4to40.com

Alder, White

Alder, White — Alnus rhombifolia (White Alder) is an alder native to western North America, from Washington east to western Montana and south to California, occurring at altitudes of 100–2400 m. It has not been reported from northern Baja California but has been predicted to occur there on the basis of its climatic adaptation. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree …

Read More »

Alder, Black

Alder, Black — Black Alder, European Alder or Common Alder is an alder tree native to most of Europe, including all of Britain, Fennoscandia and locally in southwest Asia. Alnus glutinosa thrives best in moist soils, and grows under favourable circumstances to a height of 20-30 m, though often less. It is characterized by its 5–10 cm short-stalked rounded leaves …

Read More »

Ailanthus

Ailanthus — Ailanthus (derived from ailanto, an Ambonese word probably meaning “tree of the gods” or “tree of heaven”) is a genus of trees belonging to the family Simaroubaceae, in the order Sapindales (formerly Rutales or Geraniales). The genus is native from east Asia south to northern Australasia. Also known as “ghetto palms” or “poverty trees”, they are ubiquitous in the …

Read More »

Ageratum

Ageratum — Ageratum known as Whiteweed is a genus of about 60 tropical American herbs, annuals and perennials from the Sunflower family Asteraceae, tribe Eupatorieae. They form tussocks or small hills. They grow to a height of 75 cm. The opposite leaves are cordate or oval, hairy or tomentose. The margins are slightly toothed or serrate. The leaves form compact …

Read More »

African Violet

African Violet — Saintpaulia, commonly known as African violet, is a genus of 6 species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Tanzania and adjacent southeastern Kenya in eastern tropical Africa, with a concentration of species in the Nguru mountains of Tanzania. The genus is most closely related to Streptocarpus, with recent phylogenetic studies suggesting it …

Read More »

Acanthus

Acanthus — Acanthus is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region and Asia. Common names include Acanthus and Bear’s breeches. The genus comprises herbaceous perennial plants, rarely subshrubs, with spiny leaves and flower spikes …

Read More »

Acacia

Acacia — Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus in 1773. Acacias are also known as thorntrees or wattles, including the yellow-fever acacia and umbrella acacias. There are roughly 1300 species of Acacia worldwide, about 960 of them native to …

Read More »

Wombat

Wombat — Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately one metre (3 feet) in length with a very short tail. The name wombat comes from the Eora Aboriginal community who were the original inhabitants of the Sydney area. They are found in forested, mountainous, and heathland areas of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. Wombats dig extensive burrow systems …

Read More »

Wolverine

Wolverine — The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is the largest land-dwelling species of the Mustelidae or weasel family (the Giant Otter is largest overall), and is the only species currently classified in the genus Gulo (meaning “glutton”). It is also called the Glutton or Carcajou. Some authors recognize two subspecies: the Old World form Gulo gulo gulo and the New World …

Read More »