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Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) is a hardy biennial vegetable of the family Cruciferae, allied to the turnip and the wild charlock. It is an important table vegetable and numerous varieties are cultivated.
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Cabbage Butterfly is a name often given to butterflies of the genus Pieris, but applied especially to Pieris brassicae, the Large White or Cabbage White form so common in gardens in summer. The eggs are laid on the under surface of the leaves of cabbage and other cruciferous plants, and hatch in about a fortnight giving rise to bluish-green larvae. These are exceedingly voracious and very destructive to the host plants. When fully fed the larvae quit the host plant and pupate on walls, trees etc. The autumn brood remains in the pupa stage until spring, and then hatching gives rise to the early butterflies, whose offspring form the butterflies of full summer. In fine seasons there may be three generations, the rate of development being dependant upon the weather.
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The Cabbage Fly (Anthomyia brassicae) is a dipterous insect closely resembling the common house fly in appearance. The larvae attack the stalks of cabbage and other vegetables and often cause great destruction.
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The Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 37 and 45 mm found in the Palaearctic region from western Europe to Japan and also in North America where it is an agricultural pest and produces between one and three generations depending upon temperature, with one generation being produced in cooler climates, that fly from May to October.
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The Cabbage Palm or Cabbage Tree (Euterpe oleracea) is a tree native to the West Indies where it often attains a height of thirty meters. It is a handsome tree with a trunk free from the remains of the leaf-sheaths of dead leaves. The terminal bud and the interior of the stem are edible, pickled or boiled.
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The cabbage rose (Rosa centifolia) or pale rose, as it is also known, is a deciduous shrub of the family Rosaceae with thin brown branches armed with numerous greatly flattened almost straight prickles. The leaves are odd pinnate, with between five and seven ovate to elliptic, dark-green coloured, serrate leaflets which are softly hairy beneath. The petioles and peduncles are almost thornless, but have glandular bristles. The flowers are fragrant, pink in colour, with many petals which are whiter towards the base. The fruit consists of numerous hairy achenes enclosed in the enlarged, fleshy, flask-shaped, bright red receptacle.
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Caccobius is a genus of small dung beetle of the family Scarabaeidae found in horse manure and cow dung.
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Cactus is the family of fleshy, thickened and mainly leafless plants, the Cactaceae (also known as the Indian Fig family).
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The caddis-fly (may-fly) is an insect of the genus Phryganea, of the order Neuroptera. The larva forms for itself a small case of stones, grass-roots, shells etc and lives under water until it is ready to emerge from the pupa state. The larva devours large quantities of fish-spawn, and, ironically, are a favourite bait of anglers.
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The Caecilia is an order of small, legless, amphibians of which comparatively little is still known. Species are either terrestrial or aquatic. Terrestrial species tending to eat earthworms, while the aquatic species may also feed on dead fish. The largest of all Caecilians is
Caecilia thompsoni of Colombia and Ecuador. It reaches a length of more than 150 cm, while Grandisonia larvata of the Seychelles Islands is the only known specimen of 10 cm or less in length. The fatest species is Typhlonectes obesus of the Amazonian drainage. This water-living species may get as fat as a human arm.
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Caenocara is a genus of small beetle of the family Anobiidae, that live in puff-balls.
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Caenoscelis is a genus of beetle of the family Cryptophagidae.
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Caesalpinia is a genus of tropical, leguminous trees and shrubs of great beauty, and of some economic importance because of the dyes obtained from them.
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Caffre-Corn (Sorghum vulgare) is a variety of millet.
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Cafius is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, found on sandy shores.
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The Cairn Terrier is a Scottish breed of small dog originating before the 17th century. The breed evolved in the west of Scotland and on the Isle of Skye and were first exhibited in 1909 when they were described as short-haired Skye Terriers, however breeders of Skye Terriers objected to the name and the present name was adopted. In 1913 the breed was introduced to the USA. They are even-tempered and affectionate dogs which make good family pets, although they will instinctively hunt vermin and have a tendency to dig - including flowerbeds!
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Cajanus is a genus of Leguminous plants of the sub-family Papilionacea. The only species, Cajanus indicus, is a valuable pulse found in the tropics where it is commonly called Congo Pea or Dhal.
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The Cajeput Tree, also known as White Tea Tree, Swamp Tea Tree and White wood (Melaleuca leucandendron) is a tree of the family Myrtaceae native to the East Indies and Tropical Australia. It has a long flexible trunk with irregular ascending branches, covered with a pale, thick, lamellated bark. It is soft and spongy and from time to time sheds its outer layer in flakes. The leaves are entire, linear, lanceolate, ash colour and alternate on short foot-stalks. The flowers are sessile and white on a long spike. An oil (tea tree oil) is distilled from the fresh leaves and twigs.
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The Calabrese is an Italian breed of horse which developed over the past two thousand years, originally in Calabria in southern Spain, whence the name. The
Calabrese stands between 15.3 and 16.2 hands high and is grey, bay, chestnut, brown or black in colour with a refined head and a straight or sometimes convex profile. The Calabrese is used as a general purpose riding horse, having a mix of a calm and manageable nature with an active and energetic manner.
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Calamarinae is a subfamily of reptiles of the typical snakes family (Colubridae). The subfamily contains nine genera divided into some 65 species found in south Asia across New Guinea and the Philippines, mainly in rain forests and montane rainforests to an altitude of 1800 meters. Most members have pointed or shovel-shaped snout, and the head is indistinct from the body. Generally the rostal shield extends forward over the mouth, the scales are smooth and iridescent and the relatively short tail ends with a spine. All of the members of the subfamily are subterranean, living in burrows, emerging at night or after heavy rain to hunt earthworms and over invertebrates and larvae. Some species live in termite mounds and feed on the termites and their nymphs.
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Calamint is a plant of the genus Calamintha, of the family Labiatae. The plants are herbs or shrubs with dense whorls of purple-white or yellow flowers, with two-lipped corolla and four conniving stamens.
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Calamobius is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
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Calamus or Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus) is a perennial herb of the order Araceae native to Europe, Asia and north America. It has narrow sword-shaped leaves and a thick branched rhizome. The flowering stem is also sword-shaped, and ends in a flattened envelope (apathe) from which emerges the flower-spike with hundreds of yellow-green coloured simple flowers. When crushed the leaves emit an odour of tangerine.
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Calandrinia is a genus of plants of the rock purslane family (Portulaceae). All the species are fleshy, with sprawling or trailing habit and entire leaves. Some are annual and some are perennial. The flowers open fully only in sunshine.
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Calanthe is a genus of terrestrial orchids. The leaves are broad and plaited, the flowers are large, white and pink, borne on long spikes and are characterized by the possession of a large calcarate lip. Some species are deciduous and some evergreen.
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Calathea is a genus of perennial, handsome leaved plants native to Central and South America. They are members of the Scitaminaceae.
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Calathus is a genus of beetles of the ground beetle family, Carabidae. Some seven species are found in Britain all with a similar elongate oval form. They hide by day under leaves, moss, stones or between grass roots and come out at night to hunt.
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The Calayan rail is a nearly flightless bird of the rail family found in the forests of the Philippine island of Calayan. It has black plumage and a scarlet beak and orange-red legs. The Calayan Rail, known locally as the piding, remained unknown to Westerners until August 2004.
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Calcarea are a class of sponges with a spicular skeleton made of calcium carbonate. The common British purse sponge is an example.
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Calceolaria is a genus of plants native to South America, Mexico and the West Indies, belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae.
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Calendula is a genus of hardy flowering English plants (the Marigolds).
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A calf is a young bovine animal, especially a young cow.
Calf is the name given to a young red deer not yet two years old.
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A calico cat is a cat with black, ginger and white patches.
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California buckeye (Aesculus californica) is a deciduous shrub of the family Hippocastanaceae, with opposite, palmately divided leaves with five leaflets; the flowers appear in a long, terminal cluster, white or pinkish, with stamens longer than the five petals; the fruit is a smooth, leathery capsule with one to three large brown, shiny seeds each with a pale scar.
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The Californian Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus californiae) is an American snake, native from Canada south to Ecuador, where they are found in varying habitats ranging from deserts to pine forests, mountain slopes, dry river beds and even in city suburbs. The Californian Kingsnake is generally banded with black and white hoops, is terrestrial and grows to about 120 cm long. They feed on lizards, birds, rodents and other snakes, including venomous species and other Californian Kingsnakes. The Californian Kingsnake is a popular pet as they are non-venomous, easily tamed, enjoy being handled, like a small terrarium and are robust living for as long as fifteen years.
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The Californian Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica) is a perennial herb of the poppy family, from the California coast. It has finely-cut leaves and bright- yellow, saffron-eyed, four-petaled blooms.
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Calla is a genus of plants of the family Araceae, comprising only one species, Calla palustris (arum lily, water arum, wild calla). It is a handsome plant with heart-shaped leaves and showy white flowers found in wet places in cool northern temperate and sub-arctic regions.
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Callichthys is a genus of cat-fish or siluroids, including about a dozen species found in the rivers of tropical America. The body is enclosed in four rows of bony plates, and the head is also armoured. Like their allies in the same region, these cat-fish are capable of migrating over land from one river to another, and construct nests of leaves for their ova.
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Callidium is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) characterized by a broad, flat pronotum.
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Calligonum is a genus of hardy, mostly evergreen desert and steppe shrubs of the family Polygonaceae. They are natives of North Africa, Western Asia and Southern Europe. They are sand-tolerating switch-plants and were planted along side railway lines in the desert to act as a living screen against sand-drifts.
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Callimellum is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
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Callistus is a genus of beetles of the ground beetle family, Carabidae, represented by a single species in Britain and Europe, Callistus lunatus, which ranges from 4 to 7 mm in length, and is to be found on warm, dry, chalky hillsides. In Britain the species is very rare, and is restricted to a few locations around London.
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Callorhynchus is a fish genus nearly allied to the Chimaera. It inhabits the seas of the south temperate zone and has a long tail bent upwards at the extremity.
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Calluna is a genus of the family Ericaceae of which one species,
Calluna vulgaris (ling or common heather) occurs wild in Britain. The genus is marked from its allies by its rosy calyx, the four sepals of which are much longer than the bell-shaped corolla within. Outside the calyx are four green bracts. The tiny downy leaves imbricate in four rows.
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Calophyllum is a genus of beautiful, evergreen, leathery-leaved tropical trees. The flowers which are borne in loose racemes are usually white and fragrant.
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Calopogon pulchellus is a North American tuberous-rooted orchid, bearing purple flowers with a straw coloured beard in July or August.
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Calosoma is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) usually found climbing trees where they prey on other insects, such as caterpillars. The larva stage lasts a few weeks, the adult stage between two and four years.
Calosoma sycophanta has a green elytra and was imported into North America from Europe to combat caterpillars. Other species have different coloured elytra, which may be brassy-green, blue or black. Calosoma auropunctatum, found in the Mediterranean region, is unusual in having gold-green dimples in its elytra.
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Calotropis is a genus of shrubs or small trees of the family Asclepiadaceae.
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Caltha is a genus of plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae, including the marsh marigold. The species like wet, heavy soil.
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Calvia is a genus of ladybird (Coccinellidae).
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Calynda brocki is a Costa Rican species of stick insect. About 140 to 180 mm long, green or yellow-brown in colour and with two 'horns' on their head. Both the male and female are wingless.
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The calyptoblastea is an order of hydrozoa. They are marine colonial forms in which the perisac is extended to form hydrothecae around the hydranths and gonothecae around the blastostyles.
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Calyptomerus is a genus of beetles of the family Clambidae. A single species,
Calyptomerus dubius, occurs in Britain.
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Calyptraea is a genus of gastropod molluscs which includes forms presenting some resemblance in habits and external appearance to the limpets, to which they are not nearly related. Externally the shell appears simple and cap- shaped, but beneath the apex there is a concealed inner whorl.
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Calystegia is a genus of plants which is a subdivision of the family of the Convolvulaceae, and is closely allied to the genus Convolvulus, in which its species are often included.
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In botany, the calyx is the outer floral envelope comprised of a number of individual sepals that protects the developing flower bud.
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Cam miles is a perennial dwarf herb of the family Compositae.
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Camarasaurus was a dinosaur of the Jurassic period. Remains of Camarasaurus were discovered in 1877 and named by E D Cope. It was about 18 meters long, with a large heavy body, thick legs and a long neck and tail similar to Apatosaurus, but with a shorter neck and tail. The mouth was furnished with long, blunt teeth which pointed forwards and indicate a herbivore.
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The Camargue is French breed of pony indigenous to the Rhone delta of southern France. They stand about 14 hands high, are grey in colour, and while good natured are also semi-wild and as such spirited.
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Camassia is a genus of hardy North American liliaceous plants closely related to the scillas. The bulbs of
Camassia esculenta were commonly cooked for food by the Indians.
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The Camberwell beauty (Vanessa antiopa or Nymphalis antiopa) is a European butterfly of the brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) family found in lowlands, mountains, forests, watersides and parks. Occasionally the
Camberwell Beauty visits Britain.
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The Cambridge Bronze is an old, rare breed of domestic turkey, slightly smaller than the mammoth bronze.
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The camel is a group of two species of even-toed, ungulate ruminating mammals of the family Camelidae characterised by the absence of horns, the possession of incisor, canine and molar teeth, a fissure in the upper lip, a long and arched neck, one or two humps or protuberances on the back (the Arab camel has one hump, the Asian or Bactrian Camel, two), and a broad elastic foot which does not readily sink into the sand of the desert.
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Camelidae is the camels, llamas, alpacas, vicugnas and guanacos family of animals of the order Artiodactyla. Camelids are all large, the South American forms ranging in weight from 35 kg to almost 100 kg. Old World camels, however, are much larger, weighing between 450 kg and 650 kg. Camelids vary in body shape from slender to stocky, but all have long, gracile necks; a small head; and long, slender legs. The upper lip is deeply and distinctively cleft. Their toes are splayed, and Camelids are the only plantigrade or fully digitigrade ungulates. The skulls of Camelids have an elongated rostrum, a well developed sagittal crest, and a complete postorbital bar. They lack horns or antlers. The cheek teeth are selenodont. Upper incisors are present; young have three on each side, but adults have only one, which is canine-like. The spatulate lower incisors project forward. The canines, which are present in both upper and lower jaws, are medium- sized and hooked. A wide diastema separates incisors and cheek teeth.
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Camellia is a genus of Asiatic evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the family Ternstroemiaceae including the shrubs from which tea is obtained.
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Camelopard was a name once (originally by the Romans) given to the giraffe, in the mistaken belief that the creature was a cross between a camel and a leopard.
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Camomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is an annual perennial dwarf herb of the family Compositae. The stem is hollow, round, downy, and furrowed. The leaves are pale green, sharply incised, sessile. The flowers are small, yellow-white. Camomile is used in medicine. Internally the infusion of the flowers is used for diarrhoea, dyspepsia, stomach problems, inflammation of the urinary system and painful menstruation. In external use, it is used in infusion, as a compresses over sores and wounds, skin diseases, haemorrhoid and inflammation of the eyes. The ground seeds produce the same effect. The decoction of the flowers or seeds is used to wash mouth inflammation. It is a good aid for sitz bath. The steam (vapour) bath of the camomile tea is recommended for asthma in children, or the relieve the symptoms of a cold.
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Camouflage is colours or structures which allow an animal to blend in with its surroundings.
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Campanula is the bellflower genus of plants of the family Campanulaceae. The species include the harebell and Canterbury bell.
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The Campanulaceae (Campanula) are an extensive family of gamopetalous dicotyledons usually herbaceous, with an inferior two or more celled fruit, many minute seeds, regular bell-shaped showy blue or white corolla, and milky acrid juice. They are natives chiefly of northern and temperate regions.
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The Campine is a breed of chicken.
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Campion is a group of caryophyllaceous plants contained in the two genera Silene and Lychnis.
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The Campion Moth (Hadena rivularis) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 27 and 30 mm distributed in lowlands and sub-montane elevations in the temperate zone from Europe to eastern Asia. One or two generations are produced flying from May to August.
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Camptosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the Jurassic period. A heavily built dinosaur, it was about 7 meters long and similar to Iguanodon. It mainly stayed on all-fours, but could rear up on its hind legs to run away from predators. It had small hooves instead of claws on its fingers, and rows of hundreds of teeth in its mouth. Remains of roughly ten species of Camptosaurus of varying sizes and proportions have been discovered in different parts of the USA and Europe since 1885.
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The canaan dog (Kelef K'naani) is a breed of dog known for its intense barking, trainability, and survival abilities when food and water are scarce. The coat is short to medium in length, harsh, and straight and may be white with large spots in either black, red, or brown or it may be all brown or all black with or without white marks. The ears are medium-sized, pointed, and held erect. The tail is plumed and usually held curled over the back. The eyes are dark-coloured. The adult dog stands 48 to 61 centimetres tall at the shoulder and weighs 16 to 25 kg. The breed was developed during the late 1930s as a guard dog for kibbutzim and trained for mine detection in the Second World War. They are now used also as seeing-eye dogs, herding dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and for tracking.
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The Canada Goose (Brenta canadensis) is an American wild goose, about 80 centimetres long, brownish above, lighter below with a black head, neck, bill and feet and a white patch on the cheek.
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Canada Rice (Zizania aquatica) is a floating grass found growing in lakes and sluggish streams in Canada and the northern USA. It yields an edible grain.
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The Canadian Cutting Horse is a Canadian breed of horse based largely upon the American Quarter Horse and bred to be quick, agile, and athletic as well as calm, alert and willing. The Canadian Cutting Horse stands between 15 and 16 hands high and occurs in any whole colour.
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Canadian fleabane (Conyza canadensis) is an annual herb of the family Compositae with an erect, glabrous or slightly hairy stem, which is much branched near the top. The leaves are slightly hairy and linear to lanceolate. The numerous bell-shaped white and yellow flowers are arranged in long terminal panicles. The fruit is a yellow downy achene.
Canadian fleabane is native to North America, and was introduced to Europe during the 17th century.
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Canadian Hemp (Apocynum Cannabinum) is a perennial herb with upright stems and branches headed by erect, many flowered stems and leaves which are nearly sessile. It grows in gravely or sandy soil, mostly near streams. It is used in California for making twine, bags, cordage, fishing-nets and a coarse kind of linen.
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Canarium is a genus of trees which are natives of tropical countries. Many of them yield nuts of some economic value.
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The canary (Serinus canarius) is an insessorial singing bird of the finch family and native of the
Canary islands. They were introduced to Europe in the latter part of the fifteenth century. Many of the caged canaries kept are actually mules produced from cross breeding a canary with an allied species such as the goldfinch, siskin or linnet.
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Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis) is a hardy annual grass bearing beautiful flower-spikes in summer, followed by fruit containing the canary seed.
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The candle fish (Thaleichthys) is a small fish allied to the smelt and found off the Pacific coast of North America. It receives its popular name from its oily flesh which will burn like a candle. Living in huge schools in Alaskan's salt waters. They are a blue-brown colour on the back with black flakes on the fins and the tail with a silver colour on the bottom. The upper jaw extends past the eyes. In spring, between April and May, mature fish head toward rivers to spawn in fresh water, most die after spawning. Females lay around 17, 000 to 60,000 eggs, depending on their size, after becoming mature at about three to four years old.
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The candle nut or candlebery tree (Aleurites triloba and Aleurites moluccana) are evergreen trees belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, and grow wild in the Pacific islands. They are characterized by large, thick maple-like alternate leaves and clusters of small white flowers. The nuts are very rich in oil, and are sometimes used as torches for fishing by.
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The candle tree (Parmentiera cerifera) is a tree native to Central America of the family Burseraceae. It bears large white flowers at the nodes, followed by yellow edible fruit not unlike wax candles in appearance.
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Canella is a genus of evergreen tropical trees native to the West Indies.
Canella alba grows to a height of four meters and bears small violet flowers which yield a musk-like fragrance.
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The Canidae are the dog family, the only family included in the section Cynoidea, of the order Carnivora. The Canidae are much less highly specialized forms than the cats, as is shown by their more numerous and less strictly carnivorous teeth, their blunt non-retractile claws, and certain minor anatomical peculiarities. Most of the dogs hunt in packs, combining to overthrow animals which would be too powerful for the efforts of individuals. The members of the family are widely distributed, the type genus Canis being truly cosmopolitan, to which belong dogs, wolves, jackals and foxes, animals which differ from one another only in minor peculiarities.
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The cankerworm are two destructive caterpillars - the spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata) and the autumn cankerworm (Also phila pometaria) - found in the USA from Maine to Texas. The eggs are laid on fruit and shade trees, and the larvae frequently destroy the foliage of whole orchards in a few days. The larvae feed on most broad-leaved trees and shrubs, but prefer the American elm, Manitoba maple, basswood, Siberian elm, and apple. The first noticeable sign of an infestation is small ' shot-holes' in the young leaves. At this time the tiny larvae are found on the underside of the leaf. As the larvae continue feeding, the holes grow larger, until almost all of the leaf tissues are eaten. During severe outbreaks, trees and shrubs may be completely defoliated. Healthy trees and shrubs usually produce a new crop of leaves by mid-July and show little permanent injury from a single defoliation. However, after three or more consecutive years of heavy attack tree growth is slowed down and branches in the crown die back.
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Cannabis is a genus of narcotic plants of the family Urticaceae, of which hemp is a typical species.
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Cantharellales is an order of fungi similar to the mushrooms and toadstools, but the members don't form proper gills with a sharp edge. Instead spores are formed on radiating folds and ridges.
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Cantharellus is a well-known genus of fungus of the order Cantharellales (the Chanterelles) . It has a funnel-shaped fruiting body. The genus includes the chanterelle wild mushroom.
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Cantharidae is the soldier beetle family of insects of the order Coleoptera. They are beetles with a rather thin and soft cuticle, so that the body and elytra are much less rigid than is usual for beetles. The members of the family generally eat other insects, but some eat young oak tree shoots. The larvae crawl about on the ground eating slugs and snails.
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The Cantharides or Spanish Fly (Lytta vesicatoria) is a kind of beetle of the family Meloidae, found in Italy, Spain and France. The body is about 20 millimetres long and of a golden-green colour. They live on trees and eat leaves. They exude a poison, cantharidin, when bruised which is used in blistering plasters.
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Cantharis is a genus of soldier beetle (Cantharidae), represented by fifteen British species between 9 and 15 mm long.
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The canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is an American diving duck related to the pochard, but larger. The head is chestnut coloured, the back lighter, the beak long and narrow. The canvasback is a popular eating duck in America.
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The capelin (Mallotus villosus) is a small fish of the salmon family found in North American coastal waters where it is used as a bait for cod and also eaten.
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Caper (Capparis spinosa) is a deciduous, shrubby perennial of the family Capparidaceae found in rocky places and waste areas of the Mediterranean region. It has straggly, sometimes spiny stems branching from the base. The leaves are circular to ovate in shape and rather fleshy. The flowers are carried singly in the leaf axils, opening flat with four white or purplish- tinged petals. The fruit is a rounded berry, about two centimetres across, which splits open when ripe to reveal numerous seeds embedded in a sticky mucilage.
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A capitulum is a type of flowering shoot characteristic of plants of the family Compositae in which the tip of the shoot is flattened and bears many small stalkless flowers surrounded by an involucre of bracts giving the appearance of a single flower.
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Capnodis is a genus of jewel beetle (Buprestidae). The larvae live in the roots of cultivated fruit trees and wild Prunus.
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Capparidaceae is a family of plants of which the caper tree is the most familiar example. They are mostly natives of the tropics or of subtropical regions.
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Caprifoliaceae is a family of annual and perennial herbs, shrubs and trees of wide distribution. They have opposite foliage leaves, and flowers arranged in cymes. Among the genera are Lonicera, Linnaea and Vilburnum.
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Caprimulgidae is the Nightjar or Goatsucker family of Fissirostral birds. They are characterized by a short beak, enormous wide gape; soft and loose plumage giving the birds an owl-like appearance; the habit is usually nocturnal, and the diet chiefly of insects caught on the wing. The wings are long and formed for powerful flight.
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Caprinae is a sub-family of even-toed ungulates of the Bovidae. It includes the sheep and goat and the musk ox. The family is distinguished by the presence of ridged, curved, or spiral horns in both sexes, a somewhat hairy muzzle, and a short and flattened tail.
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Capromyidae is the Coypu family of the suborder Hystirco Morpha.
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Capsicum is a genus of tender annual South American plants of the family Solanaceae. They have straight, woody stems and single, star-shaped, white flowers in the axils of the leaves, a wheel-shaped corolla, and a many-seeded berry. The flowers are followed by juiceless berries or pods, which vary in shape and size. They are green at first and change to red, yellow or purple. They contain many flat, kidney-shaped, white seeds, which are very hot tasting. Kinds that are commonly grown are varieties of Capsicum frutescens, which are the Peppers grown in the vegetable garden and include those from which red pepper, cayenne pepper, Tabasco and paprika are made. In tropical countries it is a perennial and will form a shrub as high as two meters, but when it is grown in gardens it is treated as an annual and is raised from seeds every year.
Capsicum frutescens grossum, the Sweet or Bell Pepper, is a popular vegetable. When the fruit is ripe it is red or yellow, but it's used as a vegetable in the green stage.
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The capuchin monkey (Cebus capuchinus) is a tropical American monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae. They are distinguished by the comparative shortness of their tail, and the absence of a naked area on the underside of the tail. The hair is not woolly, the limbs are of moderate length and slender. The monkeys live in troops, frequenting the tops of tall forest trees eating fruits, shoots, buds, insects, eggs and young birds. The ease with which they are trained, together with their gentle nature has made them popular as pets and performers.
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The capybara (Hydrochoerus capybara) is a species of aquatic rodent also known as the water-hog or water-horse and in South America it is called the carpincho. It is about one meter long with a large thick head, a thick body covered with long, coarse brown hair and short legs with long feet which are webbed. It is found in South America where it feeds on vegetation and fish.
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Carabidae is the Ground Beetle family of insects of the order Coleoptera. They are mostly predacious, though some species are omnivorous or vegetarian.
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Carabus is a genus of large and flightless beetles of the family Carabidae ranging from 30 to 40 mm in length, and found all over Europe where they live for between two and three years. In most species the membranous hindwings have regressed, and they have an abdominal gland from which they can release or squirt a malodorous defensive secretion. They are predominantly predators, but also eat fruit.
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The Caracal, Desert Lynx or Persian Lynx (Felis caracal or Caracal caracal) is a cat, formerly thought to be a species of lynx - with which they resemble - native to northern Africa and south-west Asia. It is about the size of a fox, mostly a deep-brown colour with tufts of long black hair on the ears. Studies conducted during the 1980's revealed that Caracals prey on a variety of mammals, with rodents making up almost 90% of their diet supplemented by birds which the
Caracal is skilled at catching in flight - leaping into the air and swiping them with their front paws, larger mammals and occasionally carrion. In the wild
Caracals are mainly active at night.
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The Caracara (Polyborus tharus) is a Brazilian carrion hawk. It is a dull- coloured bird, with bare throat and cheeks, long legs and feet almost like those of a game bird. It has a powerful flight, but is largely terrestrial in its habits, running with great speed. It feeds mainly on carrion, but they also hunt in packs. The nest is built on the ground.
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The Carambola or Coromadel Gooseberry (Averrhoa Carambola) is a small evergreen tree of the family Geraniaceae, bearing short racemes of red flowers, followed by round, yellow, orange-sized fruits which are full of juice but very sour.
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A carapace is a dorsal shield. The name is also given to the upper part of the hard shell of chelonian reptiles such as the tortoise, the lower part being called the plastron.
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Caravan is the collective noun for a group of camels.
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Caraway (Carum carvi) is a biennial or perennial herb of the family Umbelliferae. It has a spindle-like tap root, finely divided feathery leaves which are two or three times pinnate, and erect branched furrowed stems terminated by compound umbels of white or rose-tinted, deeply notched flowers. The fruit is a rectangular, ribbed achene with two crescent-shaped seeds. Caraway grows throughout Europe and Asia in grassy, sunny locations, especially mountains up to an altitude of 2000 meters.
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Carcharodontosaurus was a giant carnivorous dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Remains of Carcharodontosaurus have been found in North Africa since 1931, from which it is believed the dinosaur was about 8 meters long, walked on its hind legs, had short arms with powerful claws and fed on herbivorous dinosaurs in the surrounding area.
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Cardamom is an aromatic perennial herb of the family Scitamineae.
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Cardinal Beetle is a common name for insects of the family Pyrochroidae, order Coleoptera. They are notable for their red elytra. The larvae live under the dry bark of deciduous trees and feed on other insects, or if none are available, each other.
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The Cardinal Bird or Red Bird or Virginian Nightingale (Cardinalis virginianus) is a handsome North American bird, the male being of a fine red colour marked with black. It belongs to the finch family (Fringillidae), and has a bright sweet song. It is found from Mexico to Massachusetts.
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The Cardinal butterfly (Pandoriana pandora) is a species of brush-footed butterfly (Nymphalidae) and with a wing span of about 65 mm is Europe's largest fritillary. The butterflies occur in one generation lasting from May to October and like to assemble in open country rich in flowering thistles.
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Cardiophorus is a genus of click beetle (Elateridae).
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Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) is a perennial herb of the family Compositae with a stout, erect, branched stem and numerous spiny lanceolate leaves, which are smooth above and white-felted beneath. The terminal globose flower heads have a fleshy receptacle and blue-violet ligulate florets.
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Carex is a large genus of plants of the family Cyperaceae. They are the sedges, perennial grass-like herbs with unisex flowers aggregated in spikelets.
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The cariama is a large, long legged bird found in south America.
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The Caribou is a north American reindeer, unique in that both the male and female have antlers.
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The carinatae are an order of birds. They can fly.
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Carludovica is a genus of palm-like monocotyledons native to tropical America.
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Carmarina is a member of the order Trachylina.
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The carnation (Dianthus) is a hardy perennial plant of the family Caryophyllaceae. Also known as the clove-pink.
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The Carnauba palm (Copernicia cerifera) is a native palm of Brazil. When young the leaves, berries and stalks are covered in a wax (carnauba wax) which is used to make candles, and as a glazing agent in book binding, leather work and on fruit.
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Carnivora is the carnivorous order of Eutheria. They primarily eat the flesh of other Craniates. Canines are prominent. The caecum is small or absent.
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A carnivore is a carnivorous mammal.
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Something which is carnivorous eats flesh.
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The carob, bean tree or locust tree (Ceratonia siliqua), is a Leguminous evergreen tree found in Mediterranean countries. It was introduced to England in the 16th century. The pods of the tree, sold as locust beans were formerly feed to pigs and cattle.
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The carp (Cyprinus) is a genus of soft-finned fresh water fish distinguished by a small mouth, toothless jaws and gills of three flat rays. They have a single dorsal fin and fairly large scales.
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The Carpathian (Karpacka or Carpatina) is a European breed of long-haired goat. Often white in colour, they also occur in other colours and have twisted horns. They are kept for meat and milk production in Poland and Romania.
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Carpel is a botanical term referring to a simple pistil or a single member of a compound pistil.
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Carpelimus is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae. Some species live on algae, and they mostly live beside water in parts of the bank devoid of vegetation.
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The carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) is a bee named on account of the habit of forming a nest in dry wood, in which it excavates parallel galleries. Within these galleries cells are formed of wood pulp moistened by salivary juice.
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Carpophilus is a genus of sap-beetle (Nitidulidae).
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In botany, a carpophore is a continuation of the flower-stalk, which passes in certain flowers, notably those of the family Umbelliferae, between the carpels, until it reaches their highest points. Often when the carpels are ripe, and separate from one another, they remain attached to the carpophore at its summit.
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Carrageen (Irish Moss) is a common British seaweed (Chondrus crispus). When dried and boiled it yields a jelly used in food and medicine.
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The Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) is a British bird of the family Corvidae, order Passeriformes, closely related to Corvus cornix, the hooded crow. In the USA the name refers to the black vulture.
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The carrot (Daucus Carota) is a biennial vegetable of the family Umbelliferae. It is a native of Britain and Europe and has tripinnate leaves of a feathery appearance. The plant rises to a height of some 60 centimetres and produces white flowers. The root is strong-flavoured and tapering. In the wild carrot the root is white, but in the cultivated variety it is orange in colour. Originally the carrot was cultivated as a food for cattle, it is now widely eaten by people.
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The Carthusian is a Spanish breed of horse now comprising a side-branch of the Andalusian breed, but originated around the early part of the 18th century from a stallion called Esclavo. The Carthusian stands between 15 and 16 hands high and is mostly grey, but also chestnut or black in colour and is a kind and lively breed.
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A caruncle is a small hard outgrowth formed on the seeds of certain plants, such as the castor oil plant. A caruncle is the fleshy excrescence on the head of a fowl, such the comb of a cock or the wattles of a turkey.
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Carya is the hickory genus of plants.
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Caryocar is a genus of plants of the family Caryocaraceae, consisting of tall trees native to tropical America which produce good timber and also butter-nuts.
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Caryophyllaceae are a family of plants. They have opposite undivided leaves without stipples. The family includes the Carnation, Chick-weed and Sweet-William.
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Caryophyllia is a member of the order Zoantharia.
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Caryopsis is the botanical term for small one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit in which the seed adheres to the thin pericarp throughout, such as in wheat and other grains.
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Caryota is a genus of spineless palms with doubly pinnate leaves. The genus is sometimes known as the fish-tail palms from the shape of the leaflets. When fully grown the plants bear large green or purple flowers, the spadices hanging down in graceful bundles.
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The Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is a small evergreen tree found in the Caribbean. It's fruit is called the cashew-nut, and is small, kidney-shaped, ash-grey and contains an acrid juice. Its noxious property is destroyed by roasting after which it is deemed a great delicacy.
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The cashmere is a small domesticated goat with large ears and small horns kept for its wool, milk and meat in mountainous areas of China, Iran and Kashmir, and also extensively farmed in the USA and other developed countries primarily for its wool.
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The Caspian is an ancient breed of Iranian miniature horse, often referred to as a pony, standing between 10 and 12 hands high. The Caspian is placid, good natured and mostly bay or brown in colour. Their good nature makes them excellent for children, and their grace and charm makes them attractive for showing.
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Cassava (Manihot utilissima) is a South American shrub of the family Euphorbiaceae. It grows to about 2.4 meters in height and has broad, shiny leaves roughly in the shape of a human hand and attractive white and pink flowers. The root is used in cooking.
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Cassia is a large genus of leguminous plants found in tropical countries. The species consists of trees, shrubs and herbs. The leaves are abruptly pinnated and usually bear glands on their stalks. The drug Senna is obtained from the leaflets of many of the species.
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The Cassicus is a genus of American insessorial birds, the Cassicans (American Orioles). They are allied to the Starlings and are remarkable for the ingenuity with which they weave their nests.
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Cassida is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and are sometimes pests of beet and turnip.
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The cassowary (Casuaridae) are a family of ruminating birds of the order Casuariformes. They are similar to the ostrich, but have characteristic feet with three toes, the inner toe possessing a long sharp claw, unusually strong legs, a bare head and neck and a helmet on the head which is larger on the male than the female. Cassowary are found in the woods of New Guinea, New Britain, north Queensland and Ceram.
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Cast is the collective noun for a group of hawks.
Cast is the collective noun for a group of falcons.
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The castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) or castor bean is a highly poisonous variable herb, shrub or tree (depending upon climate) of the family Euphorbiaceae, native to India and tropical Africa. It has large, reddish coloured leaves which are long-stalked, alternate and palmate with coarsely toothed segments. Terminating the stems are panicle-like inflorescences of green monoecious flowers, the stalked female flowers above the male flowers below, both without petals. The fruit is a spiny, greenish capsule with large, oval, shiny, bean-like, highly poisonous seeds with variable brownish mottling on a whitish background.
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The Castoridae is a family of rodent animals comprising the single genus, Castor (the beaver).
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The Casuaridae are a family of the order Casuariformes. These are the cassowaries. They have strong legs and a bald head topped with a helmet.
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The Casuariformes is an order of birds.
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The Casuarina (Botany-Bay Oak), is the only genus of the family
Casuarinaceae (cassowary trees). There are around 30 species mainly native to Australia. They are jointed, leafless trees similar to the Birches.
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The cat is a genus of highly sophisticated, intelligent and paradoxical carnivorous mammals (Felidae or Felis). The genus includes the most highly specialized of the carnivores. The mechanism by which the claws are retracted (in some species) is highly sophisticated, and the claws are extremely sharp and powerful weapons. The teeth number thirty, and are used to tear meat which is then swallowed without mastication. The tongue is rough and functions as a rasp.
Cats have been domesticated since the earliest of times, and were considered sacred to the goddess Bast by the ancient Egyptians. Generally people either like cats and dislike dogs, or dislike cats and like dogs, reflecting the two very different, opposing natures of the two animals. Where as dogs are loyal, trainable and generally giving, cats are highly independent. Coming and going as they see fit, and often giving the impression that the owner of a pet cat is actually the pet himself! It is this independence that makes cats so attractive as a pet to many people.
Cats are renowned for their intelligence, and sensitivity, but are also completely daft at times, behaving not unlike a small child playing with pieces of string or chasing their tail. At times affectionate, and at others aloof and arrogant, but always mysterious and amusing as was reflected in the very perceptive American 'Fat Freddy's Cat' comic books which were published during the 1970s and 1980s. Almost all species of cat purr, though not tigers, and the sound of purring has been found to trigger the healing process in the cats bones, and also strengthen human bones. It is thought that cats purr for a number of reasons, most obviously as an expression of contentment, and also as a method of self-healing, which may account for their remarkable resilience to injury, being able to fall great distances and survive.
Cats, particularly tigers and Siamese, do talk to each other, and to any human prepared to listen, communicating in numerous growls and meows, though as yet their language is not understood.
The male cat is called a Tom, but was formerly called a Gilbert or gib.
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The Cat-bird is a species of the American thrush. It is about nine inches long. The plumage is dark grey on the top and paler grey underneath.
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The Cat-fish (Anarhichadidae) is a voracious fish of the gobies family. It was also called the Wolf-fish or Sea-Wolf in the 19th century.
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The Catalpa is a genus of plants of the family Bignoniaceae. They are trees with simple leaves and large, gay, trumpet shaped flowers.
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Catamount is an old name for any wild cat, including the Lynx and the Puma.
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Catamountain is an old variation of Catamount.
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Catarrhina is a suborder of anthropoidea. The nostrils face downwards. The internasal septum is narrow. The tail is never prehensile.
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Catchfly is a popular name for several plants of the genus Silene.
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Catenipora are fossil corals found in Palaeozoic rocks. They are so named from the chainlike appearance of the cells or pores.
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A caterpillar is the larval stage of a butterfly or moth. Wormlike in form, the body is segmented, may be hairy, and often has scent glands. The head has strong biting mandibles, silk glands, and a spinneret. Many caterpillars resemble the plant on which they feed, dry twigs, or rolled leaves. Others are highly coloured and rely for their protection on their irritant hairs, disagreeable smell, or on their power to eject a corrosive fluid. Yet others take up a 'threat attitude' when attacked. Caterpillars emerge from eggs that have been laid by the female insect on the food plant and feed greedily, increasing greatly in size and casting their skins several times, until the pupal stage is reached. The abdominal segments bear a varying number of ' pro-legs' as well as the six true legs on the thoracic segments.
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Catha is a genus of plants of the family Celastraceae, mostly native to Africa. The leaves and twigs of one species are used to make khat, a drink similar to coffee.
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In botany, a catkin is a dense spike of small male or female flowers, usually long and tassel-like.
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Catmint or catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial herb of the family Labiatae native to parts of Europe and Asia, growing on hedge banks and roadsides, usually on lime-rich soils. It grows to a height of around one meter and has pink tinged white flowers arranged in whorls in the upper leaf axils and stalked, downy, heart-shaped, opposite leaves. The fruit consists of four smooth nutlets. It is so named for the fascination cats have with it.
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Catopidae is a family or subfamily of the family Leiodidae, of tiny beetles between one six millimetres long. There are thirty-two species in Britain.
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Catops is a genus of beetles of the family Catopidae. Twelve species occur in Britain, and twenty in Europe. They range from 2.5 to 6.5 mm long and live on carrion, on decayed fungi, in mammals' burrows and in the entrances to caves.
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The cattalo is a cross breed of a male bison and a female domestic cow. The cattalo was first bred in Canada at the start of the 20th century to combine the size and meat of the wild bison with the obedience and domestic nature of domesticated cattle.
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The term cattle applies to all members of the ox genus.
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Cattleya is a genus of orchids native to Central and South America. They have handsome flowers and leathery or fleshy leaves. They vary in height from a few centimetres to one meter.
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In botany, caudex refers to the scaly trunk of palms and tree-ferns and the thickened persistent stem base of some herbaceous perennial plants.
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The cauliflower is a vegetable of the family Cruciferae.
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Causinae is the 'Night Adders' sub-family of reptiles of the family Viperidae, sub-order Serpentes (Snakes). The sub-family comprises a single genus.
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The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an American breed of companion dog produced during the 1920s distinguished from the King Charles Spaniel by the flattened rather than domed appearance of its skull between the eyes and its longer, less compact nose. It is a highly affectionate and sometimes nervous breed of dog making a good companion.
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The Cavicornia (or Cavicorns) are a family of ruminates characterised by persistent horns, (thus differing from the deer) consisting of a bony core and a horny sheaf covering the bone. They comprise the antelopes, goat and ox.
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The cavy are small rodents found in south America.
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Cayman or Caiman is the name given to several species of tropical American alligators, differing from typical alligators in certain minor details of structure. They are most numerous on the banks of the Amazon where they are known as jacare or yacare.
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The Cayuga is a breed of duck.
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The Cebidae are a family of monkeys confined to South America. They include the vapuchin, howling monkey and spider monkey amongst others.
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Cecidomyia is the genus of insects to which the Hessian-fly belongs.
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Cecropia is a genus of soft-wooded evergreen trees, all natives of tropical regions. They are known as snakewood, and belong to the family Urticaceae.
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The cedar is an ornamental evergreen tree native of Africa and India.
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Cedar-bird or Cedar Waxwing is a name given to the American wax-wing (Bombycilla cedorum) on account of its fondness for the berries of the red cedar. It is a songless bird of the order Passeriformes, common to North America. It is gregarious in habit, swift in flight, and has a voracious appetite, feeding on berries, fruit, and insects. It is related to the common waxwing.
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Cedrela is a genus of large timber trees.
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