 24 hours long, which is the reason the Arctic is also referred to as the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’. The temperature in the summer rarely rises above 50 degrees F, which is just sufficient enough to thaw the top layer of the ground, which is referred to as permafrost. Due to the rain and melting snow in the summer, the soil on the surface gets very soggy. The permafrost, which lies about six inches below the surface, remains frozen throughout the year.

Another characteristic feature of the Arctic tundra is that it is very windy, with winds blowing at 30-60 miles per hour (48-97 kilometers).

What are the Plants that Grow in the Tundra Biome?

Considering the extremely inhospitable conditions of the tundra biome, there are as many as 1,700 different plant species that grow here. The tundra plants consist mostly of mosses, grasses, lichens, sedges, and shrubs. About 400 types of flowers bloom in the growing season, which lasts just for 50-60 days. Except for a few birches in the lower altitudes, no trees grow in the tundra. Because of the permafrost, trees cannot send their roots into the ground. Although in some parts of the tundra willows do grow, but only up to about 8 cm, or 3 inches, high. Developing over thousands of years, most of the vegetation have adapted to the conditions in the tundra by growing in a dense mat of roots. Except where the soil is fertilized by animal droppings, the soil is low in minerals and nutrients.

Being too dry and cold for vegetation to grow, the Antarctica tundra is mostly covered by large expanses of ice fields. However, in some parts of the region, especially the Antarctic Peninsula, there are areas where there is rocky soil which can support vegetation. The plant species that exist here are aquatic and terrestrial species of algae, which occur in the exposed soil and rock areas around the shore, liverworts, mosses, and lichens. The two flowering species of plants, the Antarctic pearlwort and Antarctic hair grass can be found in the western and northern parts of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Do any Animals live in the Tundra Region?

Even though there is not much biodiversity, with only about 48 species of land mammals occurring in the tundra biome, there are surprisingly large numbers of each species. The tundra animals mainly are slightly modified forms of deer, bears, foxes, wolves, rodents, hares, and shrews. In North America, there are large caribou herds, which are called reindeer in Eurasia, which feed on plants and lichens. Smaller musk-oxen herds also roam about the frozen regions. The predators of the tundra biome are polar bears, arctic foxes, and wolves. Some of the smaller mammals are lemmings and snowshoe rabbits.

Although there are not too many types of insects to be found in the tundra, however, tiny midges that bite, mosquitoes, deer flies, and black flies do occur, which can make the summers in the tundra quite miserable. The mosquitoes that occur in the tundra prevent themselves from freezing by substituting the water in their bodies with glycerol, which acts like an anti-freeze. The marshy regions of the tundra are where migratory birds like plovers, sandpipers, and harlequin flock to in the summers.

Due to it being isolated from other continents, the Antarctic tundra, in contrast with the Arctic tundra, is devoid of large mammal species. Sea birds and sea mammals, such as penguins and seals, however, do occur in areas close to the shore, while small mammals like cats and rabbits have been introduced by humans on some of the sub-Antarctic islands.

As is evident, the Tundra Biome is not a useless and cold wasteland. In fact, its very nature makes the environment very fragile, and the animals and plants that have made the tundra their home have adapted themselves incredibly intricately to its short, although abundant, summers and cold, long winters. They exist on a precarious edge, hence, the most minor of stresses can lead to their destruction.

Rainforest plants used for medicine are an important source for our wellness and well being. Many of the plants used in traditional as well as modern medicines are sourced from rainforests world over.

Tropical rainforests balance the global ecosystem and human existence. They are unparalleled in terms of their biological diversity, they not only play a role in regulating global weather, but sustain within themselves nearly half of the world’s plants and animals species. Rainforest have supported centuries of traditional preparation of medicines because of their rich medicinal plant life. Through this article, I would like to inform you about a few rainforest plants used for medicine.

Medicinal Rainforest Plants

For thousands of years, rainforest medicinal plants have been used to improvise health conditions. The ancient medicinal branches of Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicine, etc. have used over a thousand plant species between them to cure many diseases, and promote longevity. Today, on an average, over 7,000 medical compounds prescribed by doctors world over are derived from plants that grow in the rainforest. Some of the rainforest plants used for medicines have been listed below.

Cinchona Tree: This tree is found in the Latin American and African rainforest and prominently figures in the list of rainforest plants used for medicine. An alkaloid, Quinine is extracted from the bark of the tree and is used to cure malaria.

Curare Lianas: This large poisonous vine is full of alkaloids used for treating bruises, fever, edema and kidney stones. As it also helps to relax muscles, and thus, is used as an anesthetic agent.

Saw Palmetto: Extracts from Saw Palmetto’s berries is used to treat certain urinary problems. This was first used by people in Florida. The fruit contains 5-alpha reductase that inhibits the production of prostaglandins (related to prostatic treatment).

Wild Yams: Extract of the tubers of Dioscorea wild yam, diosgenin is an active ingredient used in birth control pills. It is also used in many steroidal products like pregnenolone, progesterone, etc.

Trumpet Tree: A popular medicinal tree used extensively in traditional medicine in Central and South America. All parts of the tree; leaves, fruits, flowers, bark and roots are used to treat respiratory illnesses and rheumatism.

Pacific Bleeding Heart: This delicate plant comes from the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Tincture is extracted from its roots and used to provide relief from external bruises and sprains, and when taken internally, it is known to sooth frayed nerves.

Cocoa Tree: The cocoa tree is one of the few trees that is extremely high in medicinal value, thus, making it one of the most important rainforest plants used for medicine. This one tree alone produces over 150 chemicals that can be extracted from its leaves, seeds, fruit and bark. The extracts are used to treat anxiety, fatigue, fever, coughs, kidney stones, and external cuts and bruises.

Clavillia: This perennial herb contains vital active compounds like proteins, triterpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, etc. used to treat infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.

Mammosa: Member of the eggplant family, mammosa is used to treat sinus infections, and lesions caused by various skin cancers.

Periwinkle: Extracts of the periwinkle plant have two of the most active tumor fighting agents. It is used widely and very successfully in treating leukemia and Hodgkin’s Disease.

Sorosi: Sorosi is a vine whose extract is used to treat ticks or lice when used externally, and is used as an internal remedy for treating delayed or painful menstruation, and dysentery.

Lemongrass: Lemongrass has antibacterial and antifungal properties which aid is treating fevers, colds, and coughs. Lemon grass tea is a very popular herbal tea.

Annatto Tree: Oil extract of the Annatto tree contains carotenoids bixin, used for protection against UV rays. It also helps to lower blood pressure and serves as a powerful insect repellent

Despite the role they play in ensuring a healthy life for us, humans have shown a complete disregard to rainforests around the world. Today, less than 5% of the earth’s surface is covered with these forests. With the number of ever increasing diseases and infections that are now prevalent among us, rainforest plants used for medicines are more needed than ever. Hence, it is up to us, to save the rainforests from turning into barren land.

What grows green, fast and keeps prying eyes away? A privacy hedge. To see some plants, that would be perfect for your garden, read on.

It’s a lazy, summer afternoon and you are relaxing in the pool.. wait a minute, your neighbor’s creepy kids are laughing at you over the wall! A man’s backyard is his kingdom, and any self-respecting king wants to keep prying eyes away from his kingdom. What you do in the backyard or the front, is your business and you have a right to privacy. A good way to get peeping toms to stop peeping, is to plant a privacy hedge. A thick, green, growing wall is the perfect deterrent to any intruders or snoopers. A hedge has branches and thorns, so nothing can pass through it easily. It gives a nice, clean, sophisticated look to the yard, like an English garden, instead of a jailed feeling with a fence or wall. Don’t waste time in constructing and building, pick a quick growing privacy hedge, to get your green wall up quick. You need to pick the right plant, to ensure that your hedge is green throughout the year and grows tall. Below are some privacy hedge plants, that are commonly used to grow such hedges.

Privacy Hedge Plants

Popular privacy hedge plants are evergreen trees. They cut down the noise level as well as maintain privacy. They are also tall privacy hedges. It is best to plant more than one type of evergreen in your hedge, so that if there’s a disease, your entire hedge won’t be destroyed. Here’s a list of evergreens that can be used for your privacy hedge:

• Yew
• Thuja Emerald green
• Leyland Cypress
• Thuja Green Giant
• Dawn Redwood
• Blue Sapphire Cypress
• Nellie Stevens Holly
• Spartan Juniper
• Blue Spruce

Shrubs are fast growing privacy hedges, that require less maintenance than evergreens, and are cheaper. They are considered one of the best privacy hedge plants. Some popular shrubs used for a privacy hedge are:

• Red Tip Photinia
• American Cranberry
• Chinese Privet
• Red Twig Dogwood
• Fragrant Tea Olive
• Willow Hybrid

A new fashion among privacy hedges, is using a trellis with climbing vines. Vines provide privacy along with more coverage area at a lesser expense. They also flower for most of the year, so your yard has a beautiful flowered border. Vines which can be used for privacy hedges are:

• Honeysuckle Vines
• Trumpet Creeper Vines
• Sweet Autumn Clematis
• Virginia Creeper Vine
• Wisteria Vine
• Bougainvillea
• Arctic Kiwi Vine

Another style is using tall grasses, which is an inexpensive, fast plant, that can be used for privacy hedges. Silver Feather Maiden Hair grass and Zebra grass are two grass varieties used nowadays. For privacy hedges evergreen in all seasons, Bamboo is also popular, to its low maintenance and quick growth.

Be sure to communicate with your adjoining property owners to prevent any encroachment issues. Hire a landscape architect to advise you on what plant to use and where. The benefits of privacy hedges are multi-fold, they block undesirable views and maintain privacy. They help reduce noise levels, help the environment and increase property value. Neighborhoods which use a privacy hedge, as a property divider, have this clean and green look, while maintaining uniformity. So instead of a concrete wall, opt for a privacy hedge, to prevent your neighbors from watching your every move, and do your bit for the Earth’s environment.