JUST 10 PERCENT OF THE WORLD’S PLANT-RICH AREAS ARE PROTECTED.
Of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, only 10 percent are officially “protected” to ensure the survival of a multitude of species,
Convention on Biological Diversity.
FOURTO GALERA/PRINCESA
Division : Spermatophyta
Division : Tracheophyta
Petroselium crispum, or commonly known as garden parsley, is a biennial herb up to 80 cm long, hairless, with thin stems and triangular outline leaves two to three times pinnate, the upper leaves have entire leaflets and the basal ones serrated or toothed. The flowers grouped in umbels of 8-20 radios are yellowish green. It grows best in zones 2-11. This leafy herb thrives in full to partial sun and may grow in a clump up to 12 inches tall and wide. Parsley grows best in rich, well-drained soil, and dry soil should be avoided. Garden parsley is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae that is native to the central and eastern Mediterranean region (Sardinia, Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, southern Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Malta, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia), but has been naturalized elsewhere in Europe, and is widely cultivated as an herb, and a vegetable. Parsley is an herb. The leaf, seed, and root are used to make medicine. Some people take parsley by mouth for bladder infections (UTIs), kidney stones (nephrolithiasis), gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, constipation, diabetes, cough, asthma, and high blood pressure.
Epipremnum aureum, commonly called devil’s ivy, is native to the Solomon Islands. It is a climbing vine that produces abundant yellow-marbled foliage. Its native habitat climbs tree trunks by aerial rootlets and tumbles along the ground as a ground cover, reaching up to 40’ or more in length. Young plants feature bright, waxy, heart-shaped green leaves (to 4” long) variegated with yellow or white. It has been found that each part of this plant possesses antibacterial, anti-termite, and antioxidant properties. Apart from these, it can also turn out to be anti-malarial, anti-cancerous, anti-tuberculosis, anti-arthritis and wound healing, etc., which are severe international problems.
Dypsis lutescens is endemic to Madagascar, mainly in the north-east coastal region between Mahanoro and Antalaha, but it has also been recorded in Daraina and Farafangana. It has been widely introduced as an ornamental palm worldwide (Dransfield et al., 2008). The wide naturalized range of this species is in contrast to its native distribution range in Madagascar, where it is restricted to a specific habitat: white sand forest in a narrow strip close to the sea. The stems are topped with pinnate, upward-curving, light green leaves with yellow midribs (up to 3-6' long). Per side, each leaf contains 40-60 1/2 to 3/4" lance-shaped leaflets. Because of its yellow stems, this palm is also known as the golden cane palm (Ribeiro & Silva, 2011). D. lutescens is one of the world's most commonly cultivated palms (Dransfield et al., 2008). It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, yards, and parks in tropical and subtropical regions, and elsewhere indoors as a houseplant.
Norfolk Island pine, Araucaria heterophylla, is evergreen timber and ornamental conifer of the family Araucariaceae, native to Norfolk Island, situated in the South Pacific Ocean between New Caledonia and New Zealand. Crown narrowly conical, with branchlets in symmetrical whorls of 4-7. Form in a reasonably upright position, perhaps with a little tilt. Green leaves; Young leaves are smaller and wedge-shaped. Mature leaves are bigger, incurved, scale-like, and spiral tightly around twigs, thus the species name heterophylla (Thomas, 2011). According to National Register of Big Tree (2021), it is little evergreen indoor plant with saber-like leaves that bend inward in an overlapping herringbone pattern on tiered branches. Indoors, it enjoys a sunny, cool area (55-65 degrees F) and can grow to be 9 feet tall. Use a potting soil that is rich, permeable, sandy, peaty, somewhat acidic, and well-drained. Full sun is usually desirable for establishing compact symmetrical growth, although little afternoon shade may be required to minimize leaf bleaching (yellow tints). A. heterophylla has been traditionally used for medicine in toothache (Bussman, 2008).
Rauvolfia serpentina is an evergreen shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a medium rate. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. Montane forests at elevations of 800 - 1,500 meters in China. Shady places in moist forests]. Sunny or shaded places in well-drained rain forest and secondary thickets up to 2,100 metres, sometimes as a weed in sugar cane fields. A tropical and subtropical plant that can be found in parts of East Asia and Indian subcontinent, R. serpentina or commonly known as Rauwolfia, Indian Snakeroot, Devil Pepper, or Snakeroot is an evergreen shrub reaching a height of up to 1 m. One of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, the roots of this plant are used in the treatment of hypertension, schizophrenia, painful affections of the bowels, and to increase uterine contractions when giving birth. Leaf juice are used for wounds while bark, leaves, and roots are used against snake and scorpion poisoning. The wood known as serpent wood is used for woodcarving.
Raulvolfia serpentina, or often called as makabuhay, is a climbing, dioecious vine reaching a height of 4 to 10 meters. Stems are up to 1 centimeter thick and somewhat fleshy, with scattered protuberances. Leaves are thin, ovate, 6 to 12 centimeters long, and 7 to 12 centimeters wide, with pointed and truncate or somewhat heart-shaped based, smooth and shining. Petioles are 3.5 to 6 centimeters long. Racemes are solitary or in pairs arising from axils of fallen leaves, pale green, slender, 10 to 20 centimeters long. Flowers are pale green and short pedicelled. Fruit is 8 millimeters long, in long clusters. This species was distributed in and nearby towns in thickets, in most or all islands of the Philippines. Being studied for it possible stimulant effect on the immune system. Anecdotal benefits for a variety of HIV-related complaints. Classified in Ayurvedic medicine as a rasayana herb, meaning circulation of the nutrient in Sanskrit, considered to enhance longevity, promote intelligence and prevent disease.
REFERENCES