Cell Division

Cells have the ability to divide in order create new cells for growth or repair. The process, cell division, occurs in two stages. The first stage, mitosis, is when the nucleus divides into two parts, which each become a new nucleus. The two nuclei, called daughter nuclei, are identical copies of the original.

The second stage of cell division is called cytokinesis. A dividing line called the cell plate forms. It runs down the middle of the cytoplasm. (Cytoplasm is the gel-like substance inside a cell in which organelles are suspended. And organelles are the small parts inside a plant or animal cell.) New cell walls build up along the cell plate. These separate the new cells.

Reproduction is the creation of new life. All living things contain the parts needed for reproduction. In flowers, these produce male and female cells called gametes, which join to create new plants. The many specialized parts of flowers include petals, stamens (the male parts of the plants), and one or more carpels (the female parts). In most flowers, the petals are arranged around the reproductive organs. Before a plant blooms, it produces a bud, which eventually develops into a flower. It grows from the receptacle, which is the extended stalk tip. The buds are surrounded by the leaf-like sepals.

A flower's male reproductive parts are stamens. A stamen is made of an anther, a pod-like structure which contains pollen sacks, at the end of a stalk called a filament. When an anther opens, it releases grains of pollen, male reproductive cells. A female's reproductive part is the carpel or pistil. It is made up of the stigma, the top part, which has a sticky surface for pollen to stick to, the style, and the ovaries, each of which holds one or more tiny eggs. The tiny eggs are the female reproductive cells, which develop into seeds after they are fertilized.

Some flowers, like buttercups, have several carpels, while others, like poppies, have only one. Flowers that have male and female parts are described as hermaphrodite. Some plants have two types of flowers - pistillate flowers, which are female, and staminate flowers, which are male. These are called monoecious plants. Other plants, like holly, have only male or female flowers on them and require another plant for fertilization. These are dioecious plants.

Death in YOUR Garden!!!!

If you don't look at the flowers and plants in your yard a little differently after you read this, let me know. Just wonder about how many of your favorite flowers are fatally poisonous... I strongly advise you don't decide to find out how accurate this post is by locating these plants and testing them. I would hate to hear that one of my readers had to visit the emergency room.

Oleander

Nerium oleander

Evergreen which grows from two to six feet high, with large clusters of red, pinkish or white flowers. This plant is extremely poisonous. Even the smoke from burning it is toxic. A single leaf can kill a human. It grows native in the Mediterranean region to Japan. It is often grown as a houseplant or patio tree in more temperate areas of North America.

Sweet pea



Lathyrus odoratus and other related species

Climbing vine with clustered, fragrant flowers in a variety of colors. Grows to 1-2 meters (about six feet six inches). If eaten in large quantities, it can be deadly. It grows in many gardens across North America.

Nutmeg


Myristica fragrans

Brown, spicy seed or brown powder. Harmless in small amounts, but more than 10 grams or 0.4 oz can cause acute poisoning or death.

Purple foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Biennial with tall flowering stalks. Has such nicknames as witch's gloves and dead man's bells. A nibble of a leaf on an upper stalk is enough to possibly cause death. However, it is also used to treat the heart.

Daphnes


Daphne mezereum

Deciduous shrub with purple or white flowers appearing in the spring. Scarlet or occasionally yellow berry-like fruits. The berries may be fatally poisonous, even if only a few are consumed.

Herbs

Pennyroyal

A plant from the mint family. A small branched annual, grows from six to eight inches high. Smells similar to spearmint when crushed and is a popular tea. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy - never drink the oil. Even when taken in small doses, it results in death. An infusion, or tea, is safe to drink. The tea helps cure headaches, colds, fever, and nausea. It also settles the stomach. When the leaves are crushed and rubbed onto the skin, they repel insects.

Yarrow

Grows 10 to 20 inches high. Blooms in summer. The flowers resemble tiny daisies and are usually white, although some are pink or red. Legend has it that it is named after Achilles, the greatest warrior of all time in Greek mythology. He is said to have used it to treat the wounds of his men. Is a very useful plant. Can be used to treat colds, flu, chicken pox, and cramps. Also is good for treating wounds.

Camomile

Resembles a daisy. Is a popular tea. Is good for the digestive system. Recommended for allergenic reactions. Aids the digestive system. Can be used to treat colds, upset stomachs, bruises, rashes, and fevers.

Peppermint

Makes popular teas and is commonly used for flavoring. Very good for treating headaches. Has a calming effect. Good for treating nausea, colds, fevers, influenza, colic, and vomiting.

School House Rock - Shot Heard 'Round the World (America Rock)

Sorry I haven't posted in so long!!

Let There be Light Waves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you ever wondered how light waves work? No, I mean really. How do they travel? Well, here's some food for thought. It's imperative to our survival that light travels where there is nothing, not even air. Why? What's the biggest vacuum you can think of? The one in the closet? The one called your siblings room, where things enter and never leave? Wrong! Here's a hint: the largest vacuum is a big space! That's right, it's space! And guess what? If light didn't travel there, we'd all be dead! And if you don't believe me, think of how many things need light to survive and grow.



How does light move, you ask? Well, do you want the short or long answer? I'll give you the short. Light waves always move in straight lines. Have you ever been to Saskatchewan? I've been a couple times. If you have you'll have noticed that the place is so flat you can see the curvature of the earth. If you don't believe me then find out if you know anyone in Saskatchewan and get your parents to take you. Preferably driving. That way you'll see the highway, and that's one of the best places to veiw the curvature of the earth. Anyway, you can see things for miles because the light travels in a straight line.



Light always travels in a straight line. Imagine if it didn't! You wouldn't be able to see anything in front of you! That could get a little painful! :)

Filtering Light

Everyone likes colored lights. You put them on your tree at Christmas, unless you prefer white lights. Those exit signs in theaters and public places are orange. The lights on emergency vehicles are different colors, too. But the thing is, light is white, for the most part. So how do we get all these different colors?

To get different colors of light, we put our lights in colored tubes, or filters. Only certain colors can actually get through the glass, though, and that is why we have different colors. Some of the colors pass through, the rest are absorbed by the filter. The color we see, however, not only depends on the filter, but what the light is shining on.

If you put a red ball under a white light, you will see a red ball. If you put it under a red light, you will see a red ball. The red will probably be a slightly different shade, but it will still be red. Now, imagine if you put the same red ball under a green light. It will look like rather Christmasy, right? Wrong. The ball will be black. You see, the red ball absorbs the green light, so instead of looking like a really weird Christmas ornament, it rejects the black light, and that's what we see.

Here's one last interesting thing about light. The lights you have in your house produce more yellowish white light than the ones in stores. The lights in stores are usually fluoresent lights. This means that whatever is under the store lights looks a little different than in your house. This is a problem at paint stores, since not a lot of people realize that the sample they like looks different in their house!