Kids Research Express

The passionflower, a close relative of the violets, is a woody-stemmed climbing plant that grows to a height of 10 m (30 ft). Passionflowers are cultivated for their unique flowers and edible fruits. Passionflower, common name for a flowering plant family, and especially for members of its principal genus. The flowers are usually perfect, generally having a five-parted calyx and five-parted corolla. All species have a more or less conspicuous crown of filaments springing from the throat of the tube formed by the base of the calyx and corolla. The family contains about 530 species, most of which are climbing plants, such as the passion vine of the southern United States, which sometimes reaches a height of 9 m (30 ft). The bell apple, or water lemon, of the West Indies is a species of passionflower with an edible fruit. The giant granadilla is a closely related plant native to Jamaica and South America. The pulp, or aril, surrounding each seed of the giant granadilla plant is used...

Mimosa Feathery, fernlike leaves of the evergreen shrub Mimosa pudica curl inward when touched. Tiny, deep-pink flowers appear in the summer. Mock Orange The common mock orange, also called syringa, is a deciduous shrub covered with clusters of small, fragrant, cream-colored flowers. Syringa is the state flower of Idaho. Musk Thistle The musk thistle has decorative composite flowers but its spiny leaves and branches create a weedlike appearance. This species of thistle bears purple flowers and is common in fields in the northeastern United States. Nail Polish Flowers The nail polish plant, so-named because of the bright color of its flowers, belongs to the four-o’clock family. It grows best in sunny locations in fertile, well-drained soils. Nightshade All parts of the belladonna, or nightshade, Atropa belladonna, are poisonous. The drug atropine, used to dilate the pupils of the eyes, is one of several narcotics extracted from its leaves and root...

Nightshade Family Nightshade Family Morning Glory , common name for a plant family (see Nightshade) that includes about 1650 species of vines, shrubs, and a few trees. Most are tropical, and many are considered weeds. The vines common bindweed and wild morning glory, for example, are widespread throughout the United States. The sweet potato, native to tropical America, belongs to this family. Dodder is a parasitic genus, lacking leaves and green color, that attaches itself to and lives on shrubs and herbs; it is a common weed in Europe and the United States. Scientific classification: Morning glories make up the family Convolvulaceae. The common bindweed is classified as Convolvulus arvensis, the wild morning glory as Convolvulus sepium, and the common morning glory as Ipomoea purpurea. The name moonflower is applied especially to the species classified as Ipomoea alba. The dwarf morning glory is classified as Convolvulus tricolor. Passionflower , common name for a flowering plant fami...