Plants, CAL-CHL

Life on Earth owes much to plants. The vast majority of plants carry out photosynthesis to transform light energy into chemical energy, which is the way that virtually all energy in the biosphere becomes available to living things (including us humans). Plants occupy the base of Earth's food webs and are consumed directly or indirectly by all higher life-forms, thereby functioning as the major source of food for humans and other animals. Plants' photosynthetic activity also produces the air that we breathe: almost all the oxygen in the atmosphere is due to the process of photosynthesis. Still not convinced about the merits of plants? Consider the fact that many plants not only serve up crucial nutrients and breathable air but also look good doing it. Many plants are admired for their striking aesthetic qualities, and flowers such as tulips, lilies, sunflowers, and daisies beautify fields, gardens, windowsills, and bouquets the world over. Plants are also a primary source of consumer goods, such as building materials, textile fibers, and pharmaceuticals.
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Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title

California poppy
California poppy, (Eschscholzia californica), plant of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), native to the southwestern......
calla
calla, either of two distinct kinds of plants of the arum family (Araceae). The genus Calla contains one species......
Callistemon
Callistemon, genus of shrubs and trees, of the family Myrtaceae, native to Australia. They have spikes of showy......
Calopogon
Calopogon, genus of five species of terrestrial orchids (family Orchidaceae), native to North America and the West......
Calyceraceae
Calyceraceae, family of small and economically unimportant dicotyledonous flowering plants containing six genera......
Camellia
Camellia, genus of about 250 species of East Asian evergreen shrubs and trees belonging to the tea family (Theaceae),......
Camerarius, Rudolph Jacob
Rudolph Jacob Camerarius was a botanist who demonstrated the existence of sexes in plants. Professor of natural......
Campanulaceae
Campanulaceae, the bellflower family, containing 84 genera and about 2,400 species of mostly herbaceous (nonwoody)......
campion
campion, (genus Silene), genus of about 900 species of herbaceous flowering plants of the pink, or carnation, family......
canary creeper
canary creeper, (species Tropaeolum peregrinum), annual climbing herb, of the family Tropaeolaceae, native to northwestern......
Candolle, Alphonse Pyrame de
Alphonse Pyrame de Candolle was a Swiss botanist who introduced new methods of investigation and analysis to phytogeography,......
Candolle, Augustin Pyrame de
Augustin Pyrame de Candolle was a Swiss botanist who established scientific structural criteria for determining......
candytuft
candytuft, (genus Iberis), genus of about 40 species of Eurasian plants of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Candytufts......
Canellales
Canellales, order of flowering plants consisting of 2 families (Winteraceae and Canellaceae), 15 genera, and 136......
canistel
canistel, (Pouteria campechiana), small tree of the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae), grown for its edible fruits.......
canna
canna, (genus Canna), genus of about 10 species of flowering plants, the only genus of the family Cannaceae (order......
Cannabaceae
Cannabaceae, the hemp family (order Rosales), containing about 11 genera and about 170 species of plants. Its members......
cannabis
cannabis, (genus Cannabis), genus of medicinal, recreational, and fibre plants belonging to the family Cannabaceae.......
cannonball tree
cannonball tree, (Couroupita guianensis), tall, soft-wooded tree, of the family Lecythidaceae, native to northeastern......
canoe cedar
canoe cedar, common name usually applied to giant arborvitae (q.v.) but also used for a species of false cypress...
cantala
cantala, (Agave cantala), plant of the family Asparagaceae and its fibre, belonging to the leaf fibre group. Likely......
Cape gooseberry
Cape gooseberry, (Physalis peruviana), species of ground cherry in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and its edible......
Cape tulip
Cape tulip, any plant of the genus Haemanthus of the family Amaryllidaceae, consisting of about 50 species of ornamental......
caper
caper, (genus Capparis), genus of some 250 species of low prickly trees, shrubs, or lianas (family Capparaceae).......
Caprifoliaceae
Caprifoliaceae, the honeysuckle family of the order Dipsacales, comprising about 42 genera and 890 species. The......
Capsicum annuum
Capsicum annuum, flowering plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), widely cultivated for the hot or mild peppers......
caraway
caraway, the dried fruit, commonly called seed, of Carum carvi, a biennial herb of the parsley family (Apiaceae,......
cardinal flower
cardinal flower, (Lobelia cardinalis), perennial flowering plant of the genus Lobelia (family Campanulaceae) native......
cardoon
cardoon, (Cynara cardunculus), thistlelike perennial herb of the family Asteraceae, native to southern Europe and......
carnation
carnation, (Dianthus caryophyllus), herbaceous plant of the pink, or carnation, family (Caryophyllaceae), native......
carnivorous plant
carnivorous plant, any plant especially adapted for capturing and digesting insects and other animals by means......
carob
carob, (Ceratonia siliqua), tree of the pea family (Fabaceae), grown for its edible pods. Carob is native to the......
carpel
carpel, One of the leaflike, seed-bearing structures that constitute the innermost whorl of a flower. One or more......
carpet grass
carpet grass, (Axonopus fissifolius), mat-forming perennial grass of the family Poaceae, native to sandy soils......
carpet moss
carpet moss, (genus Hypnum), genus of about 80 species of mosses (family Hypnaceae) that form dense green mats......
carrion flower
carrion flower, (genus Stapelia), genus of about 44 species of succulent plants of the milkweed family (Apocynaceae),......
carrot
carrot, (Daucus carota), herbaceous, generally biennial plant of the Apiaceae family that produces an edible taproot.......
Caryophyllaceae
Caryophyllaceae, the pink, or carnation, family of flowering plants (order Caryophyllales), comprising some 100......
cashew
cashew, (Anacardium occidentale), evergreen shrub or tree of the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cultivated for its......
cassava
cassava, (Manihot esculenta), tuberous edible plant of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) from the American tropics.......
castor-oil plant
castor-oil plant, (Ricinus communis), large plant of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), grown commercially for......
Casuarinaceae
Casuarinaceae, the beefwood family of dicotyledonous flowering plants, with two genera (Casuarina, 30 species;......
catalpa
catalpa, (genus Catalpa), genus of eight species of trees (family Bignoniaceae) native to eastern Asia, eastern......
Cathaya
Cathaya, genus of evergreen coniferous trees of the family Pinaceae, containing two living species native to China......
catkin
catkin, elongated cluster of single-sex flowers bearing scaly bracts and usually lacking petals. Catkins may be......
catnip
catnip, (Nepeta cataria), herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae), noted for its aromatic leaves, which are particularly......
cattail
cattail, (genus Typha), genus of about 30 species of tall reedy marsh plants (family Typhaceae), found mainly in......
cattleya
cattleya, (genus Cattleya), genus of about 45 species of orchids (family Orchidaceae), several of which are commercially......
cauliflower
cauliflower, (Brassica oleracea, variety botrytis), highly modified form of cabbage in the mustard family (Brassicaceae),......
cayenne pepper
cayenne pepper, (Capsicum annuum), small-fruited pepper in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), the source of a......
Ceanothus
Ceanothus, genus of North American shrubs, of the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae), comprising about 55 species. The......
cecropia
cecropia, (genus Cecropia), several species of tropical tree of the family Cecropiaceae common to the understory......
cedar
cedar, any of four species of ornamental and timber evergreen conifers of the genus Cedrus (family Pinaceae), three......
celandine
celandine, any of several distinct flowering plants of similar appearance, mostly members of the poppy family (Papaveraceae).......
Celastraceae
Celastraceae, the staff-tree family, in the order Celastrales, comprising about 55 genera of woody vines, shrubs,......
Celastrales
Celastrales, small order of flowering plants that includes 3 families, some 100 genera, and about 1,350 species.......
celeriac
celeriac, (subspecies Apium graveolens, variety rapaceum), type of celery (Apium graveolens, variety rapaceum)......
celery
celery, (Apium graveolens), herbaceous plant of the parsley family (Apiaceae). Celery is usually eaten cooked as......
celery-top pine
celery-top pine, (Phyllocladus aspleniifolius), slow-growing ornamental and timber conifer (family Podocarpaceae),......
Celosia
Celosia, genus of about 45 species of herbaceous plants in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae), native to tropical......
Centaurea
Centaurea, genus of about 500 species of herbaceous plants of the composite family (Asteraceae). Most are native......
century plant
century plant, any of several species of Agave in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The name is commonly applied......
Ceratophyllales
Ceratophyllales, hornwort order of flowering plants, consisting of a single family (Ceratophyllaceae) with one......
Ceratozamia
Ceratozamia, genus of about 18 species of cycads in the family Zamiaceae. The species are native to Mexico and......
cereus
cereus, (genus Cereus), genus of about 30 species of large columnar cacti (family Cactaceae) native to South America.......
Cesalpino, Andrea
Andrea Cesalpino was an Italian physician, philosopher, and botanist who sought a philosophical and theoretical......
Ceylon ironwood
Ceylon ironwood, (Mesua ferrea), tropical tree (family Calophyllaceae), cultivated in tropical climates for its......
chamomile
chamomile, any of various daisylike plants of the aster family (Asteraceae). Chamomile tea, used as a tonic and......
chaparral
chaparral, scrubland plant communities composed of broad-leaved evergreen shrubs, bushes, and small trees usually......
chard
chard, (Beta vulgaris), one of the four cultivated forms of the plant Beta vulgaris of the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae),......
charlock
charlock, (Sinapis arvensis), early-flowering plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Charlock is native to......
Charrier coffee
Charrier coffee, (Coffea charrieriana), species of coffee plant (genus Coffea, family Rubiaceae) found in Central......
chaste tree
chaste tree, (Vitex agnus-castus), aromatic shrub of the mint family (Lamiaceae; formerly placed in Verbenaceae),......
chayote
chayote, (Sechium edule), perennial vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), cultivated for its edible fruits.......
cherimoya
cherimoya, (Annona cherimola), tree of the custard apple family (Annonaceae). It is native to frost-free higher......
cherry
cherry, any of various trees belonging to the genus Prunus and their edible fruits. Commercial cherry production......
cherry laurel
cherry laurel, either of two species of evergreen plants in the rose family, cultivated as ornamentals, particularly......
chervil
chervil, (Anthriscus cerefolium), annual herb of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). It is native to regions of......
chestnut
chestnut, (genus Castanea), genus of seven species of deciduous treesin the beech family (Fagaceae), native to......
chestnut oak
chestnut oak, any of several species of North American timber trees, with chestnutlike leaves, belonging to the......
chia
chia, (Salvia hispanica), species of flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae), grown for its edible seeds.......
chickpea
chickpea, (Cicer arietinum), annual plant of the pea family (Fabaceae), widely grown for its nutritious seeds.......
chickweed
chickweed, either of two species of small-leaved plants of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae). Both species of chickweed......
chicory
chicory, (Cichorium intybus), blue-flowered perennial plant of the family Asteraceae. Native to Europe and introduced......
Chigua
Chigua, genus of two species of cycads in the family Zamiaceae endemic to lowland rainforest habitats in Colombia.......
Chile lantern tree
Chile lantern tree, (Crinodendron hookeranum), tree of the family Elaeocarpaceae native to western South America......
Chilean cedar
Chilean cedar, (species Austrocedrus chilensis), ornamental and timber evergreen conifer, the only species of the......
chili pepper
chili pepper, any of several species and cultivars of very hot, pungent peppers in the nightshade family (Solanaceae).......
chin cactus
chin cactus, (genus Gymnocalycium), genus of about 50 species of cacti (family Cactaceae), native to South America.......
China aster
China aster, (Callistephus chinensis), herbaceous plant of the aster family (Asteraceae, also called Compositae),......
China fir
China fir, (Cunninghamia lanceolata), coniferous evergreen timber tree of the cypress family (Cupressaceae), native......
Chinese cabbage
Chinese cabbage, either of two widely cultivated members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) that are varieties......
Chinese hibiscus
Chinese hibiscus, (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), perennial species of hibiscus of the mallow family (Malvaceae), cultivated......
Chinese parasol tree
Chinese parasol tree, (Firmiana simplex), tree of the hibiscus, or mallow, family (Malvaceae; order Malvales),......
Chinese yew
Chinese yew, (Taxus celebica), a large, ornamental evergreen shrub or tree of the yew family (Taxaceae), widespread......
chinquapin
chinquapin, any of several species of trees in various genera of the beech family (Fagaceae). Notably, they include......
chive
chive, (Allium schoenoprasum), small perennial plant of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), related to the onion.......
Chloranthales
Chloranthales, order of flowering plants, a basal branch of the angiosperm tree, consisting of 1 family, Chloranthaceae,......
Chlorophytum
Chlorophytum, genus of about 150 species of flowering plants in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The plants......

Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title