Plants

Filipendula: meadow-sweet perennials of the rose family Filipendula Filipendula is a small genus of about a dozen perennial flowering plants in the rose family, known for sweet-scented corymbs of small flowers, moist-habitat preference, and uses in…

Fir (Abies): description, ecology, uses and distinctions Fir Fir (genus Abies) are evergreen coniferous trees of the pine family, with upright cones and needle-like leaves. This article covers their traits, distribution, uses, and how they d…

Flax (Linum usitatissimum): botany, uses, and history Flax Flax is a versatile plant grown for its fibrous stems and oil-rich seeds. This article explains its botany, processing, traditional and modern uses, and cultural significance.

Flora — plant life of places, periods, and botanical reference works Flora Flora: the plants of a place or time and the works that describe them. Overview of definitions, types of floras, publications, uses in ecology and conservation, historical backgrou…

Flower (Angiosperm Reproductive Structure) Flower A flower is the reproductive structure of angiosperms. This article explains form, parts, pollination, life cycle, uses, and cultural significance of flowers in nature and human li…

Flower pot A flower pot is a portable container used to grow and display flowers and other plants, available in many materials and designs with features for drainage, insulation, and decor.

Flowering plant (Angiosperm): overview, structure, evolution and importance Flowering plant Angiosperms or flowering plants are a diverse group of seed plants distinguished by flowers and fruit. This article covers their structure, reproduction, evolution, ecological role…

Flowering plant sexuality: sexual systems and reproductive strategies Flowering plant sexuality An overview of how flowering plants organize male and female functions: terms (bisexual, staminate, pistillate), sexual systems (monoecious, dioecious, gynodioecious), mechanisms a…

Forget-me-not (Myosotis) Forget-me-not Forget-me-nots (Myosotis) are small, often blue flowering plants in the borage family, known for delicate clusters of blooms and a long history as a symbol of remembrance and true…

Fragaria: the genus of strawberries Fragaria Fragaria is the botanical genus that contains strawberries—perennial plants in the rose family valued for their fragrant, red accessory fruits, wild relatives, cultivation, and rol…

Frangipani (Plumeria): botany, cultivation, and cultural uses Frangipani Frangipani (Plumeria) is a small genus of tropical flowering trees and shrubs known for fragrant, waxy flowers. Native to the Americas, it is widely cultivated for ornament, leis,…

Frankincense (olibanum): aromatic resin from Boswellia trees Frankincense Frankincense, also called olibanum, is an aromatic resin from Boswellia trees used in incense, perfumery, religious rites, and traditional medicine; valued since antiquity for frag…

Fruit (botanical and culinary perspectives) Fruit Overview of fruits: botanical definition, structure, types, evolution, uses, and distinctions between botanical and culinary meanings.

Fruit tree A fruit tree is a woody plant cultivated for edible fruit. Article covers definition, structure, types, history, cultivation and distinctions between botanical and culinary uses.

Fuchsia (plant genus) Fuchsia Fuchsia is a genus of about 110 species in the evening-primrose family (Onagraceae), prized for its pendulous, brightly coloured flowers and widely grown as an ornamental worldwide…

Gaillardia (blanket flower) — overview, cultivation, and significance Gaillardia Gaillardia, called blanket flower, is a North American genus in the Asteraceae prized for brightly colored daisy-like blooms, heat and drought tolerance, pollinator value, and easy…

Gaillardia pulchella (Indian blanket) Gaillardia pulchella Gaillardia pulchella, the Indian blanket, is a short-lived annual or short-lived perennial native to central North America, valued for bi-colored red-and-yellow flower heads, droug…

Galegeae: a tribe of papilionoid legumes in the subfamily Faboideae Galegeae Galegeae is a tribe of the legume subfamily Faboideae centered on the genus Galega. Members are papilionoid legumes found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere and valued for forage an…

Galia melon — Israeli hybrid with green flesh, netted rind, and aromatic sweetness Galia melon Galia melon, an Israeli hybrid released in 1973, combines netted rind and pale green, aromatic sweet flesh. Small to medium, easy to grow in warm climates and prized for flavor and…

Gall (abnormal plant growths induced by insects, microbes and mites) Gall A gall is an abnormal growth on plants or other organisms produced in response to parasites such as insects, mites, fungi, bacteria and nematodes; galls serve as habitat and food f…

Garden A garden is a managed outdoor area for cultivating plants—ornamental, edible, or scientific—shaped by design, maintenance, and local culture.

Garden angelica (Angelica archangelica) — overview, uses, and identification Garden angelica Garden angelica is a tall biennial herb of the carrot family used as a vegetable, flavoring and traditional remedy. This article covers its appearance, habitat, cultivation, culina…

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum): a fast‑growing peppery salad herb Garden cress Garden cress is a quick‑growing, peppery annual herb used fresh as salad leaves, microgreens or garnish. This entry covers appearance, cultivation, culinary uses, storage and disti…

Gardenia: overview, characteristics, cultivation, history and uses Gardenia Gardenia is a genus of about 250 evergreen shrubs and small trees valued for glossy foliage and fragrant white flowers; widely grown as ornamentals and used in perfumery and tradit…

Gardening: Cultivating Plants, Practices, and Benefits Gardening An accessible overview of gardening: types, essentials, history, common techniques and why people garden — from ornamental beds to food production and urban green spaces.

Gaultheria — wintergreen shrubs of the heath family Gaultheria Gaultheria is a genus of about 135 species of evergreen shrubs in the family Ericaceae, known as wintergreens. Species are used ornamentally, ecologically, and for flavoring/medici…

Gentianaceae — the gentian family of flowering plants Gentianaceae Gentianaceae is a cosmopolitan family of about 80–90 genera and roughly 1,500 species of herbs, shrubs and occasional trees, notable for bitter compounds, showy tubular flowers and…

Gentianales — an order of flowering plants Gentianales Gentianales is an order of mostly tropical and temperate flowering plants that includes coffee, gardenias and frangipani; notable for diverse chemistry, ornamental and economic use…

Geoffroea decorticans (chañar): a drought‑tolerant South American tree Geoffroea decorticans Geoffroea decorticans, commonly called chañar, is a small deciduous tree of the pea family from arid southern South America, known for its peeling bark, sweet edible pods and tradi…

Geraniales Small order of rosid flowering plants dominated by the Geraniaceae (geranium family). Mostly herbaceous; notable for beaked schizocarp fruits and important ornamental and aromatic…

Germination: how seeds and spores begin active growth Germination Germination is the process by which a seed or spore resumes growth and produces a new plant body. This article covers mechanisms, requirements, stages, differences between seeds an…

Gesneriaceae: the African violet family of flowering plants Gesneriaceae A family of mostly tropical and subtropical flowering plants (about 147 genera, 3,200 species) notable for ornamentals such as African violets and gloxinias; overview, traits, taxo…

Ginger (Zingiber officinale): plant, spice and traditional remedy Ginger Ginger is a perennial flowering plant whose aromatic rhizome is a global culinary spice and traditional remedy. This article summarizes its botany, history, uses, chemistry, cultiv…

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba): the living fossil tree Ginkgo Ginkgo is a distinctive genus represented today by a single species, Ginkgo biloba, known for fan-shaped leaves, ancient origins, cultural uses, and resilience as a widely planted…

Ginseng (Panax): overview, species, uses and conservation Ginseng Ginseng (genus Panax) is a group of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots prized in traditional medicine. This article summarizes species, appearance, uses, cultivation a…

Gladiolus — the sword-lily genus of ornamental flowering plants Gladiolus Gladiolus is a genus of cormous flowering plants in the iris family, prized for tall flower spikes and wide colour range. Widely grown as ornamentals and cut flowers, with many spe…

Glaucophytes: primitive freshwater algae and early plastid-bearing lineage Glaucophyte Glaucophytes are a small group of freshwater microscopic algae whose plastids retain a peptidoglycan wall. They form one branch of the Archaeplastida and are important for studying…

Glossopteris: an extinct genus of Permian seed ferns Glossopteris Glossopteris was a widespread genus of extinct seed ferns that dominated Permian coal forests across Gondwana and provided key evidence for continental drift and late Paleozoic cli…

Glycyrrhiza: the licorice genus — species, chemistry, uses and cautions Glycyrrhiza Glycyrrhiza is a small genus of leguminous plants best known for licorice. This article summarizes its botany, notable species, uses in food and medicine, chemistry, cultivation an…

Glyphosate Glyphosate is a widely used, non‑selective systemic herbicide employed to control weeds and grasses. It is central to modern agriculture and subject to extensive regulatory review…

Gnetophyta: overview, genera, morphology, history, and uses Gnetophyta Gnetophyta is a small group of distinctive seed plants comprising Gnetum, Welwitschia and Ephedra. They are gymnosperms with unusual features, a complex evolutionary history, and v…

Gnetum: tropical gnetophytes — appearance, history, uses and conservation Gnetum Gnetum is the sole genus of the family Gnetaceae: tropical gymnosperms with broad leaves, mostly woody vines or trees, an extensive fossil record, regional uses for food and medici…

Goldenrod (Solidago): description, ecology, uses and misconceptions Goldenrod Goldenrod is a group of roughly 150 species of flowering plants in the genus Solidago. This article covers their appearance, ecology, uses, allergic issues, and cultural importance…

Golpar (Heracleum persicum) — Persian hogweed and its uses Golpar Golpar (Heracleum persicum), commonly called Persian hogweed, is an Apiaceae plant used as a culinary spice and traditional remedy; native to mountainous regions of Iran and the Ca…

Gossypium sturtianum (Sturt's Desert Rose) Gossypium sturtianum Gossypium sturtianum, or Sturt's Desert Rose, is a drought‑tolerant Australian shrub with hibiscus‑like flowers. It is the floral emblem of the Northern Territory and has horticult…

Gourd Gourds are fruits of several species in the cucurbit family, grown worldwide for food, containers, instruments, and decoration; they include edible bottle gourds and hard‑shelled o…

Grafting (plant propagation technique) Grafting Grafting is a horticultural method that joins tissues of two plants so they grow as one, used to propagate clones, combine desirable traits, and repair or modify woody plants.

Grapefruit: description, varieties, cultivation, uses and health considerations Grapefruit An overview of grapefruit (Citrus × paradisi): its origins, botanical traits, common varieties, cultivation and commercial use, culinary roles, nutrition, and important drug intera…