Kids Research Express

Artichoke The artichoke has clusters of purple or white, thistlelike flowers. The artichoke receptacle, or heart, and leaves are the plant parts usually eaten. Beech Tree The beech, found only in northern temperate forests, is related to the oak and chestnut. Most species of beech are deciduous—that is, they lose their leaves seasonally—although some are evergreen and keep their leaves. Both the fruit and wood of the beech tree are useful; the fruit, called the beechnut, has a high oil content and is used as a pig feed, whereas the wood is used in the manufacture of furniture. Begonia Begonias make up a highly diverse order of flowers native to the tropics but popular in households and gardens around the world. The cultivated variety pictured here is called Roy Hartley. Bittersweet Celastrus scandens, also known as American bittersweet, belongs to a family of woody shrubs with climbing, twining vines and is grown for a variety of ornamental and practical uses. The plant...

Betel , common name for a vine (see Pepper), and for its leaves. In tropical Asia and the East Indies the leaves, together with a little quicklime, are used to wrap the seed kernel (called betel nut or areca nut) of the betel palm. The chewing of this preparation (also called betel) stains the saliva bright red and eventually darkens the teeth. An alkaloid in the nut acts as a stimulant and a tonic. Scientific classification: The betel belongs to the family Piperaceae. It is classified as Piper betle. The betel palm belongs to the family Arecaceae (formerly Palmae) and is classified as Areca catechu. Bignonia Family Trumpet Vine , also trumpet creeper, trumpet flower, or trumpet honeysuckle, common name for either of two species of woody vines with brilliant trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in summer. The common trumpet vine, a hardy plant that can survive temperatures as low as -34° C (-29° F), is native to North America and the Chinese trumpet vine is native to Asia. Scientific clas...