School Science Lessons
2025-03-04
(UNBiolN3C)
Genus names, C, (Cabomba to Chrysopogon)
Please send comments to: j.elfick@uq.edu.au
Contents
Fan wort, (Cabomba aquatica), water shield, aquarium plant, up to 80 cm length, needs good light, local vegetable, South America, Cabombaceae.
Cabomba furcata is used in the aquarium trade in Australia.
Cabomba aquatica, Aquatic weeds, Australia.
Cabomba, (Cabomba caroliniana), from the Americas and naturalised in Australia in 1986, completely submerged plant except for flowers and floating leaves.
It has stems up to 10 m long. grass green to olive green shoots, green to olive floating leaves, solitary flowers attached to a long axillary stalk.
It is a major pest in water storage, because increases colour of potable water and so increasing the cost of treatment.
Cabomba forms dense clumps that reduce light and water quality.
The weed is so thick it makes recreational activities such as swimming, fishing and canoeing both difficult and dangerous.
The weed also reduces the water holding capacity of dams and significantly adds to the cost of treating drinking water.
Cabomba caroliniana, DPI, NSW.
Banduc nut, (Caesalpinia bonduc, Guilandina bonduc), fever nut, wait-a-while, knicker nut, climbing liana, up to 8 m, stems with curved spines, thorny shrub.
It has spiky leaves, yellow flowers, brown pods called nickernuts can float in oceans,, herbal medicine, pantropicalIndia, grows on sea shores, Fabaceae.
Brazil-wood, (Caesalpinia echinata, Paubrasilia echinata), Pernambuco wood "bresel wood", sappan tree, pernambaco tree,is national tree of Brazil.
It has dense orang-red heartwood, | Brazilin, C16H14O5 | Natural Red 24, pigment, histological dye, used as a folk medicine, Fabaceae.
Caesalpinia ferrea, syn Libidibia, Leopard tree. Plantsonline.
Sappanwood, (Caesalpinia sappan), sappan tree, brazilwood, brazilin red dye, Brazil, Fabaceae.
Spiny holdback, (Caesalpinia spinosa), tara gum, tailin, vainilla, tallospiny, evergreen tree up to 8m, | E417 |.
Gum from endosperm used as food thickening agent, high tannin content of the pods may be lethal if consumed in large quantities by animals.
Its seedpods powder is used as an eyewash, South America, Fabaceae.
Pigeon pea, (Cajanus cajan), (Malay katjang bean), Congo pea, no-eye pea (no hilum), red gram, woody perennial, up to 3.6 m, yellow and red flowers.
It tolerates up to 35°C, seeds containing 25% protein eaten fresh or as split dried peas used for dhal in India.
Its edible cooked leaves and young shoots with strong spicy odour, used for animal fodder and green manure mulch, garden shelterbelts,Fabaceae.
Cajanus cajan, Succeed Heirlooms.
European sea rocket, (Cakile maritima), succulent annual plant, taproot, branched stem, lobed flesh-like shiny alternate leaves.
It has small white to purple flowers with 4 petals, corky brown floating fruit contain two yellow to brown smooth seeds.
The seed oil contains a high level of erucic acid, C22H42O2.
It can withstand high concentrations of Cadmium, grows in clumps on beaches, widespread in Europe, North Africa, North America, Brassicaceae.
Angel wings, (Caladium bicolor), heart of Jesus, elephant ears, green-white spathe, large, heart-shaped yellow to green leaves with green or red veins.
All parts are poisonous, especially leaves and tubers, contains irritating calcium oxalate raphides, houseplant, South America, Araceae.
See diagram: Caladium bicolor.
Ashe's savory, (Calamintha ashei), Ashe's calamint, evodone monoterpenoid C10H12O2, USA, Lamiaceae.
Large-flowered calamint, (Calamintha grandiflora), showy calamint, mint savory, in cooking, treat bruises and cramps, ornamental, Lamiaceae.
Calamint, (Calamintha sylvatica), common calamint, mill mountain, mountain balm, mountain mint, perennial, low-growing, up to 30 cm, green stalks,.
It has opposite, oval matt green leaves, about 2 cm long, whole plant aromatic.
It is used as a leaf tea and herbal medicine, diaphoretic, expectorant, leaf poultice for bruises, but can cause miscarriage.
It occurs in temperate regions, low-growing plant, mint smell, lavender flowers, alkaline soil, leaves used to make tea, Lamiaceae.
Wait-a-while, (Calamus australis), hairy mary, lawyer cane, climbing palm, petioles with many spines to attach to other plants, Australia, Arecaceae.
Calamus australis, Palmpedia.
Red maids, (Calandrinia balonensis), parakeelya, Australian native food, sold as 'Calandrinia ‘Mystique’, Australia, Montiaceae.
Calandrinia balonensis, Broad-leaved Parakeelya, Balonne Parakeelya, Australian National Herbarium.
Zebra plant, (Calathea concinna), Freddie prayer plant, calathea Freddie, exotic tropical succulent perennial.
It has leaves with zebra-like stripes of silvery-green with darker green stripes and borders.
The plant’s natural habit of opening and closing its leaves like hands at prayer, forms mats composed of tufted leaves in rosettes, spreads rapidly via offsets.
It is used as a groundcover for dry sunny locations, popular indoor pot plant, Brazil, the arrowroot family, Marantaceae.
Calathea crocata, dark green leaves, long-lasting orange flowers, rainforest, (houseplant), Marantaceae.
Calathea lancifolia, rattlesnake plant, lance-shaped leaves, attractive fruit, deciduous shrub, Marantaceae.
Calathea picturata, leaves oval dark green whitish streaks, rainforest, (houseplant), Marantaceae.
Marigold, (Calendula officinalis), English marigold, pot marigold, Mary's gold, annual plant, bushy habit, pale green leaves, perennial, up to 50 cm.
It has yellow to orange flowers, used for cut flowers and salads, repels nematodes, companion plant.
Florets in culinary uses, yellow / orange petals and leaves in salads, omelettes, sandwiches |Lutein |.
It is used as a herbal medicine, cuts, bruises, rashes, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, calendula flower tea for mouth, ulcers and nappy rash.
Flowers made into infused oil ointment, and used to treat eczema, dermatitis, inflamed skin and for wound healing.
It is a very popular plant, easy to grow, ornamental with bright orange flowers on stiff stems, Europe, Asteraceae.
It is called calendae calendar, because it flowers for most of the year.
It is called "Mary gold" in honour of the Virgin Mary of the Bible.
See diagram: Calendula.
(Different species and genera are called "marigold".).
Calendula-infused Oil, Mudbrick Herb Cottage.
Marigold, Calendula officinalis, Mudbrick Herb Cottage, See text below Description.
Dried herb sold as flowers and as petals, Mudbrick Herb Cottage.
Black wattle tree, (Callicoma serratifolia), used for wattle and daub huts of first European settlers in Australia, only one species in family Cunoniaceae.
Callicoma serratifolia, ANPSA.
Home ginseng, (Callisia fragrans), golden runner, basket plant, fragrant inch plant, ground cover, steroids, flavonoids, invasive weed.
It is a herbal medicine for wound healing, infusions, Mexico, Commelinaceae.
Chain plant, (Callisia navicularis), striped inch plant, evergreen herb, boat-shaped leaves, Mexico, Commelinaceae.
Crimson bottlebrush, (Callistemon citrinus), shrub, up to 3 m, grows in swamps and on rocky outcrops, simple and alternate to spiral leaves.
Leaves have lemon odour when crushed, bright red spikes, bright red stamens, woody capsules, leaf growth extends beyond the spike, Australia, Myrtaceae.
Callistemon citrinus is also known as Melaleuca citrinus, because many of the bottlebrushes are known under the genus Melaleuca.
Callistemon citrinus, Australian National Herbarium.
Callistemon species, bottlebrush, fast growing, hardy, woody shrub, up to 2 m, flowers in variety of single colours.
Prune it regularly for bushier growth and increased flower production, grow in moist, well-drained soil, in full sun for containers, edging, rockeries, hedges.
Bottle brush tree, (Callistemon lanceolatus), ornamental tree, evergreen shrubs, lanceolate lamina, showy stamens, Myrtaceae.
Chinese aster, (Callistephus chinensis), Michaelmas daisy, slim aster, ornamental, fast growing annual, showy terminal flower head, China, Asteraceae.
Starwort, (Callitriche stagnalis), common starwort, aquatic, annual, monoecious, invasive, Plantaginaceae.
Australian cypress, (Callitris columellaris), sand cypress pine, white cypress pine, (not a "pine", Pinus), conifer, light tan to darker brown heartwood, resistant to insect attack, used for flooring and light construction, Australia, Cupressaceae.
Callitris trees, Australian Forests.
Northern cypres pine, (Callitris intratropica), "cypress pine", (not true cypress), cone-shaped, blue green/grey foliage, hardy large tree, aromatic timber.
'Blue Cypress oil' from steam distilled bark and wood,is used in perfumes, cosmetics and aromatherapy.
Austrlian native raditional uses include analgesic, body wash and insect repellent, said to live for > 200 years, Australia, Cupressaceae.
Heather, (Calluna vulgaris), common heather, heath, evergreen shrubs, in infertile soils, grows in a "heath", Europe, Ericaceae.
Dried herb is sold as flowers.
Mammey sapote, (Calocarpum sapota, Pouteria sapota), fruit used fresh or preserved, South America, Sapotaceae.
Sapote fruits, Try Green recipes.
Green sapote, (Calocarpum viride), large tree, evergreen, slow growing, fruit, large, green, used fresh, propagation from seeds, Central America, Sapotaceae.
Incense cedar, (Calocedrus decurrens), California incense cedar, up to 40 m, largest known tree, distinctive pyramidal to columnar shape, brown to grey bark.
It has green scale-like leaves that produce unusual smell when squeezed, and it has male and female cylindrical cones from the same tree.
Soft light wood was used for pencils, cultivated as an ornamental, western United States, Cupressaceae.
Alexandrean laurel, (Calophyllum inophyllum), tamanu, oil-nut, mastwood, beauty leaf, penanga laut, huge forest tree, used for building ships, source of tamanu oil.
It occurs in East Africa, Malaysia, Calophyllaceae.
Damanu (Fijian), (Calophyllum vitiense), bitangor, hardwood timber tree, evergreen tree, up to 30 m, in dense or open forest, red-brown heartwood.
It is used for interior purposes, ship building, and heavy carpentry, Pacific region, Malaysia, Clusiaceae.
Calopo, (Calopogonium mucunoides), tropical pasture legume vine, creeping much-branched stems, up to 5 m in length, alternate trifoliolate leaves.
It has legume fruit, red-brown shiny seeds, widely introduced for horticulture, now naturalized in a wide range of habitats, introduceda pasture legume.
It has become naturalised in disturbed sites, forms dense mats that smother native vegetation, invasive, Tropical America,Fabaceae.
Crown flower, (Caloptropis gigantica), up to 4 m, yields fibre, poisonous, widespread, Asia.
Sodom apple, (Calotropis procera), giant milkweed, up to 1.8 m, grows on roadsides and disturbed areas, bitter toxic sap, Africa, Asia,.Apocynaceae.
Marsh marigold, (Caltha palustris), cuckoo's joy, aquatic and marginal perennial, flower buds pickled in vinegar use as a substitute for capers, USA, Ranunculaceae.
Tea
Carolina allspice, (Calycanthus floridus), sweet shrub, large woody understory plant, strongly scented, strawberry- green apple aroma, sepals and petals fused into tepals, bruised bark and roots smell of camphor, ornamental, southeastern United States, Strawberry shrub family, Calycanthaceae.
Fendler's sundrops. (Calylophus hartwegii fendleri) Hartweg's evening primrose, lightly hairy small green foliage casting a soft grey tone, yellow flowers open in the morning turning orange and pink as they fade before new flowers next day, Mexico, Onagraceae.
Tea plant, (Camellia sinensis), Theaceae.
Camellia sinensis,Tea, Brynhill.
Camellia sinensis,Tea, Daley's Fruit Trees.
Camellia sinensis var. assamica, Assam tea, Theaceae.
Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, China tea, Theaceae.
Tea plant, green tea | Tannins | Caffeine | Theanine | Catechin |, China, Theaceae.
Tea from Camellia sinensis, has a slightly bitter, astringent flavour.
Tea contains polyphenols, but tea does not contain tannic acid as previously believed.
BOP = cut size of leaves, "Broken Orange Pekoe".
Black Assam tea, full-bodied, good strength and good dose antioxidants, India.
Black tea is more oxidized than oolong tea, green tea and white tea.
Black Ceylon teas, BOP, contains caffeine, Sri Lanka.
Black Darjeeling tea, Light, special delicate taste, contains caffeine, Darjeeling province, India.
Earl Grey tea, BOP, blended, citrus bergamot flavour, South India.
English breakfast tea, BOP, full-bodied blend, Sri Lanka.
Dried herb sold as leaves.
Green tea, not affected by oxidation, contains caffeine, sugar not added to drink, dried herb sold as leaves and powder, China.
Green tea gunpowder, from Zhejiang province, higher caffeine content than other green teas, cut size: rolled leaf, China.
Green tea jasmine, blended with jasmine, China.
Green tea Sencha, China.
Oolong tea, cut size: cut leaf and rolled leaf, China.
White tea, Dried herb sold as leaves, China.
Camellia species, Theaceae.
Camellia crapnelliana, Hong Kong camellia, large fruit, Theaceae.
Camellia japonica, camellia, Japanese camellia, many cultivars, state flower of Alabama, Theaceae.
Camellia reticulata, "Spanish dancer", large showy flowers, Theaceae.
Camelina rumelica, graceful false flax, camelina oil seed, Theaceae.
Camellia sasanqua, many cultivars, garden hedge, evergreen shrub, Japan, Theaceae.
Camellia"> Camellia sinensis, tea plant, Theaceae.
Camellia sinensis var. assamica, Assam tea, Theaceae.
Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, China tea, Theaceae.
Tea, experiments
Carpathian hairbell, (Campanula carpatica), tussock bellflower, up to 5 cm, alternate leaves with different shapes and edges in the same plant, latex in stems and leaves, purple to pink or white bell-shaped and long-lasting flowers, grown from seed, Campanulaceae.
Plants of the Campanulaceae family are called bellflowers, (Latin campanula little bell).
Campanulaceae, Bellflower family.
Happy tree, (Campotheca acuminata), cancer tree, tree of life, up to 20 m, large glossy leaves with heavy veining, small white flowers in spherical clusters, bark and stems contain alkaloid | Camptothesin, C20H16N2O4 | used in Chinese traditional medicine and in cancer research,
| Camptothecin C20H16N2O4 | southern China and Tibet, Asteraceae.
Chinese trumpet vine, (Campsis chinensis), trumpet vine, tecoma, bignonia, China, Bignoniaceae.
Common trumpet creeper, (Campsis radicans), showy trumpet-shaped flowers, popular shubbery plant, North America, Bignoniaceae.
Ylang ylang, (Cananga odorata), kenanga, perennial, village tree, evergreen tree for very warm sheltered position, drooping branches,
flowers produce perfumed oil in glands near the base, the extracted oil, Macassar oil from flowers, used in aroma therapy, perfume and food flavouring, herbal
medicine, asthma, itch, scabies, stomach ache, traditional Asian aphrodisiac, essential oil contains: Ylang ylang essential oil may contain
| Isoeugenol | Isosafrole
| sesquiterpenoid alpha-Ylangene, C15H24 | Malaysia, Annonaceae.
See diagram: Cananga odorata.
Cananga odorata, Daleys Fruit Trees.
White Bursera, (Canarium album), Chinese olive, evergreen tree, up to 30 m straight trunk and compact crown, leathery elliptical leaves, small flowers in clusters at the ends of the branches, flowers give off slightly sweet fragrance, oval-shaped drupes with a hard woody shell contain a single edible seed called “Canarium nuts,”, resin extracted by tapping the tree used as incence in traditional ceremonies and in perfumes and cosmetics, Southeast Asia, Burseraceae.
Melville Island white beech, (Canarium australianum), up to 15 m, deciduous, separate male and female plants, leathery smooth shiny leaves, cream-grey bark and flowers, blue-black oval fruit, Australia, Burseraceae
Galip nut, (Canarium indicum), ngali nut tree, Java almond, kenari Ambon, tall tree, Elemicin, edible nuts, timber, South Pacific, Burseraceae.
Canarium species contains: | Amyrin | Elemolic Acid, Tarexerol C30H50O.
Elemi, (Canarium luzonicum), Manila elemi, elemi gum, elemi resin, harvested oleoresins also called "elemi", | Elemicin C12H16O3 | used in varnishes, herbal medicine, respiratory problems, Philippines, Burseraceae.
Pili nut, (Canarium ovatum), Philippine nut, roasted nut kernels eaten, nuts collected wild, but cultivated in Philippines, ornamental, Southeast Asia, Burseraceae.
Kenari nut tree, (Canarium vulgare), Java nut, Java olive, edible oily kernels eaten after removal from very hard shell of oblong, pointed fruits, kernel oil fed to infants, Anethole, Limonene
Phellandrene, herbal medicine, headache, nasal congestion, Burseraceae.
Jack bean, (Canavalia ensiformis), pig bean, wonder bean, horse bean, magic bean, ("awikiwiki, the quick one" Hawaiian name and origin of "Wikipedia"), slightly woody twining vine, up to 2 m length, cylindrical stem with hollow pith, trifoliolate leaves, bean pods up to 36cm long contain 1-2 cm long beans, whole plant edible but beans must be cooked, stock feed, invasive, Fabaceae.
Sword bean, (Canavalia gladiata), fast-growing climber, edible seeds, ornamental seed pods ornamental, used for ground cover and green manure, naturalized in wet habitats, invasive, Fabaceae.
Lavafield jack bean, (Canavalia pubescens), Hawaii, USA, Fabaceae.
Hawaiian jackbean, (Canavalia hawaiiensis), ‘āwikiwiki, woody vine, long-living perennial, fast growing in dry forests, three large leaflets with pointed tips, purple-pink flower white spot at base of the corolla, can fix nitrogen, ground cover, trellis climber, used to make leis and fishnets, folk medicine to treat skin disorders
Hawaiian Islands, USA, Fabaceae)
Beach bean, (Canavalia rosea), wild jack bean, bay bean, Fabaceae.
Canavalia rosea, ANPSA.
Achira, (Canna edulis). Queensland arrowroot, perennial, 2 metres, hardy plant, some of first plants to be cultivated by Incas, ornamental, used for quick growing windbreaks, leaves for animal feed and mulch, herbal medicine, poultices, digestive, culinary uses, large round red rhizomes eaten raw or cooked, or flour for thickening agent, young shoots as green vegetable, stir-fry, chips, tuber as vegetable, herbal medicine, poultices, South America, Cannaceae.
See diagram Queensland arrowroot, Canna edulis, Cannaceae.
Canna edulis, Queensland arrowroot, Daleys Fruit Trees.
Indian shot, (Canna indica), small, black globular seeds like shot, horticulture cultivars, Cannaceae.
(Canna is the only genus in the family Cannaceae.).
Achira">Canna edulis, Queensland arrowroot, Cannaceae.
Indian hemp, (Cannabis sativa), marijuana, chokeweed, "hemp", annual herb, dioecious, slightly lignified | Linalool | Cannabichromene, Cannabisativine, Tetrahydrocannabinol resin, (THC), cannabis alkaloids, herbal medicine, narcotic drugs, phenolic resins and psychoactive alcohol delta-tetrahydrocannabinol, analgesic and hallucinatory, cannabis alkaloids, white bast fibre for ropes, coarse cloth, oakum, Central and Western Asia, Mongolia, Cannabaceae.
Tetrahydrocannabol, C21H30O2, obtained by heating, smoking, vaporization, of dried unfertilized female cannabis flowers.
Dried herb is sold as hulled seed.
Industrial hemp, grown for industrial fibres and seed, (Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa var. sativa), Cannabaceae.
5.5.8 Cannabis.
Shankhpushi, (Canscora decussata), psychoactive, phenolic compounds, xanthones, triterpenoids, Indian medicine, Gentianaceae.
Canscora decussata, shankhpushi, psychoactive, phenolic compounds, xanthones, triterpenoids, Indian traditional medicine.
Native pomegranate, (Capparis arborea), wild lime, wild lemon, rainforest bush, up to 8 metres, crooked irregular trunk, sharp prickles, single white flowers, green smooth fruit resembles guava, native Australian food, eastern Australia, Capparaceae.
Capparis arborea, Daley's Fruit Trees.
Thorn caper, (Capparis microcantha), melada, shrub, climbing habit, parts used for local medicines, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Capparaceae.
Wild orange, (Capparis mitchellii), native orange, small native pomegranate, bumble tree, bimbil, up to 6 m, white/cream large flowers, fruit 2 to 5 cm in diameter, pulp with an agreeable perfume, Australian native food, (not related to citrus orange or other "wild oranges"), Australia, Capparaceae.
Capparis mitchelli, Daley's Fruit Trees.
Capers, (Capparis spinosa), caper bush, Flinders rose, perennial shrub, round-ovate fleshy leaves, capers are unopened flower buds, pungent sulfur compounds.
Anthocyanins, Kaempferol
Quercetin, preserved in brine, vinegar, if dry-salted then raspberry aroma from Raspberry ketone, in sauces fish dishes, mature fruit preserved as caper berries, Mediterranean region, widespread in semi-arid regions, Capparaceae.
Wild passionfruit, (Capparis spinosa subsp nummularia), caperbush, native caper, up to 1.5 m, green unripe fruit may be poisonous, orange ripe fruit splits open revealing little black inedible seeds, but fruit pulp edible, Australian native food, Capparaceae.
Woolly caper bush, (Capparis tomentosa), African caper, Hydroxystachydrine, Stachydrine, poison to sheep and calves, Africa, Capparaceae.
Shepherd's purse, (Capsella bursa-pastoris), mothers' hearts, herbal medicine,
| Garbanzol | Luteolin.
is sold as aerials.
Capsicum species, Capsicum annuum, chilli plant, Solanaceae.
Carallia, (Carallia brachiata), corky bark, billabong tree, maniawiga, up to 25 m, opposite oval glossy leaves, grey rough corky bark. small cream-green flowers in clusters on old wood, small globular berries eaten raw, useful timber, resistant to salt spray and saline soils, Australian native food, Rhizophoraceae.
(This may be "the billabong tree" in the Australian song "Waltzing Matilda".)
Carallia brachiata, Territory Native Plants.
Ipecacuanha, (Carapichea ipecacuanha), herbal medicine, syrup of ipecac, amoebicide.
| Emetine | formerly very popular herbal medicine, Rubiaceae.
Holy thistle, (Carbenia benedicta), erect branched stem, grey-green leaves, yellow flowers surrounded by leathery scales (leaves) tipped with long yellow-red spines, long cylindrical seed, very bitter taste, folk medicine for nursing mothers and difficult menstrual periods, herbal medicine, Asteraceae.
Bulbous bittercress, (Cardamine bulbosa), spring cress, edible pepper-tasting leaves, North America, Brassicaceae.
See diagram: Cardamine pratensis.
Cuckoo flower, (Cardamine pratensis), lady's smock, perennial herb, light shade, damp soil, small pale pink flowers, culinary, leaves in salads, herbal remedy, treat coughs, Europe, Brassicaceae.
Cardiospermum grandiflorum, balloon vine, invasive, smothers vegetation, Sapindaceae.
Hoary cress, (Cardaria draba), white top, weed of cereal crops, Asia, Southern Europe, Brassicaceae.
Balloon vine, (Cardiospermum grandiflorum), invasive, smothers vegetation, ornamental, world wide, noxious weed Australia and South Africa, Sapindaceae.
Lesser balloon vine, (Cardiospermum halicacabum), heart seed, climbing roadside weed, Africa, Australia North America, Sapindaceae.
Plumeless thistle, (Carduus acanthoides), purple flower heads, deeply lobed leaves, pasture invasive, noxious weed, North America, Europe, Asia, Asteraceae.
The "true thistles", unlike other thistle genera, "true thistles" have feathered hairs attached to their achenes.
Nodding thistle, (Carduus nutans), musk thistle, "true thistle", plumeless thistle, grows to 1.8 m, spiny wings on stem, green lanceolate very prickly leaves, large drooping, crimson-purple flowers, small achenes have longitudinal dotted stripes, unpalatable to livestock, aggressive growth and rapid spread in over-grazed and fertilized pastoral systems, accidentally introduced to USA, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, where aggressive growth and rapid spread in pastoral systems, over-grazed and fertilized land particularly vulnerable, Asteraceae.
"Musk thistle" in United States and Canada is a complex of closely-related species of Carduus nutans, Western Europe, Asteraceae.
Northern silky oak, (Cardwellia sublimis), bull oak, up to 40 m, stem up to 2m, used in house framing and furniture, Australia, Proteaceae.
Tall sedge, (Carex appressa), sedge, up to 800 mm, large yellow seed heads, grow in wet areas in full sun or partial shade or around pool area in pots or mass plantings, Australia, Cyperaceae
Rainforest sedge, (Carex brunnea), up to 0.8 m, stems densely tufted, . very hardy for wet places, tiny brown-green flowers on spikes, used for floral arrangements, frost resistant but drought tender, Australia, Cyperaceae.
Sedge, (Carex halleriana), "true" sedge, Western Asia, southern Europe, Cyperaceae.
Papaya, (Carica papaya), paw paw (Australia), tall herb, evergreen, fruit, large, yellow, melon-like, used fresh, juice, propagation from seeds, herbal medicine, grafting, herbal medicine, Tropical America, Caricaceae.
Papaya Project, (Carica papaya), Caricaceae.
Carica pentagona, babaco, Caricaceae.
Karanda, (Carissa carandas), thorny shrub, fruit, small, acid, purplish-black, used juice, jelly, propagation from seeds, air-layering cuttings, India, Apocynaceae.
Natal plum, (Carissa grandiflora), carissa, thorny shrub, ornamental, thornless selections good for hedges or spiny hedges, milky juice, used fresh, salads, sauce, juice, propagation from seeds, air-layering, cuttings, South Africa, Apocynaceae.
Natal plum, Daley's Fruit Trees.
Conkerberry, (Carissa lanceolata), erect shrub, up to 3 m, cliff faces and flood plains, creek margins, wood contains | Carissone, C15H24O2 |
Dehydrocarissone C15H22O2 | Carindone C31H44O6 | Australian native food, Apocynaceae.
Currant bush, (Carissa ovata), native scrub lime, karey, baroom bush, turkey bush, dry sclerophyll forest, up to 1 m, sprawling habit, spines at base of leaves, tubular perfumed white flowers, edible purple-black berry, used as a prickly hedge or screen, Australian native food, Apocynaceae.
Carissa ovata, Native Plants Queensland.
Conkerberry, (Carissa spinarum), bush plum, multi-stemmed shrub, up to 3 m, glossy green opposite leaves, branches bear thorns, white, star-shaped flowers, ovate green berries turn black-purple when ripe, Australian native food, Africa, Southern Asia, Australia, Apocynaceae.
Panama hat plant, (Carludovica palmata), toquilla palm, seed plant, large umbrella-like leaves but no woody trunk like palms, edible young leaves, fruits, shoots and roots, flexible stem used to make mats and bags, fibres are used to weave "Panama hats", edible leaf shoots, widely used ornamental plants, Tropical America, Cyclanthaceae.
Saguaro, (Carnegiea gigantea), sage of the desert, giant saguaro cactus, slow growing, up to 2 m after 50 years up to 15 m after 120 years, branched columnar, white flowers just below the top of the stem, red edible fruits, state wildflower of Arizona, | Salsolidine, C12H17NO2 | USA, Cactaceae.
Carnegiea gigantea, OSU.
Carpentaria palm, (Carpentaria acuminata), solitary slender palm in canopy rainforest, up to 20 m, grey trunk, widely spaced rings, long feather-like fronds up to 4 m long, white male and female flowers, inflorescence from upper leaf bases then hanging down,, small globular red fruit with fruit flesh is highly caustic, popular garden and landscape plant, Northern Australia, Arecaceae.
Carpentaria acuminata, Donald Simpson.
Hornbeam tree, (Carpinus betulus), common hornbeam, up to 10 m, narrow upright tree then vase-shaped with ascending dense branches and does not develop a central leader, separate male and female flowers on the same plant (monoecious), ornamental, used in parks as separate tree or as hedge if constantly pruned, England, Asia, Betulaceae.
Eland's sour fig, (Carpobrotus acinaciformis), sally-my-handsome, Betanine, C24H26N2O13, in flowers, South Africa, Aizoaceae.
Sea fig, (Carpobrotus aequilaterus), thick fleshy lamina, for water storage, mucilaginous sap contains
| Pentosans | Aizoaceae.
Sea fig, (Carpobrotus chilensis), common on west coast of North America, invasive, South Africa, Aizoaceae.
Hottentot fig, (Carpobrotus edulis, Mesembryanthemum edule), ice plant, pigface, sour fig, edible leaves, easy to grow, succulent, groundcover
| Betanin | Isobetanin | environmental, weed in Western Australia, South Africa, Aizoaceae.
Pigface, (Carpobrotus glaucescens), nully pigface, angular pigface, succulent, coastal cover crop, hardy plant,
groundcover on coastal sand dunes, leaves used as a salt substitute, stunning purple-pink flowers, red fruit tastes like salted apples or strawberries,
but do not eat fruit skin, high nutritional value, ornamental creeper, plant it in full sun, fertilize with wood ash, dolomite and rock dust, grows from cuttings,
herbal medicine, crushed leaves used to treat sunburn, burns, bites, jellyfish stings, sore throat, laryngitis, South Africa, Australian native food, Aizoaceae.
Carpobrotus glaucescens, Daley's Fruit Tree Nurserys.
Carpobrotus glaucescens, Australian National Herbarium.
See diagram: Carpobrotus glaucescens.
See diagram: Carpobrotus glaucescens.
Native pigface, (Carpobrotus rossii), coastal pigface, karkalla, "pig face", prostrate succulent groundcover, hardy plant on
coastal sand dunes southern Australia, light purple flowers, globular purple / red fruit, fresh and dried fruit edible, perhaps salty leaves eaten raw,
but can be cooked for greens, extracts have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, leaf juice used for insect repellent and insect sting relief, Australian native food, Aizoaceae.
Karkalla, (Carpobrotus virescens), coastal pigface, hardy creeping flat ground cover, up to 0.3 m, thick succulent leaves up to 10 cm in length, white-pink/purple flowers with pale yellow centres, used for rockeries and plantings, Australian native food, Australia, Aizoaceae.
Carpobrotus virescens, Tucker Bush.
See diagram: Hottentot fig.
Saffron thistle, (Carthamus lanatus), woolly distaff thistle, annual, erect spiny stem up to 120 cm high, competes with crops for light and nutrients, spiny leaves discourage grazing and can injure eyes of livestock, causes down-grading of wool,seeds remain dormant in soil fo years, noxious pasture weed in Australia, Mediterranean region, Asteraceae.
Safflower, (Carthamus tinctorius), distaff thistle, false saffron, annual, , long cultivated for its seeds, up to 50 cm, full sun, up to 1 m, single smooth stem, alternate stalkless, pointed oval bristly leaves, spines at edges, thistle-like flower, red-orange florets, former herbal medicine, seed extracts to treat blood pressure, flowers used as laxatives, used for coloring and flavouring foods, yellow or red dye for silk, used as rouge, low cholesterol safflower oil for salads and cooking, florets for saffron substitute food colouring
| Carthamin, Carthamine | ancient origin, China, Asteraceae.
Dried herb is sold as petals.
Safflower, Australian Gov.
Caraway, (Carum carvi), ajwain, ajmud, meridian fennel, Persian cumin, biennial, up to 60 cm, full sun, feathery foliage, grow from seed, umbels of small white flowers, culinary uses, in cabbage and pork dishes, breads, with parsnips, turnips, peas, baked apples, caraway "seed" used in seedcake and biscuits, distilled to make German liqueur Kummel, Scandinavian alcoholic drink Aquavit | Anethofuran | caraway flavour from | Carvone | lemon flavour from | Limonene | Cuminaldehyde | herbal medicine, is sold as caraway oil, ground caraway, annual from central Europe, biennial form eastern Mediterranean, Apiaceae.
Dried herb is sold as whole seed or dried fruit, not suitable for planting, chewed seed said to stop smell of garlic on the breath!.
Caraway essential oil is used in pharmacy, perfumery, food and dried fruit for spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints, flatulence, irritable stomach, indigestion, lack of appetite and dyspepsia in adults.
Caraway, Mudbrick Herb Cottage, See text below Description.
Ajwain, (Carum copticum), used for thousands of years for gastrointestinal disorders, cultivated herbal medicine | Thymol, C10H14O | Isoterpinene, C10H16 |
Paracymene C10H14 || Beta-pinenemene, C10H16 | Nicotinic acid, C6H5NO2, Niacin | also calcium, phosphorus and iron, |seeds used extensively as food additive in India, Iran, Apiaceae.
Ajmud, (Carum roxburgbianum), wild celery, up to 100 cm, widely cultivated for aromatic dried fruits, herbal medicine, India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Apiaceae.
Pecan, (Carya illinoiensis), hickory tree, deciduous trees, Juglandaceae.
See diagram: Pecan.
Carya, Daleys Fruit Trees.
Fishtail palm, (Caryota mitis), beridin, up to 25 m, compound leaves with wedge-shaped, fish tail-like leaflets, flowers on tassel-like clusters, ripe fruits dark red like string of beads, fruit and leaves poisonous, sap stings skin, unripe fruits irritating, calcium oxalate raphides, garden and roadside ornamental, Arecaceae.
Native fishtail palm, (Caryota rumphiana), northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Arecaceae.
Anisaldehyde.
Solitary fishtail palm, (Caryota urens), jaggery palm, toddy palm, alcoholic drinks, palm sugar, fishing rod from leaf, India, Arecaceae.
Pequi, (Caryocar brasiliense), souari nut, piquia-oil plant, South America, Caryocaraceae.
Native fishtail palm, (Caryota rumphiana), rainforest plant, solitary plant, grey-tan trunk with widely spaced rings, up to 18 m, dark green pinnately compound leaves, long petiole, golden drooping mop-like flowers, round red-pink fruit, dark brown seeds, flowers only once then dies so monocarpic species, northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Arecaceae.
"Cascara Sagrada", (trade name), See: Buckthorns">Cascara buckthorn Rhamnaceae.
White sapote, (Casmiroa edulis), Mexican apple, matasano, spreading tree, palmate leaves, deciduous, fast growing, fruit, large, sweet, yellow-green fruit skin, white flesh, fruits cause drowsiness, seeds contain anti-cancer zapotin, vanilla custard taste, fresh, grafting, grown from seeds, Mexico, Rutaceae.
Casimiroa edulis, White Sapote, Daley's Fruit trees.
Woolly-leaf white sapote, (Casimiroa tetrameria), medium tree, deciduous, leaves have white furry underside, fast growing, fruit is large, yellow custard-like, sweet, fresh, grown from grafting, seeds, Mexico, Central America, Rutaceae.
Pig's senna, (Cassia absus), pig's ear, sparsely-branched, erect annual, up to 1 metre tall, weed of cultivation, harvested from the wild for traditional medicine in both Asia and Africa, Ayurvedic medicine used to treat many health problems, Fabaceae.
Leichhardt bean, (Cassia brewsteri), Brewster's cassia, cigar cassia, up to 30 m, in open forests, flowers form a yellow pendulous raceme, fruits are cigar-shaped pods, pod ribbed between the seeds enclosed in a corky disk, hard-coated seed used for mine rehabilitation but seeds usually heavily parasitised, Australia, Caesalpiniaceae, Fabaceae.
Cassia specis in Australia.
Crown of gold tree, (Cassia excelsa), bright yellow flowers above the leaves in showy flower clusters, seeds in 15 cm long cylindrical pods, .
Cassine, Fabaceae.
Indian laburnum, (Cassia fistula), cascara, golden rain tree, pudding-pipe tree, purging cassia, up to 20 m, alternately arranged bright green leaves, large racemes of golden bright yellow flowers hang downwards, large woody cylindrical pods containing many seeds in pulp turn dark brown or black as they mature
| Cuminaldehyde | Anthraquinone | Hydrocyanic acid, Ricinoleic acid | Saponins, | herbal medicine, laxative, widely grown ornamental, strong timber, India, Fabaceae.
Anisaldehyde.
Brush cassia, (Cassia marksiana), up to 25 m, fragrant golden-yellow flowers hang in large clusters from lime-green foliage, segmented brown cylindrical fruits contain hard yellow-brown seeds enclosed in a cardboard-like envelope, Australia, Fabaceae.
Chinese senna, (Cassia obtusifolia), glycosides: | Aurantio-obtusin, C17H14O7 | Chryso-obtusin, C19H18O7 | Obtusifolin, C16H12O5 | invasive, widespread, Fabaceae.
Yellow shower, (Cassia queenslandica), Queensland cassia, small spreading tree, pinnate foliage and multiple leaflets long spikes of yellow flowers, cylindrical pod fruit , red seeds, spectacular display tree, Australia, Fabaceae.
Alexandrian senna, (Cassia senna) |\, Aloe-emodin, Chrysophanol |
Rhein | Sennoside A | herbal medicine, ornamental, Egypt, Sudan, Fabaceae.
Velvet cassia, (Cassia tomentella), velvet bean tree, up to 10 m, showy bright yellow perfumed flowers, hardy plant for dry conditions, seed used for mine rehabilitation, Australia, Fabaceae.
Sickle senna, (Cassia tora), wild weed, up to 90 cm, stems have strong smell, pale yellow flowers in leaf axils, sickle-shaped pods edible plant and seeds, pesticide | Chryso-obtusin, C19H18O7 | Chrysophanic acid, C15H10O4, Chrysophanol | Rubrofusarin, |
Cinnamaldehyde | Cinnamyl acetate, C11H12O2 | Methoxycinnamate, C10H9O3- | very useful herbal medicine, laxative to expel intestinal worms, skin diseases, ear ache, eye sensitivity, Southeast Asia, Fabaceae.
Sicklepod, (Senna tora, Cassia torosa L.), tora, sickle senna, septic weed, coffee weed, coffee senna, stinking cassia, Java bean | Physcion 8-gentiobioside, C28H32O15 |
Anthraquinone | Emodin| Chrysarobin,
C15H12O3 | 4-Methylmorpholine, C5H11NO | herbal medicine, coffee substitute, wild weed may poison cattle, Central America, Fabaceae.
Sicklepod, (Senna tora), Brisbane, gov.
Golden cassinia, (Cassinia aureonitens), yellow cassinia, woodlands plant, erect, open shrub, up to 4 m, dense clusters of small yellow flowers, Australia, New Zealand, Asteraceae.
Dodder laurel, (Cassytha filiformis), devil's twine, false dodder, bush dodder, yugulu, globular sweet fruit, eaten raw, invasive parasitic vine, used as a poison and a medicine and social uses and for food, said to be aphrodisiac so called Caribbean "love vine", Asian medicine, Australian native food, Lauraceae.
Slender devil's twine, (Cassytha glabella), twining habit, parasitic with haustoria into hosts, degeneration of root system after parasitism, Lauraceae.
Cassytha filiformis, few globular sweet fruit, eaten raw, Asian medicine, Australian native food, Lauraceae.
Chestnut, (Castanea sativa), sweet chestnut tree, European chestnut, Spanish chestnut, deciduous, (big nuts in spiny sheaths), herbal medicine | tannins | southern Europe, England, (naturalized), Fagaceae.
Castanea sativa, Chestnut, Daleys Fruit Trees.
Black bean, (Castanospermum australe), Queensland black bean, Moreton Bay "chestnut", Moreton Bay bean, up to 40 m, stem up to 1.2 m diameter, large pendant bean-like fruit, seeds look like chestnuts, but contain | cyanogenetic poison Castanospermine | wild food plant, rainforest timber tree, limited use for wood, fence posts, Australia, Fabaceae.
Do NOT eat it, because it is never listed as a "bush food"!
The method of counteracting the poison formerly used by the Australian native people is described in "Australia's Original Languages", by R. M. W. Dixon, Allen & Unwin, 2019, pp 20-22, (ISBN 978 1 76087 523 7), where it describes how in Dyirbal country, (North Queensland), the "staple food" Castanospermum australe, the tall blackbean trees, called mirran, produced pods, 15 cm or more in length, from which three to four "nuts" were baked, finely sliced and soaked in running water, a process taking up to three days.
Brown tamarind, (Castanospora alphandii), native chestnut, up to 30 m, pink-brown ovoid fruit, dark brown seeds, distantly related to the true tamarind, in rainforests, Australia, Sapindaceae.
Castanospora alphandii, Brown tamarind, Daleys Fruit Trees.
Castor
She-oak, (Casuarina equisetifolia), coast she-oak, "sheoak", drooping branches like horse hair, ornamental, tree, apparent leaves are
twigs, real leaves reduced to small scales at nodes of the flattened green stem, monoecious, oval woody fruit used as missiles in children's games, herbal medicine, diarrhoea, can fix atmospheric nitrogen, invasive, widespread in Australia and pacific region, Casuarinaceae.
Most species of Casuarina are called a "she-oak" or "sheoak".
Swamp sheoak, (Casuarina glauca), Casuarinaceae.
Casuarina glauca, Swamp sheoak, daleys Fruit tree Nursery.
Drooping she-oak, (Casuarina stricta), dioecious tree up to 10 M, chewable young cones called "oak apples" | Casuarictin | Casuarinin | Pedunculagin | Tellimagrandin | Australia, Casuarinaceae.
Casuarinaceae">Casuarinaceae, the She-oak family.
Indian bean tree, (Catalpa bignonioides), very large leaves, white flowers, North America, Bignoniaceae.
Northern catalpa, (Catalpa speciosa), showy flowers, North America, Bignoniaceae.
Khat, (Catha edulis), qat, jaad, miraa, erect evergreen glabrous tree, up to 25 m, used as a stimulant, Horn of Africa, Arabian Peninsula.
| Cathine | Cathinone | East Africa, Arabia, the bittersweet family, Celastraceae.
Pink periwinkle, (Catharanthus roseus, Vinca rosea), Madagascar periwinkle, rosy periwinkle, bright eyes, sadaphuli, old maid, ornamental perennial, up to 1 m, stems and leaves have milky sap, glossy opposite leaves with prominent white vein, pink flowers with a darker centre,, pair of slender pods with many seeds, environmental weed, catharanthus alkaloids: | Ajmalicine | Alstonine | Catharanthine | Cathenamine alkaloid
| Norharmane
| Leurosine | Loganin | Secologanin
| Vinblastine | Vincristine | Vindoline | more than 66 alkaloids| herbal medicine, diarrhoea, induce abortion, diabetes, said to destroy the excessive white blood cells of leukaemia, noxious weed in Australia, Madagascar. Apocynaceae.
See diagram Catharanthus roseus.
Catharanthus species, (Greek catharanthus pure flower). called periwinkles, come from Madagascar, except C. pusillus, from India.
Catharanthus roseus, Botany, Brisbane.
Common Caulerpa, (Caulerpa prolifera), blade algae is the world's largest single-celled organism.
Division: Chlorophyta, Family: Caulerpaceae, Caulerpa, fast-growing green algae, long fronds attached to rhizomes, propagates vegetatively if sections of rhizome
break off the parent plant and become established elsewhere, attached to the substrate by fine hair-like rhizoids. highly invasive species.
Caulerpa, (Caulerpa taxifolia), in aquariums, invasive, "killer algae" of fish, green algae family, Caulerpaceae.
Caulerpa taxifolia, DPI, NSW.
Blue cohosh, (Caulophyllum thalictroides), squaw root, papoose root | Baptifoline | herbal medicine, quinolizidine alkaloids, Berberidaceae.
Dried herb is sold as root.
New Jersey tea, (Ceanothus americanus), leaves were used to make a popular tea, perennial shrub, up to 1 m, multiple green-yellow stems, deep roots, no caffeine, used as tea substitute, prairie plant, fixes nitrogen, anti-microbial, root decoction affects blood coagulation, New Jersey, Rhamnaceae.
See diagram: Ceanothus americanus.
Mexican bean tree, (Cecropia peltata), trumpet tree, snakewood, up to 20 m, yellow-green flowers, fast growing, cold-sensitive, much variation of fruit quality, fruit, cylindrical hollow, soft, sweet flesh, many small seeds, used fresh, propagation from seeds, pioneer rainforest tree native to the American tropics, Queensland restricted invasive plant, potential to invade rainforests of the Gold Coast, outcompeting native plants and replacing food sources for native animals, aggressive coloniser, succulent fruits, seeds dispersed by flowing water, occupy creek banks, edges of rainforests and forest areas altered by human activity or storm events, large circular leaves resembling Papaya, lower leaf surface is very pale to nearly white/silver, male and female flowers on separate trees, female trees have finger-like spikes, male flowers are smaller with more ‘fingers’, Central and South America, Cecropiaceae.
Spanish cedar, (Cedrela odorata), West Indian cedar, cigar box cedar, Barbados cedar, valued aromatic wood, invasive, Meliaceae.
Chinese cedar, (Cedrela sinensis), toon tree, Chinese flamingo tree, up to 9 m, brilliant bright pink foliage, ornamental tree, Meliaceae.
.
Balm-of-Gilead, (Cedronella canariensis), Canary Islands balm, Canary balm, , short-lived perennial, up to 1 m, full sun, small pink flowers in terminal heads, elongated dull green leaves with sweet perfume like cedar when brushed, loose spikes of pink, lilac, or white two-lipped flowers, no therapeutic uses, infused to make a tea, added to potpourri for a ‘Woodsy’ scent, fragrant seeds, Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, Lamiaceae.
(See: Bible, Genesis 37:25, but the "balm" may have been from (Pistacia lentiscus), mastic tree). Burseraceae.
Cedrus species, conifers, conifer.
Cedrus, conifers, conifer.
Kapok tree, (Ceiba pentandra) ceiba, Java cotton, pochote, silk cotton tree, up to 70 m, deciduous shedding palmate leaves before flowering, clusters of thick conical thorns, seeds surrounded by light, strong fibres for mattresses called "kapok", now replaced by synthetics, tropical forest tree , resin for kapok seed oil, tannin, herbal medicine bark aphrodisiac, fever, asthma, root tonic, South America, west Africa, Malvaceae.
Lagos spinach, (Celosia argentea), celosia, plumed cockscomb, woolflower, wild cockscomb, dense bright-coloured clusters of flowers | Niacin | herbal medicine, blood discharge, dysentery, eye inflammation, swellings, invasive weed, Asia, Amaranthaceae.
Celosia argentea, Lagos spinach, Daleys Fruit Trees.
Cockscomb, (Celosia argentea var. cristata), wool flower, up to 60 cm, bright green foliage, wrinkly "rooster comb" bright red flowerheads, widely used as cut dried flowers, Amaranthaceae.
See diagram: Celosia argentea.
Cockscomb, (Celosia cristata), wool flower, wild cockscomb, bright-coloured deeply crenated and ruffled flowers, annual ornamental, flowers | Niacin | Amaranthin
| Betalamic acid | (houseplant), ornamental, Amaranthaceae.
Common hackberry, (Celtis occidentalis), hackberry, nettle tree, deciduous tree, Cannabaceae.
Buffel grass, (Cenchrus ciliaris), African foxtail grass, birdwood grass, hardy, drought-tolerant perennial, high oxalate content, easily catches fire, Poaceae.
Red star thistle, (Centaurea calcitrapa), global noxious weed, Europe, Asteraceae.
Cornflower, (Centaurea cyanus), bluebottle, bachelor's buttons, astringent tannins, Europe, west Asia, Asteraceae.
Dried herb is sold as cornflower petals.
Centaurea species are called knapweeds.
Mountain bluet, (Centaurea montana), mountain cornflower, widespread mountain plant, blue flowers, ornamental, Europe, Asteraceae.
Knapweed, (Centaurea nigra), common knapweed, black knapweed, perennial, up to 1 m, lobed, hairy leaves, purple flowers, butterfly food, Europe, Asteraceae.
Dried herb sold as cornflower petals.
Centaury, (Centaurium erythraea), common centaury, spike centaury, European centaury, herbal medicine, gastric disorders, kill worms, topical cure for freckles, Gentianaceae.
Dried herb is sold as aerials.
Gotu kola, (Centella asiatica), Indian pennywort, Asian pennywort, pegaga, spadeleaf, perennial, graceful, hardy plant, small annual garden herb, groundcover, traditional Asian food / herb, 2-5 leaves a day regarded as brain and body food | Asiaticoside | Asiatic acid | herbal medicine, tonic, improve mental sharpness, temporary relief, arthritis, pain, skin disorders fluid retention, allergies, nervous tension, arthritic pain, ("chemical cocktail"), culinary uses, India, Apiaceae.
Gotu kola, Mudbrick Herb Cottage, See text below Description.
Dried herb is sold as leaves, Mudbrick Herb Cottage.
See diagram: Gotu kola.
.
Sneezeweed, (Centipeda cunninghamii), gukwonderuk, old man weed, scent weed, native Australian medicinal herb, in low lying swampy areas of the Murray River, unusual leaf shape, smells of pine trees, Australia, Asteraceae.
Spreading sneezeweed, (Centipeda minima), small erect prostrate mat-forming soft aromatic herb, cottony hairy stems, clusters of tiny flowerheads up to 15 purple-green flowerile still green. widely used in Australian native medicine, harvested from the wild for mainly local medicinal use, plant strongly aromatic when crushed, may have caused poisoning of livestock in northern Australia.
Narrow-leaved valerian, (Centranthus augustifolia), Hercules wound wort, golden heliotrope, herbaceous perennial, used for ornamental gardening, pink to purple clusters of flowers, folk medicine used for its anti-inflammatory and sedative qualities. Mediterranean region, Caprifoliaceae.
Centurion centro, (Centrosema pascuourum), tropical pasture legume, annual twining herb that roots at nodes, leaves with 3 narrow leaflets, pink-mauve to crimson flowers, brown seeds, South America, Fabaceae.
Centrosema pascuourum, Pastures Australia.
Centro, (Centrosema pubescens), butterfly pea, flor de conchitas, vigorous twining perennial herb, forms tangled mat or grows up shrubs, an established tropical pasture plant in Australia, widespread weed of cane fields, roadside banks and other disturbed areas, South America, Fabaceae.
Centro, (Centrosema pubescens), Pastures Australial.
Spurred butterfly pea, (Centrosema virginianum), Virginian centro, , herbaceous, trailing and twining perennial vine, highly specialized flowers with an inverted banner for pollinating bees, North and South America, Fabaceae.
Old man cactus, (Cephalocereus senelis), columnar-shaped blue-green cactus, many white hairs, solitary stem, up to 15 m, 15 then 30 ribs, fine white bristles, up to five spines, cream and red coloured flowers, red fruit with yellow hairs, Mexico, Cactaceae.
Australian pitcher plant, (Cephalotus follicularis), West Australian pitcher plant, pod like a siliqua, Cephalotaceae.
Plum yew, (Cephalotaxus fortunei), cowtail pine, evergreen trees and shrubs, north China, Cephalotaxaceae.
Japanese plum-yew, (Cephalotaxus harringtonia) | Homoharringtonine, C29H39NO9 | used for treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia | Japan, Cephalotaxaceae.
Mouse-ear chickweed, (Cerastium vulgatum), perennial broadleaf weed, germinates by seed, prostrate growth habit, weed in turfgrass, prostrate stems form dense mat-like patches, form an upright mound of spreading and invasive sticky hairy stems that produce roots when nodes touch soil, dark green oblong leaves that are hairy on the entire upper surface, small white flowers, (common chickweed (Stellaria media), does not have hairy leaves and its nodes cannot form roots when they touch soil), USA,.
Caryophyllaceae.
Bur buttercup, (Ceratocephala testiculata), curveseed butterwort, dwarf herbaceous annual plant, up to 8 cm, small yellow flowers, hairy poisonous leaves, hard spiny fruits called 'burs',invasive in disturbed land, North America, southeastern Europe, Ranunculaceae.
Carob tree, (Ceratonia siliqua), St John's bread (desert food of Sant John the Baptist), algaroba, vegetable gum, large tree, evergreen, fast growing, up to 15 years to have pods, grows better in dry climate, fruit, large pod, drinks, chocolate substitute, L-Alanine
Pyrogallol, E410, Locust bean gum, in sweets, syrup, flour, grown from seeds, grafting, Mediterranean region, Fabaceae.
Carob tree seeds were used to weigh gold.
See: Carat.
See diagram: Carob tree.
Carob Tree, Daley's Fruit Trees.
Ceratiola ericoides, sand heath, sand hill rosemary, tropical North America, Ericaceae.
Ceratozamia hildae, bamboo cycad, Mexico, Zamiaceae, cycad, Phylum Cycadophyta.
Coachwood, (Ceratopetalum apetalum) scented satinwood, tarwood, medium-size hardwood, grows straight, fragrant grey bark, wood has caramel odour, used for flooring and furniture, boat building, Australia, Cunoniaceae.
Coon's tail, (Ceratophyllum demersum), hornwort, aquatic, widespread, common aquarium plant, invasive, Ceratophyllaceae.
New South Wales Christmas bush, (Ceratophyllum gummiferum), long-living large shrub, up to 6 m, sweet honey scent of cream star-shape small white flowers, enlarged red sepals, , light grey rough bark exudes gum when cut, Australia, Cunoniaceae.
Ceratophyllum gummiferum, Australian National Herbarium.
Sea mango, (Cerbera manghas), suicide apple, toxic glycosides, coastal, cardiac poison, ceberin glycoside, light wood, ornamental, Seychelles Islands, Apocynaceae.
.
Pong-pong, (Cerbera odollam), suicide tree, othalam, up to 12 m, grey bark, dark green spirally-arranged glossy leaves, cluster of white flowers with yellow eye, milky white latex, single large round green fruit called othalanga turns pink then black, two white poisonous seeds kernel turns black when exposed to the air | Cerberin, C32H48O9, cardiac glycoside, used for murder and suiide, herbal medicine, purgative, emetic, ornamental, mangrove swamps, coastal south Asia, Apocynaceae.
See diagram Red pong-pong tree.
Judas tree, (Cercis siliquastrum), love tree, deciduous, rounded heart-shaped leaves., pink pea-like flowers, long flat purple pods, woody fruits, decorative garden tree, Mediterranean region, Fabaceae.
Torch thistle, (Cereus aethiops), sweet potato cactus, multi-stemmed cactus, tall like a taper, South America, Cactaceae.
Blue torch cactus, (Cereus azureus), upright, slender stems, blue waxy bloom, (houseplant), Cactaceae.
Apple cactus, (Cereus peruvianus), Peruvian apple, columnar cactus, blue bloom, brown thorns, (potted houseplant), night flowering, flesh soft, sweet, delicate flavour, (like dragonfruit), attractive, drought tolerant, night pollination by moths or bats, sold as bare-rooted cuttings, South America, Cactaceae.
Cereus peruvianus, Apple Cactus, Daleys Fruit Trees.
See diagram: Cereus peruvianus.
Honeywort, (Cerinthe major), blue shrimp plant, self-seeding annual, up to 90 cm, blue-grey foliage, nodding purple bell flowers, Boraginaceae.
String of hearts, (Ceropegia woodii), hearts entangled, rosary vine, wiry purple stems, heart-shaped leaves, trailer, (houseplant), Apocynaceae.
Wax palm, (Ceroxylon alpinum), ceroxylon palm, South American wax palm, solitary palm ,up to 21 m, internodes covered with thin layers of wax, hemispheric crown of leaves, orange fruits, lives in cool and damp conditions, very slow growing, Ecuador, Arecaceae.
Night-blooming jasmine, (Cestrum nocturum), night-scented jasmine, perennial, up to 1-2 metres +, honey / musk / almond scented flowers give off their aroma in evenings, Solanaceae.
Night-Scented Jessamine, (Cestrum nocturum), Mudbrick Herb Cottage.
Green cestrum, (Cestrum parqui), shrub, up to 3 m, light-green, brittle stems, shiny green lance-shaped leaves, foul-smelling when crushed but sweet smelling in the evening, yellow trumpet-shaped flowers | all parts poisonous Carboxyparquin, C37H50O19 | Solanaceae.
Stinging serpent, (Cevallia sinuata), spiny leaf, thick prickly glandular leaves, yellow flowers, red-orange bracts, variable hairs covering the leaves that have yellow glands, blooms at night, unusual plant, Texas, USA, Loasaceae.
Chamaecyparis: Chamaecyparis species, Cupressaceae.
Chamaecyparis, Conifers, conifer.
Parlour palm, (Chamaedorea elegans), neanthe bella palm, dwarf palm, up to 2 m, slow growing, dark green foliage ffrom base, yellow flowers, popular houseplant, Mexico, Arecaceae.
False unicorn root, (Chamaelirium luteum), blazing star, devil's bit, fairy wand, herbal medicine, North America, Melanthiaceae.
Roman chamomile, (Chamaemelum nobile), dog fennel, English chamomile, garden chamomile, sweet chamomile,
"true chamomile", herbaceous perennial, mat-forming creeping groundcover, up to 25 cm, soft feathery foliage, full sun, formerly popular for its apple scent when
walked on, shade, yellow-centered and white-rayed flowers, grow on stalks, spreading plant, leaves used as wash, hair conditioner, dried flowers for camomile tea, herbal medicine, digestive problems, morning sickness colic, stress-related dyspepsia, sleeplessness and bad dreams, but may increase drowsiness caused by some drugs and may interact with prescription drugs for osteoporosis or cancer, volatile oil contains | Chamazulene | Angelic acid | Tiglic acid | Sesquiterpene lactones | do not use if taking contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy, a study in 2018 showed that people with generalized anxiety order who took chamomile had beneficial responses in their cortisol levels, Western Europe. Asteraceae.
Roman Chamomile, Mudbrick Herb Cottage, See text below images, Asteraceae.
Not all "chamomiles" are Chamaemelum species, e.g. German chamolile, Matricaria chamomilla.
Lawn chamomile, (Chamaemelum nobile, var. Treneague, Anthemis nobilis), mat-forming low growing perennial, feathery
leaves, non-flowering variety suitable for lawns, e.g. at Buckingham Palace, Asteraceae.
Lawn Chamomile, Mudbrick Herb Cottage, See text below Description.
European fan palm, (Chamaerops humilis), fan palm, large, fan-shaped leaves, (houseplant), Europe, Arecaceae.
Peanut cactus, (Chamaeus silvestris), clump-forming, finger-like spined stems, funnel-shaped bright red flowers, very popular cactus, Cactaceae.
Geralton wax plant, (Chamelaucium unicinatum), wax flower, erect shrub, up to 4 m, hooked tips of the aromatic leaves, conical bracts like a monk's hood surrounding the young flowers, hooked tips of the leaves, dense spreading shrub, evergreen, fine narrow foliage, star-like aromatic mostly white waxy flowers, popular long-living cut flowers, planted as a hedge, feature plant or screen, popular horticulture plant, widely cultivated, Australia, Myrtaceae.
Chamelaucium unicinatum, ANPSA.
Chara, (Chara vulgaris), Division Charophyta, Stoneworts.
Crepe ginger, (Cheilocostus speciosus) | Diosgenin | Asia, Costaceae.
Cheilocostus speciosus, crepe ginger | Diosgenin | Asia, Costaceae.
Wallflower, (Cheiranthus cheiri), colourful flowers, scents in nosegays, called "gillyflower", because of clove smell.
Poisonous, Cheiranthin glucoside from the leaves and seeds with action similar to Digitalis, dangerous cardiotonic drug.
Formerly used as a diuretic and emmenagogue (stimulate blood flow in pelvic region).
Now used in small doses as a cardiotonic to treat impotence and paralysis, toxic in large doses, seeds are aphrodisiac, diuretic, expectorant.
Also, used to treat bronchitis, fevers and eye injuries, pain associated with wisdom teeth, Brassicaceae.
Greater celandine, (Chelidonium majus), celandine, swallowwort, 1 metre +, white flowers, orange sap from stem, root shaped like ginger.
Culinary uses | Chelerythrine | Chelerythrine chloride.
| Chelidonic acid | Chelidonine, (C20H19NO5) | Nonacosan-10-ol, (C29H60O) | Sanguinarine | herbal medicine, eyes, blood and liver tonic.
May cause liver toxicity, poisonous, purgative, used to cure warts, Papaveraceae.
Chelidonium species: | Allocryptopine | Berberine | Magnoflorine | Papaveraceae.
Dried herb sold as aerials.
Greater Celandine, Mudbrick Herb Cottage.
Fat hen, (Chenopodium album), lamb's quarters, perennial, hardy plant, up to 1.5 metres, usually a weed.
Forage for little chickens, culinary uses, rich in vitamins A and C, nutty flavoured young leaves and flowers, in salads or cooked, Europe, Amaranthaceae.
(Chenopodium album ssp. amaranticolor, is used for diagnosis of plant viruses) | Amaranthin | Amaranthaceae.
Good King Henry, (Chenopodium bonus-henricus), blitum bonus-henricus, goose foot, fat hen, all good, smear wort, wild spinach.
Old cultivated species, looks like spinach, up to 60 cm, young leaves cooked like spinach, but cook thoroughly, because may contain:
| Saponins | Oxalic acid | to aggravate rheumatism, arthritis, gout, Europe, Amaranthaceae.
Chenopodium species, | Indicaxanthin |.
Quinoa, (Chenopodium quinoa), staple ancient pseudograin of Incas in Peru ashes consumed with coca leaves, up to 1-2 m, annual.
Seeds 1-3 mm diameter coated with bitter saponins to be removed by washing, cuisine, cooked as with rice, ground for bread, gluten-free, easy to digest.
Used as folk medicine, antiseptic, South America, Amaranthaceae.
Red goosefoot, (Chenopodium rubrum), | Celosianin | Amaranthaceae.
White fringetree, (Chionanthus virginicus), old man's beard, deciduous shrub, up to 10 m, richly-scented flowers have a white lobed corolla.
Drooping axillary panicles, blue-purple ovoid drupe, Native Americans used dried roots and bark to treat skin inflammation, North America, Oleaceae.
Devil's hand tree, (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon), monkey's hand tree, (single species), evergreen tree, brilliant red flowers open pointing upwards.
Fast growing tree, up to 10 m, large flowers, seeds in hard woody pods, in Melbourne Botanic Gardens, Mexico, Malvaceae.
Chlamydomonas, green algae, 9.1.1 Phylum Chlorophyta.
Chlorella pyrenoidosa 9.0.2 Green algae, Phylum Chlorophyta, Class Chlorophyceae.
Rhodes grass, (Chloris gayana), windmill grass, tropical pasture grass, invasive, Poaceae.
Rhodes grass, (Chloris gayana), DAF, Qld.
Narrowleaf soap plant, (Chlorogalum augustifolium), soap root, amole, soap lily, small fibrous bulb with narrow basal leaves, ephemeral flowers open at night.
Small fruit capsule, soapy foam from saponin glycosides can be used to wash clothes, grows on rocky hillsides, North America, Asparagaceae.
Wavy-leafed soap plant, (Chlorogalum pomeridianum), California soaproot, amole, California, Asparagaceae.
9.4.0 Chlorophyta, Chlorophytes.
Safed musli, (Chlorophytum borivilianum), widely grown for its high saponin content tubers, aphrodisiac folk medicine, India, Asparagaceae.
Spider plant, (Chlorophytum comosum), hen and chickens, up to 60 cm, ribbon-like variegated leaves arch to form cascade, green-white flowers.
Invasive common houseplant, southern Africa, Asparagaceae.
Velvet leaf, (Chondodendron tomentosum), woody climber into rainforest canopy, large heart-shaped leaves have silky underside.
Contains benzylisoquinoline alkaloid muscle relaxant | Tubocurarinem C37H41N2O6 |.
Active component of curare poison used by indigenous South Americans to coat tips of hunting arrows, South America, Menispermaceae.
Skeleton weed, (Chondrilla juncea), vegetative reproduction by tuberous roots, large tap root competes with native plant species for nutrients and water.
It is a major problem of wheat fields and can reduce yields, threatens native species, resistant to many herbicides, Asteraceae.
Irish moss, (Chondrus crispus), Gigartinaceae.
Dried herb sold as fronds powder.
Climbing frangipani, (Chonemorpha fragrans), vigorous, deciduous, yellow-throated white blooms, delicious perfume, grows in full sun, Apocynaceae.
Silk floss tree, (Chorisia speciosa), deciduous, up to 13 m, purple flowers, "most beautiful tree in the world", Brazil, Bombacaceae.
Siam weed, (Chromolaena odorata), Christmas bush, common floss flower, herbal medicine, prohibited invasive plant of Queensland, Asteraceae.
Golden cane palm, (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), butterfly palm, golden stems and leaf stalks, Madagascar, Arecaceae.
Boneseed, (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera), bitou bush, Queensland restricted invasive plant, Asteraceae.
Costmary, (Chrysanthemum balsamita), alecost, balsam herb, perennial, up to 2 m, oval serrated leaves, small yellow button-shaped flowers.
Contains | monoterpenoid Carvone, C10H14O | beta-Thujone, C10H16O | Mediterranean region, Asteraceae.
(Greek, chrysos, gold, anthenon flower), flower with 16 petals emblem of Japan.
Used for perfumed, bookmarks, dried for fresh leaves in salads, sauces, soups and beverages, used for flavouring ale, Mediterranean, Asteraceae.
Pyrethrum, (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium), painted daisy, Dalmation chrysanthemum, perennial, up to 1.5 m, grow from seed but needs open sunny location.
Basal clump of blue-green fern-like daisy leaves, thin erect flower stem, single white daisy flower with yellow centre on a slender upright stem.
Seeds attached to calyx beneath the flower, commercial production of insecticide pyrethrum from dried flower heads | Pyrethrin C22H28O5 |.
Make spray by cutting off whole flower heads when in full bloom, grind up the flowers into a smooth powder.
Combine half a cup of the powder with liquid soap + 1 litre of water.
| Jasmolone, C11H16O2, secondary alcohol | ornamental, Yugoslavia, Asteraceae.
Pyrethrum, Mudbrick Herb Cottage, See text below Description.
Chrysanthemum (Greek chrysos gold, and anthenon flower).
"Chrysanthemum", (Chrysanthemum X morifolium), (most important hybrid), Asteraceae.
(A chrysanthemum flower with 16 petals is the emblem of Japan).
(Pyrethrum is the name of the plant and the name of the insecticide, made of Pyrethrin C22H28O5.).
(Pythrethrin is the active ingredient of insecticide Pyrethrum).
Pyrethrum, Mudbrick Herb Cottage.
Pyrethrum daisy, (Chrysanthemum coccineum), Persian pellitory, painted daisy, popular colourful garden flower.
Formerly used for commercial production of insecticide pyrethrum from dried flower heads, ornamental, Asteraceae.
Yellow chrysanthemum, (Chrysanthemum coronarium), edible chrysanthemum, Asteraceae.
(Tanacetum gracile), essential oil of Tanacetum gracile, a cold desert of Western Himalaya, alpine highly aromatic herb.
Has 40 constituents including: | Camphor | Lavandulol | Alpha-phellendrene | Alpha-bisabool | Chamazulene |.
Himalayas, Asteraceae.
Ox-eye daisy, (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), moon daisy, maudelenwort, grassland perennial, ornamental, invasive, annual, former herbal medicine, diuretic.
Not cultivated.
weed in damp places.
ornamental.
Greece.
Asteraceae.
Florists' daisy.
(Chrysanthemum x morifolium).
(most important hybrid).
"chrysanthemum".
hardy garden mum.
"ju hua".
Chinese chrysanthemum.
Herbal medicine, treats many disorders in Chinese medicine, boiled to make Chinese "chrysanthemum tea", added to Korean rice wine.
Many chemical compounds, houseplant removes toxic chemicals from air, ornamental, Asteraceae.
Dried herb is sold as chrysanthemum flowers.
Feverfew, (Chrysanthemum parthenium), bachelor's buttons, featherfoil, mutterkraut, midsummer daisy, matrem, aromatic herbaceous perennial, companion plant.
Bush, up to70 cm, yellow-green scented ferny leaves with citrus smell, white daisy-like flowers with yellow centre, achene fruit, self seeder. needs full sun.
Folk medicine, 'fever reducer', but interacts with blood thinners | Apigenin, C15H10O5 | Camphor, C10H16O | Luteolin, C15H10O6 | Parthenolide, C15H20O3.
Hherbal medicine, migraine relief and treating inflammation, fever, insect bites, menstrual issues, arthritis, migraine headache, skin damage but contact dermatitis.
Febrifuge, acts against Leishmania infection, essential oil anti-microbial, herbal tea but not for pregnant women, because may cause uterine contractions.
Avoid using with alcohol, bitter taste and chewing leaves causes mouth sores, may affect platelets, ornamental but invasive, Europe, Asia, Asteraceae.
(Latin febrifuga, fever, fugare drive away).
Feverfew, (Tanecetum parthenium), Asteraceae.
Feverfew, Mudbrick Herb Cottage, (Tanecetum parthenium), See text below.
Feverfew - Golden, Mudbrick Herb Cottage, (Tanecetum parthenium 'Aureum'), Asteraceae.
Dried herb is sold as aerials, Mudbrick Herb Cottage.
Tansy, (Tanacetum vulgare), commin tansy, sweet tansy, bitter buttons, bachelor's buttons, golden buttons, perennial, up to 50 cm, companion plant.
Dried leaves in sachets kept in cupboards, garden spray, mulch, used to flavour biscuits, Hungary, Asteraceae.
Tanacetum species are called tansies.
Tansy, Mudbrick Herb Cottage, See text below.
Dried herb is sold as aerials.
Coco plum, (Chrysobalanus icaco), (variety 'Icaco Plum'), shrub, paradise plum, icaco, evergreen, slow growing, fruit, smooth, white or purple, cotton-like pulp.
Used for fresh jellies, preserves, propagation from seeds, grown as an ornamental, South Florida, West Indies, Chrysobalanaceae.
Yellow buttons, (Chrysocephalum apiculatum), cate's orange, common everlasting, desert flame, groundcover, yellow flower heads, Australia, Asteraceae.
Star apple, (Chrysophyllum cainito), cainito, caimito, satin leaf tree, large tree, evergreen, slow growing, fruit, large, purple, gold, green, edible pulp, used fresh.
Propagate from seeds, cuttings, grafting, Tropical America, Sapotaceae.
Chrysophyllum cainito, Star apple, Daly's Fruit Trees.
Satinleaf, (Chrysophyllum oliviforme), damson plum, wild star apple, up to 10 m golden-brown foliage, dark green top of leaf and copper bottom of leaf.
Garden ornamental, USA, Caribbean islands, Sapotaceae.
Love grass, (Chrysopogon aciculatus), amorseco, lesser spear grass, perennial, creeping stout rhizomes, up to 50 cm.
Sharp spikelets stick to clothing and animal fur | Hydrocyanic acid |.
Herbal medicine, expel intestinal worms, rheumatism, invasive weed, prevent soil erosion, Southeast Asia, Australia, Poaceae.
Vetiver grass, (Chrysopogon zizanioides), perennial, up to 1. 5 metres, clumping grass, moisture conservation and erosion control, mulch.
Aromatic root yields valuable oil used in perfumery, drinks, foods, cosmetics, soaps, crafts, insect repellent.
Herbal medicine, tonic, digestive, temporary relief of arthritis, fevers, stress, aromatherapy, culinary uses, herbal medicine, Poaceae.
Vetiver Grass, Vetiveria zizanioides, Mudbrick Herb Cottage.