Your Daily Facts about Plants
“One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people.” – U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
“There are about 60-to 200- million spaces along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO2 every year, and saving $4 billion in energy costs.” – National Wildlife Federation
Wheat is the most widely grown plant in the world. It has been cultivated for more than 7,000 years in every continent except Antarctica.
Botanically, there is no such thing as a pumpkin. Pumpkins are certain varieties of squash, which through local traditions and use, have come to be called pumpkins. Squash and pumpkins belong to the family ‘Cucurbitaceae’, which also contains cucumbers, melons and gourds.
The onion is a lily, botanically. Asparagus is also a member of the lily family. The name “asparagus” comes from a Greek word meaning “sprout”.
The eggplant is a member of the potato family, and is also known as a garden egg, melanzana or aubergine.
A tomato is a fruit, but it is legally known as a vegetable. In 1893, a case went before the US Supreme Court about importing tomatoes from the West Indies. Fruits could be imported tax-free, vegetables couldn’t. Since tomatoes were eaten with main dishes and not as desserts, the Court ruled them to be a vegetable.
Cool as a cucumber? It’s true … the inside of a cucumber on the vine measures as much as 20 degrees cooler than the outside air on a warm day.
Asparagus and rhubarb are the only vegetables that can reproduce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year.
The Daisy got its name because the yellow center resembled the sun. It was commonly known as the “day’s eye” and over time, was eventually called daisy.
The world’s largest flower, Rafflesia, can measure up to three feet across.
One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, equaling 11,000 miles of car emissions. Landscape plants, such as shrubs and turf, remove smoke, dust, and other pollutants from the air. One study showed that 1 acre of trees has the ability to remove 13 tons of particles and gases annually.
The Saguaro Cactus, found in the Southwestern United States, doesn’t grow branches until it is 75 years old.
Eighty percent of the world’s rose species come from Asia.
Bananas are considered the world’s largest herb. They are related to the lily and orchid family.
Rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme and marjoram all belong to the mint plant family.