Kids Research Express

Poison Ivy, Poison Oak Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac, common names applied to three plants of a genus in the cashew family, capable of producing an allergic reaction in people who have become sensitized to them. Poison ivy and poison oak are variants of a single plant (sometimes treated as separate species by botanists), different mainly in the shape of their leaflets. Both are woody perennial plants of roadsides, thickets, hedgerows, and open woods, and one or the other is found throughout the United States and southern Canada. They may take the form of vines climbing up tree trunks to considerable height, shrubs or subshrubs standing erect by themselves, or vines trailing on the forest floor, sometimes also trailing out into meadows from hedgerows. Distinguishing characteristics include the regular grouping of three leaflets in each leaf, and stiff clusters of small, yellowish or white berries that appear in summer and fall. Other c...

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...

Legume Family Legume Family Derris , common name for any one of about 40 species of trees, shrubs, and woody vines native to the tropics and subtropics of Eurasia, members of the legume family. Derris has compound leaves (leaves composed of leaflets arranged along a stem) with an odd number of leaflets. The pealike flowers can be white, yellow, pink, or purple, and are usually clustered. The flowers develop into flat, leathery fruit pods, which release their seeds by rotting rather than splitting open when they hit the ground. The common name is derived from deros, the Greek word for a leathery covering, and refers to the fruit pods. Scientific classification: Derris species are members of the subfamily Papilionoideae, family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae). The Malay jewel vine is classified as Derris scandens, and the derris root as Derris elliptica. Sweet Pea , common name for a colorful, often fragrant flowering herb that has been popular in gardens for centuries, member of the p...

Grapevines Grapevines are stems that climb on walls and fences by means of specialized supporting organs, called tendrils. Palmately veined leaves arise alternately along the stem. In most varieties, tendrils arise opposite two of every three successive leaves. Flowers, usually greenish, are borne in clusters and have staminate and pistillate flowers sometimes occurring on separate plants. Fruit is borne on 2-year-old canes, which are removed after harvesting the grapes. Grapes are attacked by a great number of insect pests and plant diseases, of which the most common are black rot and downy mildew. See Diseases of Plants. Scientific classification: Grapes belong to the family Vitaceae. The European grape is classified as Vitis vinifera, the northern fox grape as Vitis labrusca, the summer grape as Vitis aestivalis, the riverbank grape as Vitis riparia, and the muscadine grape as Vitis rotundifolia. Gymnosperms - (Latin gymn-, “naked”; Greek sperma, “seed”), common name for any seed-...

Gourd Family Cucumber , common name for a trailing or climbing annual herb of the gourd family. Native to Asia, it is widely cultivated in North America and Europe for the immature fruit, which resembles a long, green cylinder. The fruit is picked at various stages of development and is usually eaten raw or pickled. Small cucumbers, picked when they are 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) long, are known as gherkins. Different varieties of cucumbers vary in length from about 10 to 76 cm (about 4 to 30 in). If the cucumber is allowed to mature, the fruit bulges in the middle, changes in color from green to yellow, and is not fit to eat. Scientific classification: The cucumber belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is classified as Cucumis sativus. Gourd , common name for a family of plants consisting of characteristically rapid-growing vines with palmately lobed leaves, helically twisted tendrils, and often showy, unisexual flowers. The family contains about 760 species that are distributed mainly i...

Composite Flower Family Composite Flower Family Groundsel , common name for one of the largest categories of flowering plants. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 species of groundsels are distributed throughout the world. Member of the large composite flowers family, the groundsel group is diverse as well as large; it includes vines, shrubs, and herbs adapted to both wet and dry regions. Ancient Greek and Arab physicians used the leaves of many groundsels to draw fluids from wounds; the name groundsel comes from the Anglo-Saxon gundeswelge, which means “pus absorber.” Scientific classification: The groundsels belong to the family Asteraceae (formerly Compositae). The candle plant is classified as Senecio articulatus, dusty miller as Senecio cineraria, golden ragwort as Senecio aureus, and common groundsel as Senecio vulgaris. Ironweed , common name for any of approximately 750 species of perennial plants (plants that live at least three years) that include trees, shrubs, climbing wo...

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...

Snakeweed, or European bisort, also does well in bog gardens, and is commonly grown in Europe. It is 45 to 75 cm (18 to 30 in) tall and has leaves 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long, with a prominent white vein down the middle of each. The pink flowers are arranged on a long stem and form a cylindrical spike. Lace vine is a climbing vine with fragrant, white, threadlike flowers arranged in loose clusters that resemble lace. It grows rapidly, even in poor soil, and can become a weed if not cut back. related articles: plants vines ferns plant cell structure and fuction