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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Pokok Mambu ( Azadirachta indica )




 Azadirachta indica (Mambu) is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. They have two species in the genus Azadirachta, growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Mambu is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 m (about 50–65 feet), rarely to 35–40 m (115–131 feet). It is evergreen, but in severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide spread. The fairly dense crown is roundish or oval and may reach the diameter of 15–20 m in old, free-standing specimens.

Habitat

The Mambu tree is noted for its drought resistance. Normally it thrives in areas with sub-arid to sub-humid conditions, with an annual rainfall between 400 and 1200 mm. It can grow in regions with an annual rainfall below 400 mm, but in such cases it depends largely on ground water levels. Mambu can grow in many different types of soil, but it thrives best on well drained deep and sandy soils. It is a typical tropical to subtropical tree and exists at annual mean temperatures between 21-32 °C. It can tolerate high to very high temperatures and does not tolerate temperature below 4 °C . Mambu is a life-giving tree, especially for the dry coastal, southern districts of India. It is one of the very few shade-giving trees that thrive in the drought-prone areas. The trees are not at all delicate about the water quality and thrive on the merest trickle of water, whatever the quality. In India it is very common to see Mambu trees used for shade lining the streets or in most people's back yards. In very dry areas the trees are planted in large tracts of land.


Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Skyflower ( Duranta erecta )

Duranta erecta is a species of flowering shrub in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to Central and South America and the Caribbean. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical gardens throughout the world, and has become naturalized in many places. It is considered an invasive species in Australia, China, South Africa and on several Pacific Islands. Common names include Golden Dewdrop, Pigeon Berry, Skyflower and Aussie Gold.

Habitat

In its natural state, it commonly grows in rocky or sandy coastal areas with full sun, or moister, disturbed sites inland. Prior to maturity, the plant will grow at a rate of half a meter per year.

Kulat kaki seribu ( Trigoniulus corallines )

Kulat Kaki seribu ( Trigoniulus corallines ) is a species of millipede native to the area around Thailand and Myanmar. It is also found in North America, as an introduced species.
HABITAT: Millipedes have caused some problems  in the summer and fall. Areas around houses that provide these conditions include piles of grass clippings, a wooded lot close to the house, excessive mulch around the house, and similar locations. Protected moist areas, under logs and stones, and in greenhouses. 

LIFE CYCLE: They lay eggs in the spring and populations build up during the summer. Under good conditions (adequate food and habitat), populations can become very large. Then changes in the habitat (excessive moisture, lack of food, too little moisture) cause the population to disperse.

Semut hitam or little black ant

Belonging to the Monomorium minimum family. A very small, black ant closely related to the Pharaoh ant (an indoor pest ant). It nests in soil under rocks, logs or debris. It also builds nests in open areas of soil in lawns. The nests in the ground are small craters of very fine soil. These ants' colonies also are found under the bark of trees, in debris trapped in the crotches of trees, in wood damaged by termites, in firewood piles and in stacks of bricks and stones. Little black ants feed on a wide variety of foods, including live and dead insects and the honeydew produced by aphids. The ants are active foragers and forage in trails of a few or up to hundreds of workers. These trails can be located along sidewalks and foundations and up the sides of buildings.

Lifecycle
Ants grow up in just a few days. Each ant goes through four distinctive growing stages: egg, larva, pupa, and the adult. Ants live a very busy, but short life compared to humans. The average life expectancy of an ant is 45-60 days. However, they reproduce so quickly that the overall colony just gets larger with time.

Habitat
The Little Black ant is versatile, nesting both indoors and outdoors. The ants prefer decayed woods but will build nests in any woodwork voids or cracks in cement. Outdoor colonies are found under stones/rocks, in rotting logs, in lawns, or in open areas. Nests can be located by the small craters of fine soil, which are deposited at their entrances.

Oak Leaf Fern ( Drynaria quercifolia )

Scientific name of this fern is Drynaria quercifolia
An epiphytic fern, often misunderstood as a parasite. Brown large
scale-like leaves protect the stems & roots & help in conserving water.
Humidity loving plant
The way of propagation is stem cuttings and Its Perennial Longevity

Habitat 

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 802 meters ( 0 to 2,631 feet )


Rabbit's Foot Fern ( Davallia denticulata )

Rabbit’s foot fern ( Davallia denticulata ) The plants have furry rhizomes. The fronds are triangular in shape and about 1½ feet long by 1 foot wide. They divide into three to four pinnae which subdivide into many pinnules. Davallia  tolerate low levels of humidity.
This native fern to Australia, India and Malaysia is often found growing in rocks and sandy soil. It is semi-deciduous in the winter and will grow to 90cm.

P o k o k P i n a n g ( Areca catechu )

Pokok Pinang ( Areca catechu )  grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. The palm is believed to have originated in either Malaysia or the Philippines.  Areca is derived from a local name from the Malabar coast of India and catechu is from another Malay name for this palm 'caccu.'
This palm is often erroneously called the betel tree because its fruit, the areca nut, is often chewed along with the betel leaf, a leaf from a vine of the Piperaceae family.
The Areca palm is also used as an interior landscaping species. It is often used in large indoor areas such as malls and hotels. It won't fruit or reach full size. Indoors it is a slow growing, low water, high light plant that is sensitive to spider mite and occasionally mealy bug. The areca nut is also popular for chewing throughout some Asian countries such as Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippine, Malaysia, and India and the Pacific notably Papua New Guinea where it is very popular. Chewing areca nut is quite popular among working classes in Taiwan. The nut itself can be addictive and has direct link to mouth cancers. Areca nut in Taiwan will usually contain artificial additives such as limestone powder.
The extract of Areca catechu has been shown to have antidepressant properties, but it may be addictive.

Siput or Snail

Siput or Snail is a common name for almost all members of the moll scan class Gastropods that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in a general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. Otherwise snail-like creatures that lack a shell (or have only a very small one) are called slugs.
Snails that respire using a lung belong to the group Pulmonata, while those with gills form a paraphyletic group; in other words, snails with gills are divided into a number of taxonomic groups that are not very closely related. Snails with lungs and with gills have diversified widely enough over geological time that a few species with gills can be found on land, numerous species with a lung can be found in freshwater, and a few species with a lung can be found in the sea.