Mastic: the resin of the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus) Mastic Mastic is a natural resin from Pistacia lentiscus used as a flavoring, chewing gum, traditional remedy and industrial ingredient; closely associated with the Greek island of Chios…
McIntosh (apple) McIntosh is a classic North American apple cultivar, noted for its red-and-green skin, tender white flesh, aromatic tart-sweet flavor, and influence on many modern apple varieties.
Meconopsis gakyidiana — Bhutanese blue poppy Meconopsis gakyidiana A recently described blue poppy from Bhutan, Meconopsis gakyidiana is part of the Himalayan Meconopsis group; notable for its vivid blue flowers, high‑altitude habitat, and close r…
Medlar (Mespilus germanica): description, history and uses Medlar The medlar is a small deciduous tree and its fruit, once common in Roman and medieval orchards. Known for its browned, softened fruit (bletting), it is used historically for preser…
Medullary ray Medullary rays are radial sheets of living cells in stems and roots that transport and store nutrients, contribute to defense, and create distinctive figures in timber such as oak…
Melaleuca leucadendra — the weeping paperbark (cajuput tree) Melaleuca leucadendra A medium-to-large Australian tree in the myrtle family, known for its papery pale bark, pendulous foliage, fragrant leaves used for cajuput oil, and its role in coastal and wetland…
Melastomataceae — the melastome family of flowering plants Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a large tropical family of flowering plants (about 200 genera, 4,000 species) notable for distinctive leaf venation, poricidal anthers, and many ornamental and e…
Meliaceae — the mahogany family of flowering plants Meliaceae Meliaceae is a pantropical family of trees and shrubs (about 50 genera, 550 species) including mahoganies and neem; valued for timber, medicine, and distinctive limonoid chemistry.
Melissa (given name) Melissa Melissa — a female given name of Greek origin meaning 'honey bee', associated with lemon balm and classical myth; popular in the late 20th century and borne by several notable publ…
Melon: types, botany, cultivation and culinary uses Melon Melons are fleshy fruits of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), grown in many varieties for fresh eating, cooking and preservation. Overview of types, botany, history, uses and stora…
Mentha (mint): overview, characteristics, uses and cultivation Mentha Mentha, or mint, is a group of aromatic flowering plants in the Lamiaceae family. Widely cultivated and hybridized, mints are used in cooking, medicine, fragrance and industry; man…
Mentha arvensis — field mint, wild mint, corn mint Mentha arvensis Mentha arvensis is a widespread perennial mint with aromatic leaves used for flavoring and menthol production; it has a circumboreal range and distinct morphological and chemical v…
Meristem (plant growth tissue) Meristem Meristems are regions of undifferentiated, actively dividing plant cells that generate new tissues and organs. They drive primary and secondary growth and are essential in developm…
Messmate — the rough‑barked eucalypts Messmate Messmate is a common name applied to several rough‑barked Eucalyptus trees, notably Eucalyptus obliqua; used for timber, habitat and forestry in southeastern Australia. Name origin…
Mesua ferrea (Ceylon ironwood): description, habitat, uses, and cultivation Mesua ferrea Mesua ferrea, commonly called Ceylon ironwood or Indian rose chestnut, is a slow-growing tropical tree valued for heavy timber, fragrant white flowers, and ornamental and tradition…
Milkweed (Asclepias): Biology, Ecology, and Human Connections Milkweed Overview of milkweeds (Asclepias): their biology, unusual pollination, chemical defenses, role for pollinators and monarchs, cultivation, and conservation considerations.
Mimosa (plant genus) Mimosa Mimosa is a genus of about 400 species of herbs and shrubs in the legume family Fabaceae, known for sensitive leaves, puffball flowers, and uses in ornament, medicine, and traditio…
Mimosa pudica — the sensitive plant: description, behavior, and uses Mimosa pudica Mimosa pudica, the sensitive or touch‑me‑not plant, is a creeping legume known for rapid leaf folding when disturbed; native to the Americas and now pantropical, it is grown orname…
Mimosoideae (mimosoids): the mimosa subfamily of legumes Mimosoideae Mimosoideae (mimosoids) are a group of leguminous plants notable for clustered flowers with many stamens. They include Acacia, Mimosa and Albizia and are important ecologically and…
Mint: the herb, its flavor, minting, and idioms Mint Mint commonly denotes aromatic Mentha herbs and their cool flavor, a place that produces coinage, and related idioms such as “mint condition.” Overview of botany, uses, cultivation…
Mistletoe: biology, ecology, cultural role, and human uses Mistletoe Overview of mistletoe—semi‑parasitic plants of Santalales—covering appearance, life cycle, ecology, cultural traditions, uses, toxicity, and management.
Monocotyledon (Monocots): Traits, Evolution, and Importance Monocotyledon Monocotyledons (monocots) are a major clade of flowering plants defined by a single seed leaf. This article explains their features, evolution, ecological and economic roles, and h…
Monstera: tropical climbing plants and popular houseplants Monstera Monstera is a genus of about 60 tropical flowering plants in the Araceae family, known for climbing habit, fenestrated leaves and some edible fruit. Widely grown as ornamental hous…
Monstera deliciosa — tropical climbing plant with split leaves and edible fruit Monstera deliciosa Monstera deliciosa is a tropical hemiepiphytic vine known for large fenestrated leaves and a fragrant edible fruit; widely grown as a houseplant and naturalized in warm regions.
Moraceae: the mulberry and fig family Moraceae Moraceae is a family of flowering plants (about 40 genera, >1000 species) including figs, mulberries and breadfruit. Tropical and temperate trees, shrubs and vines with characteris…
Morina — genus of perennial flowering plants Morina Morina is a small genus of herbaceous perennials traditionally placed in Dipsacaceae, valued for distinctive flower heads and grown mainly as ornamentals in temperate gardens.
Morning glory (Convolvulaceae) — common flowering vines Morning glory Morning glory is the common name for many twining, funnel-flowered plants in the Convolvulaceae family, grown as ornamentals, sometimes invasive, and including species like bindwee…
Moss: non-vascular bryophytes, life cycle, habitats and ecological importance Moss Concise encyclopedia entry on mosses: non-vascular bryophytes that absorb water, reproduce by spores, shape soils and peatlands, and serve ecological and horticultural roles.
Mulberry (Morus): trees, fruit, cultivation, and uses Mulberry Mulberry (Morus) are deciduous trees native to Asia, Africa and the Americas, grown for edible clustered fruit and for leaves used in silkworm culture; overview of species, history…
Multiple fruit (botany) Multiple fruit A multiple fruit develops from the fused fruits of an entire inflorescence: formation, differences from aggregate fruits, common examples (pineapple, fig, mulberry), and uses.
Musaceae — the banana family: overview, traits, uses Musaceae Musaceae is a small family of large, herbaceous tropical plants including bananas and plantains; notable for their pseudostems, edible fruits, and importance in agriculture and cul…
Mushroom: the fungal fruiting body — types, uses and safety Mushroom An overview of mushrooms: what they are, their structure and life cycle, culinary and medicinal roles, cultural history, and guidelines for safe foraging and consumption.
Mustard plant (Brassica and Sinapis species) Mustard plant Overview of mustard plants: their biology, main species and distribution, culinary and industrial uses, cultivation, and notable distinctions and facts.
Myristicaceae — the nutmeg family of tropical flowering trees Myristicaceae Myristicaceae is a pantropical family of aromatic trees and shrubs best known for nutmeg. Members produce single-seeded fruits with distinctive arils and have economic, ecological…
Myrtaceae: the myrtle family of woody, oil‑bearing flowering plants Myrtaceae Myrtaceae is a family of mostly woody, evergreen flowering plants (dicotyledons) noted for oil glands, showy stamens and economic species such as eucalyptus, clove and guava.
Myrtales: an order of flowering plants Myrtales Myrtales is an order of flowering plants within the eudicots, including familiar trees, shrubs and herbs such as eucalyptus, guava and evening primrose. The group is ecologically a…
Myrtillocactus: Overview of the small genus of columnar cacti Myrtillocactus Myrtillocactus is a small genus of columnar, fruit-bearing cacti native to Mexico and Guatemala, valued for ornamental use, edible berries and as grafting stock. This article cover…
Narcissus (genus) — daffodils and their biology Narcissus (genus) Narcissus is a genus of bulbous, mostly spring-flowering plants in the Amaryllidaceae family, commonly called daffodils. Native to Europe, North Africa and Asia, they are grown for…
National Botanic Garden of Israel (Mount Scopus) National Botanic Garden of Israel A botanical and archaeological garden on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, devoted to the native plants of Israel, with living collections, research ties to the Hebrew University and Seco…
Nectar (botany): composition, roles, and ecological importance Nectar Nectar is a sugar-rich plant secretion, produced by nectaries to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. This article explains its composition, types, ecological roles, and eco…
Neem (Azadirachta indica): description, distribution, uses, and cultivation Neem Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a fast-growing tropical tree in the Meliaceae family, native to South and Southeast Asia and widely used for medicine, biopesticides, timber and shade.
Nelumbo (lotus): biology, species, uses and cultural significance Nelumbo Nelumbo, the lotus genus, comprises aquatic perennial plants (sacred and American lotus) noted for large flowers, distinctive leaves, edible rhizomes and seeds, cultural symbolism,…
Nematophytes: fossil assemblages of early land organisms Nematophyte Nematophytes are a paraphyletic collection of fossil organisms from the Silurian–early Devonian, known for tubes and cuticle-like remains and debated affinities to plants, algae or…
Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plants): biology, distribution, and significance Nepenthes Nepenthes are tropical carnivorous vines known as pitcher plants or monkey cups. This article outlines their form, feeding strategy, range, cultivation, history and conservation is…
Nepeta: catmints and catnips — overview, characteristics, and uses Nepeta Nepeta is a genus of aromatic flowering plants in the mint family, known for ornamental use, pollinator value and the cat-attracting compound in some species (catnip).
Nevada Solar One — parabolic trough concentrating solar power plant Nevada Solar One Nevada Solar One is a 64 MW concentrating solar power plant near Boulder City, Nevada, using parabolic trough collectors and thermal storage features to produce utility-scale solar…
Nicotiana: the tobacco genus — biology, uses, and notable species Nicotiana Nicotiana is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family that includes tobacco used for commercial products, ornamental flowering tobaccos, and species important in resear…
Nigella sativa (black cumin): description, uses, and cultivation Nigella sativa Nigella sativa, commonly called black cumin or kalonji, is an annual flowering plant valued for its aromatic seeds used as a spice and in traditional medicine across South and Sout…
