Plants, CAL-CHL
Life on Earth owes much to plants. The vast majority of plants carry out photosynthesis to transform light energy into chemical energy, which is the way that virtually all energy in the biosphere becomes available to living things (including us humans). Plants occupy the base of Earth's food webs and are consumed directly or indirectly by all higher life-forms, thereby functioning as the major source of food for humans and other animals. Plants' photosynthetic activity also produces the air that we breathe: almost all the oxygen in the atmosphere is due to the process of photosynthesis. Still not convinced about the merits of plants? Consider the fact that many plants not only serve up crucial nutrients and breathable air but also look good doing it. Many plants are admired for their striking aesthetic qualities, and flowers such as tulips, lilies, sunflowers, and daisies beautify fields, gardens, windowsills, and bouquets the world over. Plants are also a primary source of consumer goods, such as building materials, textile fibers, and pharmaceuticals.
Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title
California poppy, (Eschscholzia californica), plant of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), native to the southwestern......
calla, either of two distinct kinds of plants of the arum family (Araceae). The genus Calla contains one species......
Callistemon, genus of shrubs and trees, of the family Myrtaceae, native to Australia. They have spikes of showy......
Calopogon, genus of five species of terrestrial orchids (family Orchidaceae), native to North America and the West......
Calyceraceae, family of small and economically unimportant dicotyledonous flowering plants containing six genera......
Camellia, genus of about 250 species of East Asian evergreen shrubs and trees belonging to the tea family (Theaceae),......
Rudolph Jacob Camerarius was a botanist who demonstrated the existence of sexes in plants. Professor of natural......
Campanulaceae, the bellflower family, containing 84 genera and about 2,400 species of mostly herbaceous (nonwoody)......
campion, (genus Silene), genus of about 900 species of herbaceous flowering plants of the pink, or carnation, family......
canary creeper, (species Tropaeolum peregrinum), annual climbing herb, of the family Tropaeolaceae, native to northwestern......
Alphonse Pyrame de Candolle was a Swiss botanist who introduced new methods of investigation and analysis to phytogeography,......
Augustin Pyrame de Candolle was a Swiss botanist who established scientific structural criteria for determining......
candytuft, (genus Iberis), genus of about 40 species of Eurasian plants of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Candytufts......
Canellales, order of flowering plants consisting of 2 families (Winteraceae and Canellaceae), 15 genera, and 136......
canistel, (Pouteria campechiana), small tree of the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae), grown for its edible fruits.......
canna, (genus Canna), genus of about 10 species of flowering plants, the only genus of the family Cannaceae (order......
Cannabaceae, the hemp family (order Rosales), containing about 11 genera and about 170 species of plants. Its members......
cannabis, (genus Cannabis), genus of medicinal, recreational, and fibre plants belonging to the family Cannabaceae.......
cannonball tree, (Couroupita guianensis), tall, soft-wooded tree, of the family Lecythidaceae, native to northeastern......
canoe cedar, common name usually applied to giant arborvitae (q.v.) but also used for a species of false cypress...
cantala, (Agave cantala), plant of the family Asparagaceae and its fibre, belonging to the leaf fibre group. Likely......
Cape gooseberry, (Physalis peruviana), species of ground cherry in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and its edible......
Cape tulip, any plant of the genus Haemanthus of the family Amaryllidaceae, consisting of about 50 species of ornamental......
caper, (genus Capparis), genus of some 250 species of low prickly trees, shrubs, or lianas (family Capparaceae).......
Caprifoliaceae, the honeysuckle family of the order Dipsacales, comprising about 42 genera and 890 species. The......
Capsicum annuum, flowering plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), widely cultivated for the hot or mild peppers......
caraway, the dried fruit, commonly called seed, of Carum carvi, a biennial herb of the parsley family (Apiaceae,......
cardinal flower, (Lobelia cardinalis), perennial flowering plant of the genus Lobelia (family Campanulaceae) native......
cardoon, (Cynara cardunculus), thistlelike perennial herb of the family Asteraceae, native to southern Europe and......
carnation, (Dianthus caryophyllus), herbaceous plant of the pink, or carnation, family (Caryophyllaceae), native......
carnivorous plant, any plant especially adapted for capturing and digesting insects and other animals by means......
carob, (Ceratonia siliqua), tree of the pea family (Fabaceae), grown for its edible pods. Carob is native to the......
carpel, One of the leaflike, seed-bearing structures that constitute the innermost whorl of a flower. One or more......
carpet grass, (Axonopus fissifolius), mat-forming perennial grass of the family Poaceae, native to sandy soils......
carpet moss, (genus Hypnum), genus of about 80 species of mosses (family Hypnaceae) that form dense green mats......
carrion flower, (genus Stapelia), genus of about 44 species of succulent plants of the milkweed family (Apocynaceae),......
carrot, (Daucus carota), herbaceous, generally biennial plant of the Apiaceae family that produces an edible taproot.......
Caryophyllaceae, the pink, or carnation, family of flowering plants (order Caryophyllales), comprising some 100......
Caryophyllales, pink or carnation order of dicotyledonous flowering plants. The order includes 37 families, which......
cashew, (Anacardium occidentale), evergreen shrub or tree of the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cultivated for its......
cassava, (Manihot esculenta), tuberous edible plant of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) from the American tropics.......
castor-oil plant, (Ricinus communis), large plant of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), grown commercially for......
Casuarinaceae, the beefwood family of dicotyledonous flowering plants, with two genera (Casuarina, 30 species;......
catalpa, (genus Catalpa), genus of eight species of trees (family Bignoniaceae) native to eastern Asia, eastern......
Cathaya, genus of evergreen coniferous trees of the family Pinaceae, containing two living species native to China......
catkin, elongated cluster of single-sex flowers bearing scaly bracts and usually lacking petals. Catkins may be......
catnip, (Nepeta cataria), herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae), noted for its aromatic leaves, which are particularly......
cattail, (genus Typha), genus of about 30 species of tall reedy marsh plants (family Typhaceae), found mainly in......
cattleya, (genus Cattleya), genus of about 45 species of orchids (family Orchidaceae), several of which are commercially......
cauliflower, (Brassica oleracea, variety botrytis), highly modified form of cabbage in the mustard family (Brassicaceae),......
cayenne pepper, (Capsicum annuum), small-fruited pepper in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), the source of a......
Ceanothus, genus of North American shrubs, of the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae), comprising about 55 species. The......
cecropia, (genus Cecropia), several species of tropical tree of the family Cecropiaceae common to the understory......
cedar, any of four species of ornamental and timber evergreen conifers of the genus Cedrus (family Pinaceae), three......
celandine, any of several distinct flowering plants of similar appearance, mostly members of the poppy family (Papaveraceae).......
Celastraceae, the staff-tree family, in the order Celastrales, comprising about 55 genera of woody vines, shrubs,......
Celastrales, small order of flowering plants that includes 3 families, some 100 genera, and about 1,350 species.......
celeriac, (subspecies Apium graveolens, variety rapaceum), type of celery (Apium graveolens, variety rapaceum)......
celery, (Apium graveolens), herbaceous plant of the parsley family (Apiaceae). Celery is usually eaten cooked as......
celery-top pine, (Phyllocladus aspleniifolius), slow-growing ornamental and timber conifer (family Podocarpaceae),......
Celosia, genus of about 45 species of herbaceous plants in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae), native to tropical......
Centaurea, genus of about 500 species of herbaceous plants of the composite family (Asteraceae). Most are native......
century plant, any of several species of Agave in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The name is commonly applied......
Ceratophyllales, hornwort order of flowering plants, consisting of a single family (Ceratophyllaceae) with one......
Ceratozamia, genus of about 18 species of cycads in the family Zamiaceae. The species are native to Mexico and......
cereus, (genus Cereus), genus of about 30 species of large columnar cacti (family Cactaceae) native to South America.......
Andrea Cesalpino was an Italian physician, philosopher, and botanist who sought a philosophical and theoretical......
Ceylon ironwood, (Mesua ferrea), tropical tree (family Calophyllaceae), cultivated in tropical climates for its......
chamomile, any of various daisylike plants of the aster family (Asteraceae). Chamomile tea, used as a tonic and......
chaparral, scrubland plant communities composed of broad-leaved evergreen shrubs, bushes, and small trees usually......
chard, (Beta vulgaris), one of the four cultivated forms of the plant Beta vulgaris of the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae),......
charlock, (Sinapis arvensis), early-flowering plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Charlock is native to......
Charrier coffee, (Coffea charrieriana), species of coffee plant (genus Coffea, family Rubiaceae) found in Central......
chaste tree, (Vitex agnus-castus), aromatic shrub of the mint family (Lamiaceae; formerly placed in Verbenaceae),......
chayote, (Sechium edule), perennial vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), cultivated for its edible fruits.......
cherimoya, (Annona cherimola), tree of the custard apple family (Annonaceae). It is native to frost-free higher......
cherry, any of various trees belonging to the genus Prunus (family Rosaceae) and their edible fruits. Commercial......
cherry laurel, either of two species of evergreen plants in the rose family, cultivated as ornamentals, particularly......
chervil, (Anthriscus cerefolium), annual herb of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). It is native to regions of......
chestnut, (genus Castanea), genus of seven species of deciduous treesin the beech family (Fagaceae), native to......
chestnut oak, any of several species of North American timber trees, with chestnutlike leaves, belonging to the......
chia, (Salvia hispanica), species of flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae), grown for its edible seeds.......
chickpea, (Cicer arietinum), annual plant of the pea family (Fabaceae), widely grown for its nutritious seeds.......
chickweed, either of two species of small-leaved plants of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae). Both species of chickweed......
chicory, (Cichorium intybus), blue-flowered perennial plant of the family Asteraceae. Native to Europe and introduced......
Chigua, genus of two species of cycads in the family Zamiaceae endemic to lowland rainforest habitats in Colombia.......
Chile lantern tree, (Crinodendron hookeranum), tree of the family Elaeocarpaceae native to western South America......
Chilean cedar, (species Austrocedrus chilensis), ornamental and timber evergreen conifer, the only species of the......
chili pepper, any of several species and cultivars of very hot, pungent peppers in the nightshade family (Solanaceae).......
chin cactus, (genus Gymnocalycium), genus of about 50 species of cacti (family Cactaceae), native to South America.......
China aster, (Callistephus chinensis), herbaceous plant of the aster family (Asteraceae, also called Compositae),......
China fir, (Cunninghamia lanceolata), coniferous evergreen timber tree of the cypress family (Cupressaceae), native......
Chinese cabbage, either of two widely cultivated members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) that are varieties......
Chinese hibiscus, (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), perennial species of hibiscus of the mallow family (Malvaceae), cultivated......
Chinese parasol tree, (Firmiana simplex), tree of the hibiscus, or mallow, family (Malvaceae; order Malvales),......
Chinese yew, (Taxus celebica), a large, ornamental evergreen shrub or tree of the yew family (Taxaceae), widespread......
chinquapin, any of several species of trees in various genera of the beech family (Fagaceae). Notably, they include......
chive, (Allium schoenoprasum), small perennial plant of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), related to the onion.......
Chloranthales, order of flowering plants, a basal branch of the angiosperm tree, consisting of 1 family, Chloranthaceae,......
Chlorophytum, genus of about 150 species of flowering plants in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The plants......