Kids Research Express

Chrysanthemum, common name for numerous perennials formerly included in only a single genus of the composite flower family, but now classified in several separate genera of the family. Commercial or florists' varieties of chrysanthemums and the garden mums have large, globular heads in which the ray flowers are greatly multiplied, while the disk flowers are unnoticeable or even absent. Numerous hybrids have been developed with single, semidouble, or double blossoms that grow up to 20 cm (8 in) in diameter. The terms pompon and button are applied to small, globular flowers, the term anemone to flowers with twisted rays, and the term decorative to loose, open flowers with flat, grooved, or tubular rays. When tubular rays are open and flattened at the tips, the plants are called spoon mums. Other varieties are sometimes described as feathery, plumed, or spidery. The flowers are produced in all shades of bronze, brown, purple, red, pink, yellow, and white. Scientific classification: C...

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...