Simple Online Photographic Dictionary

Scientific name: acanthus mollis

Acanthus, or bear's breeches, is an attractive, hardy ornamental perennial plant that grows to around a metre high. It has big, glossy dark green leaves and a tall flower spike. It often dies down during the drier months. It is extremely hardy and will tolerate heavy frost and heavy drought. It has thick roots, and if you try and dig the plant up it will regrow from any broken roots that are left behind. This makes it very easy to grow new plants from root cuttings or by breaking up a clump.

Photo by Antmoose

Scientific name: agapanthus africanus

The agapanthus, or Lily of the Nile, is a plant originally from Africa. It is very hardy, and has bundles of blue or white flowers on the end of stalks. They can withstand both frost and drought, but are much happier in warmer weather with more regular watering.

Photo by Macinate

Algae are a large group of very primitive plants. Algae usually grow in the water, and the algae most people are familiar with is the green slime that grows on the inside of fish tanks.

Algae can range in size from that familiar green slime right through to what is commonly called seaweed. Most algae grows in the water, but it can also be found on land too.

Some algae grow with other organisms. Lichen is algae and fungi growing together. Some corals and sea sponges have algae growing inside them to provide them with oxygen and sugars.

Photo bt Qorize

Scientific name: aloe vera

Aloe vera is a type of succulent plant, suited to arid regions. The plant is supposed to have many medicinal properties, and you often see aloe vera added to tissues - the aloe are supposed to stop your nose getting red if you have a cold and blow your nose a lot. Aloe vera is meant to be very good for your skin, and it helps burns heal faster.

Photo by Emdot

Amaranths are a large group of plants that include some fast-growing weeds. Some varieties of amaranth, particularly the grain amaranth, grow a large crop of highly-nutritious seeds, and are sometimes referred to as the 'crop of the future'.

Some species of amaranth have edible leaves and can be cooked or eaten raw as a salad vegetable.

Photo by Daviza

Scientific name: pimpinella anisum

Anise or aniseed is a small plant related to fennel and celery. It is grown for its seeds, which have a similar taste to liquorice. It is a different plant to star anise.

Photo by Michale

Scientific name: malus domestica

The apple is the fruit of the apple tree. Apple trees are small deciduous trees growing to around 5-12 metres high. Apples may be red, yellow or green. You can eat all of the apple except the core in the middle, which is full of seeds.

Photo by timlewisnm

Scientific name: prunus armeniaca

The apricot is a small, soft, sweet orange fruit closely related to the plum. You can eat the fruit fresh or dried, and apricots can also be made into jam.

Photo by Kkimpel

Scientific name: cynara cardunculus

Globe artichokes are a type of thistle. The edible part of the artichoke is the young flowerbud. Artichokes are usually boiled in salted water until they are tender. In some countries they are deep fried.

Photo by Pizzodisevo

Scientific name: asparagus officinalis

The asparagus spears that you buy in the shops are the new shoots of a type of plant. They are eaten as a vegetable, and can be cooked in a variety of ways. They are usually eaten alone as a side dish rather than mixed into something else like a stew.

Photo by Bensonkua