Plants, CAP-COL
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
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, (Carum carvi), dry fruit, commonly called seed, of Carum carvi, used as a culinary seasoning. A member......
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.......
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.......
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, the source of a very pungent spice of the same name. The......
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),......
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......
Andrea Cesalpino was an Italian physician, philosopher, and botanist who sought a philosophical and theoretical......
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 and their edible fruits. Commercial cherry production......
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......
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.......
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.......
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).......
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......
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......
chokecherry, (Prunus virginiana), deciduous shrub or small tree belonging to the rose family and native to North......
Christmas rose, (Helleborus niger), small poisonous perennial herb of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), known......
Christ’s thorn, any of several prickly or thorny shrubs, particularly Paliurus spina-christi, of the buckthorn......
chrysanthemum, (genus Chrysanthemum), genus of about 40 species of flowering plants in the aster family (Asteraceae),......
cicely, (Myrrhis odorata), perennial herb of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). It has a leafy hollow stem 60......
cigar-box cedar, (Cedrela odorata), tropical American timber tree, of the mahogany family (Meliaceae), prized for......
cinchona, (genus Cinchona), genus of about 23 species of plants, mostly trees, in the madder family (Rubiaceae),......
cineraria, any of several ornamental plants that have been developed by florists from species of the genus Senecio......
cinnamon, (Cinnamomum verum), bushy evergreen tree and the spice derived from its bark. The tree is native to Sri......
cinquefoil, (genus Potentilla), genus of more than 300 species of herbaceous flowering plants of the rose family......
citrange, hybrid tree and its fruit produced by crossing any variety of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) with the......
citron, (Citrus medica), small evergreen tree or shrub in the family Rutaceae, cultivated in Mediterranean countries......
Citrus, genus of plants belonging to the rue family (Rutaceae), and yielding pulpy fruits covered with fairly thick......
clammyweed, (Polanisia trachysperma), North American herb of the Cleome genus of the family Cleomaceae, closely......
Clematis, genus of perennial, chiefly climbing shrubs of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) with about 370 species......
Clethra, genus of 65 species of flowering trees and shrubs, of the family Clethraceae, occurring in North and South......
Clethraceae, flowering plant family with two genera in the order Ericales. The genus Clethra has some 65 species......
Clianthus, genus of two species of flowering shrubs in the pea family (Fabaceae). Parrot’s bill, or red kowhai......
cliff brake, (genus Pellaea), any of about 40 species of ferns of the genus Pellaea (family Pteridaceae). Cliff......
cloudberry, (Rubus chamaemorus), creeping herbaceous plant, native to the Arctic and subarctic regions of the north......
clove, (Syzygium aromaticum), tropical evergreen tree of the family Myrtaceae and its small reddish brown flower......
clover, (genus Trifolium), genus of about 300 annual and perennial species in the pea family (Fabaceae). Clovers......
club moss, (family Lycopodiaceae), any of some 400 species of seedless vascular plants constituting the only family......
Clusiaceae, the garcinia family (order Malpighiales), comprising about 14 genera and some 800 species of tropical......
coast redwood, (Sequoia sempervirens), coniferous evergreen timber tree of the cypress family (Cupressaceae), the......
cobra plant, (Darlingtonia californica), the only species of the genus Darlingtonia of the New World pitcher plant......
Cochlospermum, genus of tropical trees belonging to the family Cochlospermaceae. About 15 species are known, 3......
cocklebur, weedy annual plant of the genus Xanthium of the family Asteraceae, distributed throughout much of Europe......
coco de mer, (Lodoicea maldivica), native palm of the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean. The flowers are borne......
cocoa bean, seed of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), which is used to create cocoa and cocoa butter, key ingredients......
coconut palm, (Cocos nucifera), palm of the family Arecaceae, cultivated extensively in tropical areas for its......
Coelogyne, genus of as many as 200 species of orchids (family Orchidaceae), found throughout Asia and on some Pacific......
Coffea, (genus Coffea), genus of about 125 species of flowering plants of the family Rubiaceae, mostly native to......
cogon grass, (Imperata cylindrica), species of perennial grass in the family Poaceae, native to temperate and tropical......
Cola, genus of tropical trees of the chocolate family (Sterculiaceae, order Malvales) that bear fruits enclosing......