Oasis is a small fertile spot in a desert region, usually having a spring or well. Underground water sources called aquifers supply most oases. These natural springs may rise to the surface naturally, or people may dig in the ground to release the water. Oases vary in size, ranging from about 1 hectare (2.5 acres) … Read more
An orchard is a place where trees or shrubs are planted and maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut producing trees which are generally grown for commercial production. Officially, the definition of an ‘orchard’ is five or more trees together. Examples of orchard fruits are apples, pears, oranges, bananas, and cherries. Examples of orchard … Read more
A prairie is a type of habitat with mostly grasses, but also flowering plants and occasional shrubs or isolated tree. The word “prairie” comes from the French pre´rie (later, prairie), meaning meadow. The term was first applied to the swath of mid-continental North American grassland in the 1600s by French Jesuit missionaries and explorers, because … Read more
Grasses are among the most familiar and important flowering plants. They belong to the botanical family known either as the Poaceae or the Gramineae. There are about 12,000 grass species. They rank among the top five families of flowering plants in terms of the number of species. Grasses are one of the most widely distributed and … Read more
Savanna, also spelled savannah is characterized by a continuous grassy layer, often with trees or shrubs widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grasses. They are also characterised by seasonal water availability, with the … Read more
Carnivorous plants are plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals. They are flowering plants of worldwide distribution with leaves adapted for trapping small animals, especially insects. Because they usually trap insects, they are also called insectivorous plants. Ther are about 580 known species of carnivorous plants. Carnivorous plants actually … Read more
Water lilies are freshwater plants. There are about 70 species of water lilies. They are native to the temperate and tropical parts of the world. Water lilies are found in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Although most water lily species prefer the still waters of ponds and lakes, some can be found growing … Read more
A pond is a body of water smaller than a lake. Some ponds are formed naturally, filled either by an underwater spring, melting snow or by rainwater – sometimes known as ‘dewponds’; other ponds are man-made. There are two types of ponds, permanent and temporary also known as vernal ponds. Permanent ponds exist year-round while … Read more
A stream is simply a body of flowing water. It is smaller than a river. All streams start at some high point. The high point can be a mountain, hill, or other elevated area. Water from some source like a spring, snow melt, or a lake starts at this high point and begins to flow … Read more