Interesting facts about evergreens

evergreen

In botany, the term evergreen refers to a tree, shrub, or other plant having foliage that persists throughout the year.

Many tropical species of broad-leaved flowering plants are evergreen, but in cold-temperate and Arctic areas the evergreens commonly are cone-bearing shrubs or trees (conifers) , such as pines and firs.

The leaves of evergreens usually are thicker and more leathery than those of deciduous trees (those that shed their leaves in autumn or in the tropical dry season) and often are needlelike or scalelike in cone-bearing trees.

evergreen-2

A leaf may remain on an evergreen tree for two years or longer and may fall during any season.

Olive tree is evergreen and can live more than 2000 years. The one of oldest olive tree in the world is on the island of Crete – the tree is about 4,000 years old and is still producing fruit.

The dragon blood tree is an evergreen tree that can live up to 650 years and reaches heights of around 10 to 12 meters (33 to 39 feet). The tree grows slowly, about one meter (3 feet) every ten years.

dragon blood tree

Tea is an aromatic beverage commonly prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to East Asia. After water, it is the most widely consumed drink in the world.

Yerba Mate is the national drink of Argentina. It is a type of tea made from the young leaves of the Brazilian holly, an evergreen tree of the holly family. It is drunk from a gourd or bowl through a metal straw called a bombilla.

yerba mate

Aloe vera is an evergreen perennial plant. It is grown for both medicinal and agricultural reasons as well for decorative purposes. Legend reports that Alexander the Great, upon the advice of Aristotle, conquered the island of Socotra, off the coast of Africa, to secure supplies of Aloe vera in order to treat wounded soldiers.

Rosemary is an evergreen plant of the mint family whose leaves are used to flavour foods. The name “rosemary” has nothing to do with the rose or the name Mary, but derives from the Latin name ros marinus, which literally means “dew of the sea.”

rosemary

Oregano is usually grown as a small evergreen subshrub in mild climates. It is characterized by opposite, aromatic leaves and purple flowers. The word “oregano” is derived from Spanish orégano, from Latin orīganum, from Greek ὀρίγανον (orī́ganon). This is a compound of όρος (óros), “mountain”, and γάνος (gános), “brightness”, whence “brightness of the mountain.”

The cocoa bean is is the dried and fully fermented seed from Theobroma cacao – a small about 4 to 8 meters (13 to 26 feet) tall evergreen tree. The cacao tree was domesticated by the Olmecs and Mocayas (Mexico and Central America).

cocoa beans

The star anise named for this characteristic fruit, is a medium-sized evergreen tree, the dried fruits of which are the source of oil of star anise. In Biblical times, anise was so highly prized that it was often used for tithes, offerings and payment of taxes in Palestine.

Cloves are the rich, brown, dried, unopened flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, an evergreen tree in the myrtle family. The name comes from the French “clou” meaning nail.

Commonly known as bull bay, Magnolia grandiflora is one of the most magnificent evergreens. Eventually becoming a medium-sized tree, it has glossy leaves with bronze undersides and large, cup-shaped flowers with a citrus fragrance.

magnolia grandiflora

Christmas trees originated during the Renaissance of early modern Germany. Its 16th-century origins are sometimes associated with Protestant Christian reformer Martin Luther who is said to have first added lighted candles to an evergreen tree.

Millions of years ago, Antarctica had a much warmer climate and boasted evergreen forests and a variety of nimals. Fossils of this earlier period provide scientists with clues about life before Antarctica became a vast icy shelf.

Owing to the botanical meaning, the idiomatic term “evergreen” has come to refer to something that perpetually renews itself, or otherwise remains steady and constant. In business, for example, an evergreen market is one where there is a constant, renewed demand for an item or items.