Datiscin is a substance yielded by the bastardhemp, Datisca cannabina, a herbaceousdioeciousperennial, a native of the south of Europe, where it is used as a substitute for Peruvian bark, and for making cordage. Datiscin is extracted from the leaves, and is used as a yellow dye. Research Datiscin
The Acanthaceae are a family of dicotyledonous herbaceous plants or shrubs with opposite leaves and mono-petalous corolla. There are around 1400 species, mostly tropical. Research Acanthaceae
Agapanthia is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) represented by a single British species -
Agapanthia villosoviridescens, which ranges from ten to twenty-two millimetres in length, and develops in herbaceous plants, chiefly thistles. Research Agapanthia
Alfalfa or lucerne (Medicago sativa) is a prolific perennial tall herbaceous plant of the pea family Leguminosae. It is native to Eurasia and bears spikes of small purple flowers in late summer. It is now a major fodder crop, generally processed into hay, meal, or silage. Alfalfa sprouts, the sprouted seeds, have become a popular salad ingredient. Research Alfalfa
Alismacese is the water-plantain family, a natural order of endogenous plants, the members of which are herbaceous, annual or perennial; with petiolate leaves sheathing at the base, hermaphrodite (rarely unisexual) flowers, disposed in spikes, panicles, or racemes. They are floating or marsh plants, and many have edible fleshy rhizomes, They are found in all countries, but especially in Europe and North America, where their rather brilliant flowers adorn the pools and streams. The principal genera are Alisma (water-plaintain) and Sagittaria (arrow-head). Research Alismaceae
Altica is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) of the flea beetle group, though none of this genus are serious pests as their host plants are all wild herbaceous plants and bushes. They are comparatively large for flea beetles, about 3 mm long. Research Altica
Amorphophallus is a genus of herbaceous plants of the aroid family (Araceae) consisting of about 170 species - including the impressive Tian arum - found mainly in lowland secondary forests in the tropics from west Africa eastwards into Polynesia. Plants of the genus have a single leaf that emerges from an underground tuber. This leaf consists of a vertical petiole (stalk) and a horizontal leaf-blade that is dissected into few or numerous small leaflets. Plants of the genusflower rarely, some as infrequently as once every seven years, the flower emerging at night and dying within 24 hours. Most species give off a foul odour of decaying flesh, and attract flying insects that feed upon rotting flesh so as to effect pollination. As the female and male flowers are not receptive at the same time, the plants need to retain visiting insects over night, and achieve this by providing food in the form of protein-rich fleshy warts at the base of the spathe, or in special organs developed on the spadix. Research Amorphophallus
Arrowroot (Maranta arundinaceae) also known as Araruta, is a herbaceousperennial of the family Marantaceae, native to the West Indies and Central America. It has a creeping rhizome with upward-curving, fleshy, cylindrical tubers covered with large, thin scales that leave rings of scars. The flowering stem reaches a height of two metres and bears creamy flowers at the ends of the slender branches that terminate the long peduncles. They grow in pairs. The numerous, ovate, glabrous leaves are from five to 25 centimetres long with long sheaths often enveloping the stem. A starch is extracted from the rhizomes and used in cooking and in herbal medicine for treating scorpion and spiderstings. Research Arrowroot
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Datiscin
