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JIM RICHARDSON

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  • Growing apple trees in tissue culture at Seed Savers seed bank in Decorah, Iowa.
    MM6786_701184.jpg
  • Genevieve Weston in the Weston Antique Apples orchard near New Berllin, Wisconsin.<br />
<br />
Weston's Orchards, the oldest active orchard in Waukesha, were established in 1935 by Harvey and Alice Weston on a site owned by Alice's father, William Marckwardt. By this time the farm already had an orchard and several of its current buildings. For example, its Dutch colonial style barn dates to 1901.<br />
<br />
The family-operated orchards have supplied the public with historic apple varieties for over 60 years. Some of the orchards' trees were planted in the late nineteenth century and significant additional plantings were made during the Great Depression by the orchards current owners. The orchards cover 16 acres with more than 700 trees and over 100 varieties with dates varying from the Calville Blanc d'Hiver (1598), Gravenstien (1600) to the Wolf River (1881) and Pink Pearl (1944). Weston's Orchards work to conserve these antique apple vaieties from extinction. The Old Church apple, for example, is grown solely on their farm.
    MM8154_20130916_11548.jpg
  • Gevevieve Sekulovich in the Weston Antique Apples orchard near New Berllin, Wisconsin.<br />
<br />
Weston's Orchards, the oldest active orchard in Waukesha, were established in 1935 by Harvey and Alice Weston on a site owned by Alice's father, William Marckwardt. By this time the farm already had an orchard and several of its current buildings. For example, its Dutch colonial style barn dates to 1901.<br />
<br />
The family-operated orchards have supplied the public with historic apple varieties for over 60 years. Some of the orchards' trees were planted in the late nineteenth century and significant additional plantings were made during the Great Depression by the orchards current owners. The orchards cover 16 acres with more than 700 trees and over 100 varieties with dates varying from the Calville Blanc d'Hiver (1598), Gravenstien (1600) to the Wolf River (1881) and Pink Pearl (1944). Weston's Orchards work to conserve these antique apple vaieties from extinction. The Old Church apple, for example, is grown solely on their farm.
    MM8154_20130916_11708.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Cerbera manghas (Apocynaceae) – pink-eyed cerbera, sea mango; native from the Seychelles to the Pacific – drift fruit; commonly found as flotsam on beaches in the Indian and Pacific Ocean. After the outer skin of the fruit has rotten away, the cage of woody vascular bundles enclosing a massive corky mesocarp with large intercellular air-spaces that affords the fruit excellent and long-lasting buoyancy in sea water; length of fruit: 9cm. <br />
Wikipedia: The leaves and the fruits contain the potent cardiac glycoside cerberin, which is extremely poisonous if ingested. People in olden times used the sap of the tree as a poison for animal hunting. The fruit was reportedly eaten to commit suicide in the Marquesas Islands. Because of its deadly poisonous seeds, the genus name is coming from Cerberus, the hell dog from the Greek mythology, hence indicating the toxicity of the seeds. In Madagascar, the seeds were used in sentence rituals to poison kings and queens  
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11767.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Bertholletia excelsa (Lecythidaceae) – Brazil nut; native to Brazil – large woody fruit with animal-made hole affording a view of an eroded seed. In its natural habitat, the Brazilian rainforest, the mature fruits fall on the ground where agoutis (cat-size brown rodents) are the only animals that are able to gnaw their way through the fruit wall into the seeds. They eat some of the seeds of a fruit and cache the rest for subsequent use. Seeds left in a forgotten cache eventually germinate after 12 to 18 months and give rise to a new Brazil nut tree. <br />
Snippets from the internet: A forest tree, native to northern Brazil and Guiana, that grows 100' tall and has been grown in Hawaii. The fruit is round, woody, 6" long and contains 12-24 nuts per fruit. Almost all of the commercial crop is collected from wild trees<br />
Very good info about the economy etc. of the Brazil nut: http://www.rain-tree.com/brazilnu.htm
    MM7753_2010-07-22_11725.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Bertholletia excelsa (Lecythidaceae) – Brazil nut; native to Brazil – large woody fruit with animal-made hole affording a view of an eroded seed. In its natural habitat, the Brazilian rainforest, the mature fruits fall on the ground where agoutis (cat-size brown rodents) are the only animals that are able to gnaw their way through the fruit wall into the seeds. They eat some of the seeds of a fruit and cache the rest for subsequent use. Seeds left in a forgotten cache eventually germinate after 12 to 18 months and give rise to a new Brazil nut tree. <br />
Snippets from the internet: A forest tree, native to northern Brazil and Guiana, that grows 100' tall and has been grown in Hawaii. The fruit is round, woody, 6" long and contains 12-24 nuts per fruit. Almost all of the commercial crop is collected from wild trees<br />
Very good info about the economy etc. of the Brazil nut: http://www.rain-tree.com/brazilnu.htm
    MM7753_2010-07-22_11725.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Cerbera manghas (Apocynaceae) – pink-eyed cerbera, sea mango; native from the Seychelles to the Pacific – drift fruit; commonly found as flotsam on beaches in the Indian and Pacific Ocean. After the outer skin of the fruit has rotten away, the cage of woody vascular bundles enclosing a massive corky mesocarp with large intercellular air-spaces that affords the fruit excellent and long-lasting buoyancy in sea water; length of fruit: 9cm. <br />
Wikipedia: The leaves and the fruits contain the potent cardiac glycoside cerberin, which is extremely poisonous if ingested. People in olden times used the sap of the tree as a poison for animal hunting. The fruit was reportedly eaten to commit suicide in the Marquesas Islands. Because of its deadly poisonous seeds, the genus name is coming from Cerberus, the hell dog from the Greek mythology, hence indicating the toxicity of the seeds. In Madagascar, the seeds were used in sentence rituals to poison kings and queens  
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11767.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Harpagophytum zeyheri (Pedaliaceae) – devils’ claw, grapple plant; native to southern Africa (widespread in southern Africa, from Namibia and Zambia south to Botswana and Zimbabwe) – fruit with large woody grapples adapted to cling to the feet and fur of animals. The tough feet of ostriches are well protected against the sharp spines of this fruit but animals with cleft hoofs or relatively soft soles can suffer terrible wounds. The Khoisan peoples of the Kalahari Desert have used the tuberous root of the devil’s claw for thousands of years to treat pain during pregnancy and to prepare ointments to heal sores, boils and other skin problems. Extracts from dried roots are presently sold as a natural remedy against pain and inflammation caused by arthritis and other painful ailments; length of fruit: 9cm.  --- THE FRUIT YOU PHOTOGRAPHED BELONGS TO HARPAGOPHYTUM ZEYHERI, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO HARPAGOPHYTUM PROCUMBENS; THE TWO SPECIES MAINLY DIFFER IN GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND THE STRUCTURE OF THEIR FRUITS; The fruits of H. procumbens have very long, curved arms, while those of H. zeyheri are much less extravagant (pretty cool as mousetraps but the plants have significant medicinal properties! See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpagophytum). Both species are probably used in the same way by the Khoisan bush people as well as the pharmaceutical industry. <br />
 <br />
The most infamous member of the sesame family is Harpagophytum procumbens, aptly called grappling hook, grapple plant or, like its New World relatives, devil’s claw. Used as mouse traps in Madagascar, the almost preposterously horrid looking woody pods can inflict gruesome wounds to animals with cleft hoofs or relatively soft soles.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11844.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Harpagophytum zeyheri (Pedaliaceae) – devils’ claw, grapple plant; native to southern Africa (widespread in southern Africa, from Namibia and Zambia south to Botswana and Zimbabwe) – fruit with large woody grapples adapted to cling to the feet and fur of animals. The tough feet of ostriches are well protected against the sharp spines of this fruit but animals with cleft hoofs or relatively soft soles can suffer terrible wounds. The Khoisan peoples of the Kalahari Desert have used the tuberous root of the devil’s claw for thousands of years to treat pain during pregnancy and to prepare ointments to heal sores, boils and other skin problems. Extracts from dried roots are presently sold as a natural remedy against pain and inflammation caused by arthritis and other painful ailments; length of fruit: 9cm.  --- THE FRUIT YOU PHOTOGRAPHED BELONGS TO HARPAGOPHYTUM ZEYHERI, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO HARPAGOPHYTUM PROCUMBENS; THE TWO SPECIES MAINLY DIFFER IN GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND THE STRUCTURE OF THEIR FRUITS; The fruits of H. procumbens have very long, curved arms, while those of H. zeyheri are much less extravagant (pretty cool as mousetraps but the plants have significant medicinal properties! See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpagophytum). Both species are probably used in the same way by the Khoisan bush people as well as the pharmaceutical industry. <br />
 <br />
The most infamous member of the sesame family is Harpagophytum procumbens, aptly called grappling hook, grapple plant or, like its New World relatives, devil’s claw. Used as mouse traps in Madagascar, the almost preposterously horrid looking woody pods can inflict gruesome wounds to animals with cleft hoofs or relatively soft soles.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11844.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Pterocarpus angolensis (Fabaceae) - kiaat tree; native to southern Africa<br />
Pterocarpus has remarkable fruits: anemochory, dispersal by means of barbed fruits and "Bodenroller" (winged fruits rolling along the ground), a triple strategy. The fruits are enclosed by a flat, dry involucre with a large surface and a relatively high weight. The spiny centre helps the fruit to stick to an animal (epizoochoric dispersal), the arrangement of the wings allows a dispersal by wind currents at the ground. Pterocarpus occurs in the savannah in the south of Africa (from Peter von Sengbusch, botany-online).<br />
The genus has been given a name which describes the unusual seed pods, pter meaning "wing" in Greek and carpus which means "fruit" in Greek. The central, hardened seed case is surrounded by a broad, membranous wing and is therefore called "wing fruit" or Pterocarpus. There are roughly 30 species in the genus and these may be found in the more tropical regions of the world. Four species occur in southern Africa. The specific name, angolensis means "of Angola". The brilliant dramatically red sap found in Pterocarpus gives it the common name of "bloodwood". The wood apparently bears some resemblance to the unrelated true teak from tropical east Asia (Tectona grandis) hence the common name "wild teak".
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11880.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Pterocarpus angolensis (Fabaceae) - kiaat tree; native to southern Africa<br />
Pterocarpus has remarkable fruits: anemochory, dispersal by means of barbed fruits and "Bodenroller" (winged fruits rolling along the ground), a triple strategy. The fruits are enclosed by a flat, dry involucre with a large surface and a relatively high weight. The spiny centre helps the fruit to stick to an animal (epizoochoric dispersal), the arrangement of the wings allows a dispersal by wind currents at the ground. Pterocarpus occurs in the savannah in the south of Africa (from Peter von Sengbusch, botany-online).<br />
The genus has been given a name which describes the unusual seed pods, pter meaning "wing" in Greek and carpus which means "fruit" in Greek. The central, hardened seed case is surrounded by a broad, membranous wing and is therefore called "wing fruit" or Pterocarpus. There are roughly 30 species in the genus and these may be found in the more tropical regions of the world. Four species occur in southern Africa. The specific name, angolensis means "of Angola". The brilliant dramatically red sap found in Pterocarpus gives it the common name of "bloodwood". The wood apparently bears some resemblance to the unrelated true teak from tropical east Asia (Tectona grandis) hence the common name "wild teak".
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11880.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Swietenia mahagoni (Meliaceae) – West Indian mahogany; native to tropical America – fruit (septifragal capsule); typical of the mahogany family, the fruit contains many unilaterally winged seeds tightly packed around the central column of the fruit; length 11.5cm<br />
weblinks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swietenia_mahagoni
    MM7753_2010-07-22_11693.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Swietenia mahagoni (Meliaceae) – West Indian mahogany; native to tropical America – fruit (septifragal capsule); typical of the mahogany family, the fruit contains many unilaterally winged seeds tightly packed around the central column of the fruit; length 11.5cm<br />
weblinks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swietenia_mahagoni
    MM7753_2010-07-22_11693.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Heritiera littoralis (Malvaceae) – looking-glass mangrove, native to the Old World tropics; the seawater-proof nut-like fruit contains a single round seed surrounded by a large air space. The prominent keel on their back acts like the sail; fruit up to 10cm long <br />
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1062.htm: Low, much branched, evergreen tree, to 15 m tall; bark pinkish gray, smooth becoming flaky when older; leaf blades dark green above and silvery white below, withering dull orange-yellow, oblong to elliptic, leathery; flowers in hanging yellowish tassels; fruits purple-brown, woody, shiny with a stiff keel on one side. The hard and strong timber is valued for masts, when it can be got straight enough. It is also used for canoes, firewood, house posts, joists, pressers, telegraph poles, wheel-hubs and boat-ribs. An extract of the seed can be used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery .<br />
http://plants.jstor.org/flora/ftea009311?cookieSet=1: LOCAL USES (in East Africa). Trunks of this species are used for dhow masts in Lamu (Abdulla 1139) and Zanzibar (U.O.P.Z.) and were formerly used for railroad sleepers (Farquhar 6).  This species is widespread and common in mangrove, and its habitat not significantly threatened as far as is known. It is provisionally rated here as of “least concern” for conservation.  The capsules are common in drift along the shore. The dorsal ridge of the capsule, often described as a keel, is homologous with a wing and actually functions as a sail. Fruits float on the surface of the ocean always with the ridge or wing upward and they are widely distributed by a combination of currents and wind. The record from T 8 is based on a sight record by Luke (pers. comm.) at Mtwara Mnazi Bay/Ruvuma Est MNP)<br />
http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Heritiera%20littoralis_En.htm: Uses: In eastern Africa the tree boles are used to make masts of boats, for sh
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11804.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Heritiera littoralis (Malvaceae) – looking-glass mangrove, native to the Old World tropics; the seawater-proof nut-like fruit contains a single round seed surrounded by a large air space. The prominent keel on their back acts like the sail; fruit up to 10cm long <br />
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1062.htm: Low, much branched, evergreen tree, to 15 m tall; bark pinkish gray, smooth becoming flaky when older; leaf blades dark green above and silvery white below, withering dull orange-yellow, oblong to elliptic, leathery; flowers in hanging yellowish tassels; fruits purple-brown, woody, shiny with a stiff keel on one side. The hard and strong timber is valued for masts, when it can be got straight enough. It is also used for canoes, firewood, house posts, joists, pressers, telegraph poles, wheel-hubs and boat-ribs. An extract of the seed can be used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery .<br />
http://plants.jstor.org/flora/ftea009311?cookieSet=1: LOCAL USES (in East Africa). Trunks of this species are used for dhow masts in Lamu (Abdulla 1139) and Zanzibar (U.O.P.Z.) and were formerly used for railroad sleepers (Farquhar 6).  This species is widespread and common in mangrove, and its habitat not significantly threatened as far as is known. It is provisionally rated here as of “least concern” for conservation.  The capsules are common in drift along the shore. The dorsal ridge of the capsule, often described as a keel, is homologous with a wing and actually functions as a sail. Fruits float on the surface of the ocean always with the ridge or wing upward and they are widely distributed by a combination of currents and wind. The record from T 8 is based on a sight record by Luke (pers. comm.) at Mtwara Mnazi Bay/Ruvuma Est MNP)<br />
http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Heritiera%20littoralis_En.htm: Uses: In eastern Africa the tree boles are used to make masts of boats, for sh
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11804.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Trapa bicornis (Lythraceae) - devil's pod, also known as bat nut, goat head, null nut, and buffalo nut - this species is sometimes even combined with Trapa natans (i.e. the two are treated as a single variable species) and much of the description above also applies to T. bicornis. --- Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_caltrop]: The water caltrop, water chestnut or Singhara or Paniphal is either of two species of the genus Trapa: Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis. Both species are floating annual aquatic plants, growing in slow-moving water up to 5 meters deep, native to warm temperate parts of Eurasia and Africa. They bear ornately shaped fruits, which in the case of T. bicornis resemble the head of a bull, each fruit containing a single very large starchy seed. It has been cultivated in China and India for at least 3,000 years for these seeds, which are boiled and sold as an occasional street side snack in the south of that country<br />
<br />
[http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Trapa+bicornis]: Seed edible after cooking. A crunchy texture with a bland flavour. Rich in starch, the raw seed contains a deleterious principle that is destroyed by cooking. The cooked seed can be dried and ground into a powder. The flowers are astringent in fluxes. The fruit is used in the treatment of fever and sunstroke. The plant is anticancer, antipyretic and tonic.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11912.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Trapa bicornis (Lythraceae) - devil's pod, also known as bat nut, goat head, null nut, and buffalo nut - this species is sometimes even combined with Trapa natans (i.e. the two are treated as a single variable species) and much of the description above also applies to T. bicornis. --- Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_caltrop]: The water caltrop, water chestnut or Singhara or Paniphal is either of two species of the genus Trapa: Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis. Both species are floating annual aquatic plants, growing in slow-moving water up to 5 meters deep, native to warm temperate parts of Eurasia and Africa. They bear ornately shaped fruits, which in the case of T. bicornis resemble the head of a bull, each fruit containing a single very large starchy seed. It has been cultivated in China and India for at least 3,000 years for these seeds, which are boiled and sold as an occasional street side snack in the south of that country<br />
<br />
[http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Trapa+bicornis]: Seed edible after cooking. A crunchy texture with a bland flavour. Rich in starch, the raw seed contains a deleterious principle that is destroyed by cooking. The cooked seed can be dried and ground into a powder. The flowers are astringent in fluxes. The fruit is used in the treatment of fever and sunstroke. The plant is anticancer, antipyretic and tonic.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11912.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Nelumbo nucifera (Nelumbonaceae) – sacred lotus; native from Asia to Australia – fruit consisting of the enlarged floral axis with numerous chambers each containing a single-seeded nutlet. As the long flexible fruit stalks sway in the wind, the nutlets are flung out and thrown into the water where they immediately sink to the bottom. Enclosed in the extremely hard pericarp of the nutlet, lotus seeds can retain their viability for more than 1,000 years.  With its waterlily-like flowers and aquatic lifestyle the sacred lotus superficially resembles waterlilies (Nymphaeaceae) although its closest living relatives have been shown to be the plane trees (Platanaceae) and members of the Proteaceae family. The sacred lotus has a deep religious meaning for Hindus and Bhuddists in India, Tibet and China where it has been cultivated since the 12th century BC. 
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11795.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
<br />
Afzelia africana (Fabaceae) – African mahogany; collected in Burkina Faso – open fruit (legume) consisting of the two halves of the single carpel; inside the fruit are a number of large black seeds with a bright orange-red aril attracting birds for dispersal. Because of their attractive appearance the seeds are also used by makers of botanical jewellery; length of pod: 17.5cm.<br />
From Wikipedia: Mature trees grow between 10 and 20 meters in height. They are prized for their quality wood, their bark which has many medicinal uses, and their nitrogen-rich leaves which enrich the soil.
    MM7753_2010-07-22_11715.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Nelumbo nucifera (Nelumbonaceae) – sacred lotus; native from Asia to Australia – fruit consisting of the enlarged floral axis with numerous chambers each containing a single-seeded nutlet. As the long flexible fruit stalks sway in the wind, the nutlets are flung out and thrown into the water where they immediately sink to the bottom. Enclosed in the extremely hard pericarp of the nutlet, lotus seeds can retain their viability for more than 1,000 years.  With its waterlily-like flowers and aquatic lifestyle the sacred lotus superficially resembles waterlilies (Nymphaeaceae) although its closest living relatives have been shown to be the plane trees (Platanaceae) and members of the Proteaceae family. The sacred lotus has a deep religious meaning for Hindus and Bhuddists in India, Tibet and China where it has been cultivated since the 12th century BC. 
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11795.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
<br />
Afzelia africana (Fabaceae) – African mahogany; collected in Burkina Faso – open fruit (legume) consisting of the two halves of the single carpel; inside the fruit are a number of large black seeds with a bright orange-red aril attracting birds for dispersal. Because of their attractive appearance the seeds are also used by makers of botanical jewellery; length of pod: 17.5cm.<br />
From Wikipedia: Mature trees grow between 10 and 20 meters in height. They are prized for their quality wood, their bark which has many medicinal uses, and their nitrogen-rich leaves which enrich the soil.
    MM7753_2010-07-22_11715.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
<br />
Sophora secundiflora (Fabaceae) - Texas mountain laurel, mescal bean; native to North America (Texas, New Mexico, northern Mexico)<br />
The hard, fibrous and indehiscent camaras of the Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora, Fabaceae-Papilionoideae) appear to be adapted to dispersal by large herbivorous mammals such as antelopes. However, most of the potential dispersers in North America would have died out c. 13.000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age. The only native antelope in the southern US is the pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Observations as to whether the pronghorn does eat the fruits of the Texas mountain laurel seem to be missing. The very hard and shiny seeds of the Texas mountain laurel are coloured bright red, a characteristic that generally indicated 'fraudulent' bird-dispersal ('fruit mimicry'). However, since the fruits are very hard and indehiscent, the conspicuous colour of the seeds is hard to explain from an adaptational point of view. Perhaps their colour is part of a two-stage dispersal mechanism, tricking birds into picking the seeds from the faeces of megafaunal herbivores.<br />
interesting weblinks:<br />
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=sose3: Sophora secundiflora is very popular as a native evergreen ornamental tree within its range, valued for its handsome, dark green foliage and lush early spring blooms. It is drought-tolerant, prefers rocky limestone soil, and is native from central Texas west to New Mexico and south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico. Like many woody plants native to rocky soils, it is slow growing. The fragrance of Texas mountain laurel flowers is reminiscent of artificial grape products.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11949.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
<br />
Sophora secundiflora (Fabaceae) - Texas mountain laurel, mescal bean; native to North America (Texas, New Mexico, northern Mexico)<br />
The hard, fibrous and indehiscent camaras of the Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora, Fabaceae-Papilionoideae) appear to be adapted to dispersal by large herbivorous mammals such as antelopes. However, most of the potential dispersers in North America would have died out c. 13.000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age. The only native antelope in the southern US is the pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Observations as to whether the pronghorn does eat the fruits of the Texas mountain laurel seem to be missing. The very hard and shiny seeds of the Texas mountain laurel are coloured bright red, a characteristic that generally indicated 'fraudulent' bird-dispersal ('fruit mimicry'). However, since the fruits are very hard and indehiscent, the conspicuous colour of the seeds is hard to explain from an adaptational point of view. Perhaps their colour is part of a two-stage dispersal mechanism, tricking birds into picking the seeds from the faeces of megafaunal herbivores.<br />
interesting weblinks:<br />
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=sose3: Sophora secundiflora is very popular as a native evergreen ornamental tree within its range, valued for its handsome, dark green foliage and lush early spring blooms. It is drought-tolerant, prefers rocky limestone soil, and is native from central Texas west to New Mexico and south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico. Like many woody plants native to rocky soils, it is slow growing. The fragrance of Texas mountain laurel flowers is reminiscent of artificial grape products. The brilliant, lacquer red seeds were valued by indigenous people for ornament and ceremonial use; they contain the highly poisonous alkaloid cytosine (or sophorine), a substance related to nicotine and widely cited as a narcot
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11949.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Dipterocarpus costulatus (Dipterocarpaceae) - keruing kipas (Malay); length of fruit: 18.5cm. The characteristic fruits bear two wings produced by only two of the five sepals of the calyx of the flower (the other 3 sepals remain small)/ The members of the meranti family (Dipterocarpaceae) are a dominant component of lowland tropical rainforests and exploited for their valuable timber.<br />
The species is currently Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11877.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Shorea macrophylla (Dipterocarpaceae =  meranti family) - engkabang jantong (Malay), length of fruit: 12.5cm – The members of the meranti family are a dominant component of lowland tropical rainforests and exploited for their valuable timber; The calyx of the flower develops into the wings (3 large ones, 2 smaller ones) assist wind dispersal of the large, single-seeded nuts. Shorea macrophylla is the main source of illepenuts, the fruits are obtained from trees 15 years of age. It produces the biggest nuts of all engkabangs with sizes of 5.5 - 6.0 x 2.9 - 3.2cm snippets from the internet: <br />
Engkabang jantung (Shorea macrophylla) and Acacia mangium are two of the most popular wood species that frequently used as inputs for interior decoration such as cabinets, furnitures, and turnery. The plants are also used for particleboard, plywood, veneer, pulp, fence, firewood and charcoal (Sanchez, 2006, Anon,2009). Mohamad Azani et al., (2001) studied that engkabang jantung can grow very fast and form wide spreading crowns, even though it is planted under shades of the higher trees. Engkabang is a protected species and can be found scattering throughout Sarawak, usually on clay alluvial soil of riparian forest and lower slopes of clay hill sides below 600m above sea level (Anon, 2009 and Anon 2009a). The information about this species is still limited compared to Acacia mangium. Engkabang is popular due to its nut known as False Illipe Nut, which has moisturising properties that are similar to cocoa butter for skincare and haircare products (Fleckenstein, 2009).<br />
<br />
Engkabang jantung (Shorea macrophylla) and Acacia mangium are two of the most popular wood species that frequently used as inputs for interior decoration such as cabinets, furnitures, and turnery. The plants are also used for particleboard, plywood, veneer, pulp, fence, firewood and charcoal (Sanchez, 2006, Anon,2009).
    MM7753_2010-07-22_11685.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Tipuana tipu (Leguminosae) – tipu tree; native to South America (Brazil, Bolivia & Argentina) – fruits (samaras); the 1-3-seeded, unilaterally winged samaras of the tipu tree bear a striking resemblance to the fruitlets of maples (Acer spp., Sapindaceae). A unilateral wing causes a helicopter-like flight as the diaspore rotates around its centre of gravity (i.e. the thickened, seed-bearing part of the fruit); length c. 5cm. ---  The tipu tree is widely planted as a street tree in the tropics; it is very vigorous and can become an invasive pest, such as in South Africa. The timber of the tipu tree is used for furniture.<br />
From: http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/data/pf000407.htm: This is mainly an ornamental tree, used in urban forestry, but the leaves also constitute e good feed for stock. It is also one of the many "rose woods". It has been used in the South Sahel and North Sudanese ecozones for street and amenity plantations, as well as in Dakar, Cairo, Lisbon, Tunis, Sousse, Jerusalem etc.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11791.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Shorea macrophylla (Dipterocarpaceae =  meranti family) - engkabang jantong (Malay), length of fruit: 12.5cm – The members of the meranti family are a dominant component of lowland tropical rainforests and exploited for their valuable timber; The calyx of the flower develops into the wings (3 large ones, 2 smaller ones) assist wind dispersal of the large, single-seeded nuts. Shorea macrophylla is the main source of illepenuts, the fruits are obtained from trees 15 years of age. It produces the biggest nuts of all engkabangs with sizes of 5.5 - 6.0 x 2.9 - 3.2cm snippets from the internet: <br />
Engkabang jantung (Shorea macrophylla) and Acacia mangium are two of the most popular wood species that frequently used as inputs for interior decoration such as cabinets, furnitures, and turnery. The plants are also used for particleboard, plywood, veneer, pulp, fence, firewood and charcoal (Sanchez, 2006, Anon,2009). Mohamad Azani et al., (2001) studied that engkabang jantung can grow very fast and form wide spreading crowns, even though it is planted under shades of the higher trees. Engkabang is a protected species and can be found scattering throughout Sarawak, usually on clay alluvial soil of riparian forest and lower slopes of clay hill sides below 600m above sea level (Anon, 2009 and Anon 2009a). The information about this species is still limited compared to Acacia mangium. Engkabang is popular due to its nut known as False Illipe Nut, which has moisturising properties that are similar to cocoa butter for skincare and haircare products (Fleckenstein, 2009).<br />
<br />
Engkabang jantung (Shorea macrophylla) and Acacia mangium are two of the most popular wood species that frequently used as inputs for interior decoration such as cabinets, furnitures, and turnery. The plants are also used for particleboard, plywood, veneer, pulp, fence, firewood and charcoal (Sanchez, 2006, Anon,2009). Moham
    MM7753_2010-07-22_11685.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Tipuana tipu (Leguminosae) – tipu tree; native to South America (Brazil, Bolivia & Argentina) – fruits (samaras); the 1-3-seeded, unilaterally winged samaras of the tipu tree bear a striking resemblance to the fruitlets of maples (Acer spp., Sapindaceae). A unilateral wing causes a helicopter-like flight as the diaspore rotates around its centre of gravity (i.e. the thickened, seed-bearing part of the fruit); length c. 5cm. ---  The tipu tree is widely planted as a street tree in the tropics; it is very vigorous and can become an invasive pest, such as in South Africa. The timber of the tipu tree is used for furniture.<br />
From: http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/data/pf000407.htm: This is mainly an ornamental tree, used in urban forestry, but the leaves also constitute e good feed for stock. It is also one of the many "rose woods". It has been used in the South Sahel and North Sudanese ecozones for street and amenity plantations, as well as in Dakar, Cairo, Lisbon, Tunis, Sousse, Jerusalem etc.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11791.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Leguminosae) – guanacaste; native to tropical America, the native tree of Costa Rica – fruit (camara); attractive to modern introduced horses, the guanacaste's fruits were once probably dispersed by extinct, horse-like herbivores; diameter 8cm<br />
 
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11773.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  Dipterocarpus costulatus (Dipterocarpaceae) - keruing kipas (Malay); length of fruit: 18.5cm. The characteristic fruits bear two wings produced by only two of the five sepals of the calyx of the flower (the other 3 sepals remain small)/ The members of the meranti family (Dipterocarpaceae) are a dominant component of lowland tropical rainforests and exploited for their valuable timber.<br />
The species is currently Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11877.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Leguminosae) – guanacaste; native to tropical America, the native tree of Costa Rica – fruit (camara); attractive to modern introduced horses, the guanacaste's fruits were once probably dispersed by extinct, horse-like herbivores; diameter 8cm<br />
 
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11773.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Prosopis strombulifera (Fabaceae) - Argentine screwbean, creeping screwbean; native to Argentina - Prosopis strombulifera is classified by the U.S. Federal Government as a NOXIOUS WEED (present esp. in California).<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopis_strombulifera: Prosopis strombulifera is a species of mesquite or algarrobo, a shrub in the legume family. It is known by the English common names Argentine screwbean and creeping screwbean and the Spanish common name retortuño.[1] This shrub is native to Argentina, where it grows in saline soils. It became well-known in California after it was introduced to Imperial County and took hold in the wild, growing as an invasive noxious weed.[1] The plant grows from a network of long, spreading roots and may grow to three meters in height. Many plants may grow together in an area, forming a monotypic stand. The shrub has waxy-textured leaves made up of a pair of leaflets which are each divided into several pairs of secondary leaflets each up to a centimeter long. Whitish spines up to 2 centimeters long appear near the leaf bases. The inflorescence is a spherical head of many very narrow tubelike yellow flowers, the head measuring about 1.5 centimeters wide. The fruit is a bright yellow seed pod coiled tightly into a cylindrical stick up to 5 centimeters long. It contains several greenish seeds each about half a centimeter long.<br />
other weblinks:<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesquite
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11922.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Lodoicea maldivica (Arecaceae) – Seychelles nut; native to the Seychelles islands – the single-seeded nuts of the Seychelles nut belong to one of the most extraordinary palms and take 7-10 years to mature. At the time the Seychelles were still undiscovered, specimens like the illustrated one were highly prized in Europe; length of fruit: 33cm.<br />
Snippets from the internet: Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List --- http://www.arkive.org/coco-de-mer/lodoicea-maldivica/#text=Biology 
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11734.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Prosopis strombulifera (Fabaceae) - Argentine screwbean, creeping screwbean; native to Argentina - Prosopis strombulifera is classified by the U.S. Federal Government as a NOXIOUS WEED (present esp. in California).<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopis_strombulifera: Prosopis strombulifera is a species of mesquite or algarrobo, a shrub in the legume family. It is known by the English common names Argentine screwbean and creeping screwbean and the Spanish common name retortuño.[1] This shrub is native to Argentina, where it grows in saline soils. It became well-known in California after it was introduced to Imperial County and took hold in the wild, growing as an invasive noxious weed.[1] The plant grows from a network of long, spreading roots and may grow to three meters in height. Many plants may grow together in an area, forming a monotypic stand. The shrub has waxy-textured leaves made up of a pair of leaflets which are each divided into several pairs of secondary leaflets each up to a centimeter long. Whitish spines up to 2 centimeters long appear near the leaf bases. The inflorescence is a spherical head of many very narrow tubelike yellow flowers, the head measuring about 1.5 centimeters wide. The fruit is a bright yellow seed pod coiled tightly into a cylindrical stick up to 5 centimeters long. It contains several greenish seeds each about half a centimeter long.<br />
other weblinks:<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesquite
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11922.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Lodoicea maldivica (Arecaceae) – Seychelles nut; native to the Seychelles islands – the single-seeded nuts of the Seychelles nut belong to one of the most extraordinary palms and take 7-10 years to mature. At the time the Seychelles were still undiscovered, specimens like the illustrated one were highly prized in Europe; length of fruit: 33cm.<br />
Snippets from the internet: Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List --- http://www.arkive.org/coco-de-mer/lodoicea-maldivica/#text=Biology 
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11734.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Ravenala madagascariensis (Strelitziaceae) – traveller’s palm; native to Madagascar - a close relative of the bird-of-paradise-flower, the traveller’s palm has very similar fruits but the seeds are wrapped in blue instead of orange arils.<br />
Interesting weblinks:<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenala_madagascariensis
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11956.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.  <br />
<br />
Ravenala madagascariensis (Strelitziaceae) – traveller’s palm; native to Madagascar - a close relative of the bird-of-paradise-flower, the traveller’s palm has very similar fruits but the seeds are wrapped in blue instead of orange arils.<br />
Interesting weblinks:<br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenala_madagascariensis
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11956.jpg