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Characteristics: The mussaenda is an evergreen shrub related to coffee trees and native to Asia. It may be a rather small shrub, or large to 30 feet, like a small tree. Commercial nurseries often train mussaenda to be tree-like in form for landscape use. Their natural habit is to produce many stems and it is quite a rambler. It has silky, hairy, soft medium-green leaves. The plant's color comes from bracts and not the small, often yellow, white or orange, flowers at the center of each bract. This is the same color-producing system used by tropicals such heliconia and bougainvillea. Bracts may be seen in several colors including rose, white, red, pale pink and some mixtures. Uses: In some areas of the world such as tropical Africa the fruits of Mussaenda species are consumed as subsistance food. The root of M. erythrophylla is chewed in Africa as an appetite stimulant. Bark and leaves of Mussaenda are used medicinally in Samoan and Fijian culture. In landscape it is used as a common house plant and is cultivated without any special care. It is also used as accents.
The fruit is a three-valved capsule 22.5 cm long and 1.21.5 cm broad which splits open at maturity to release the seeds. Both diploid and triploid forms are known in the wild, but most cultivated plants are sterile triploids which only reproduce vegetatively by stolons or division Uses: The tubers, inflorescenses, buds and flowers can all be cooked and eaten. Dried or fresh flowers are used in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese cooking, and are known as golden needles. It is also used as part of flower arrangements in commercial use. It is laos sold as Amaranthus lily. In landscape it is used in beds of flowering plants.
Uses: They are competitively bred for flower shows and exhibitions by breeders and farmers. It is very valuable in flower arrangements and other commercial sales. It is also used in greenhouse landscape, since it requires specific amount of care and number of different criteria to be followed in order for it to flourish.
Uses: Yellow or white chrysanthemum flowers of the species C. morifolium are boiled to make a sweet drink in some parts of Asia. The resulting beverage is known simply as "chrysanthemum tea" Chrysanthemum plants have been shown to reduce indoor air pollution by the NASA Clean Air Study It is economically important as a natural source of insecticide. The flowers are pulverized, and the active components called pyrethrins, contained in the seed cases, are extracted and sold in the form of an oleoresin. It is also cultivated as a show flower used for bouquets and flower arrangements.
Foxtail palm is considered by palm enthusiasts and landscapers to be a useful accent in a wide spectrum of landscape settings. It is prized for its robust trunk and its unique bushy leaves. Foxtail palm may be used alone as an accent specimen and may also be planted in groups of three or more for a stunning massed effect. Foxtails are being planted in rows along streets and driveways. Foxtail palm is also grown as a house or conservatory plant in well lit areas. Foxtail palm can be used effectively as a patio or deck plant in a large pot or tub. Plant foxtail palm outdoors in a site that can accommodate the large spread of leaves (15-20 ft (4.6-6.1 m) average landscape size). Foxtail palm may be planted in areas having strong winds and moderate amounts of salt spray.