Oleander (Nerium oleander) the Poison

Oleander (Nerium Oleander), is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae and is one of the most poisonous plants known.
It is native to a broad area from Morocco and Portugal eastward through the Mediterranean region and southern Asia to Yunnan in southern parts of China.

Growth
* Oleander grows well in warm subtropical regions, where it is extensively used as an ornamental plant in landscapes, parks, and along roadsides.
* It is tolerant of a variety of poor soils, and drought tolerant and will tolerate occasional light frost down to -10°C, 14F.
* It is commonly used as a decorative freeway median in California and other mild-winter states in the Continental United States because deer will not eat it due to its high toxicity.
* It can also be grown in cooler climates in greenhouses and conservatories, or as indoor plants that can be kept outside in the summer.

Flowers
* Oleander flowers are showy and fragrant and are grown for these reasons.
* Over 400 cultivars have been named, with several additional flower colours not found in wild plants having been selected, including red, purple, pink and orange; white and a variety of pinks are the most common.
* Many cultivars also have double flowers.
* Young plants grow best in spaces where they do not have to compete with other plants for nutrients.

Poisonous Part
All parts, green or dry.
* Oleander is one of the mostpoisonous palnts in the world and contains numerous toxic compounds, many of which can be deadly to people, especially young children.
* They are present in all parts of the plant, but are most concentrated in the sap, which can block out receptors in the skin causing numbness.
* It is thought that a handful or 10-20 leaves consumed by an adult can cause an adverse reaction,
* and a single leaf could be lethal to an infant or child.

Severity:
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

Symptoms
* Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, slowed pulse, irregular heartbeat, dilation of pupils, bloody diarrhea, drowsiness; may be fatal.
* Oleander sap can cause skin irritations, severe eye inflammation and irritation, and allergy reactions characterized by dermatitis.

Hummingbirds

I was at work the other day, when I read a sentence about hummingbird. It brought me to learn more about this tiny bird.

What is hummingbird?
Hummingbirds are very small American birds with a high metabolism. Hummingbirds range in size from 2 inches to 8 inches. These tiny birds are having brilliant iridescent plumage and long slender bills and wings are specialized for vibrating flight. They are the smallest birds in the world.

How do hummingbirds eat?
A great deal of energy is spent flying, so they must feed almost constantly. Hummingbirds can consume up to 50% of their weight in sugar (nectar solution) each day. They usually feed on nectar and insects. Hummingbirds actually lap up the nectar with their tongues. A lot of people think that hummingbirds have a hollow tongue like a straw. Their tongues do have grooves on the sides that collect nectar. When the bill constricts, the hummingbird can swallow the nectar from flowers and feeders.

Hummingbird flight
The flight of hummingbirds is amazing to watch. They are able to fly up, down, forward, backward and sideways. They can stop in midair. Hummingbirds are famous for their aerial display. Some displays are courtship displays; other displays are aggressive. Hummingbirds fly great distances when they are migrating. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird migrates approximately 600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico. Hummingbirds are able to perch and will do so at feeders regularly. Because they fly so much, they have poorly developed feet. They can barely walk at all. The hummingbird is much more comfortable in flight

Fun Facts about hummingbirds
• They do perch.
• They have very weak feet and do not use them for transportation
• They fly forward, backward, shift sideways, stop in midair.
• They can beat their wings 60 to 200 times per second.
• They lap nectar with their tongues.
• They can fly up to 60 miles per hour.
• They can live 5-6 years in the wild.
• They are the smallest bird in the world.
• They consume, on average, half their weight in sugar each day.

In myth and culture
Aztecs wore hummingbird talismans, the talismans being representations as well as actual hummingbird fetishes formed from parts of real hummingbirds: emblematic for their vigor, energy and propensity to do work along with their sharp beaks that mimic instruments of weaponry, bloodletting, penetration and intimacy. Hummingbird talismans were prized as drawing sexual potency, energy, vigor and skill at arms and warfare to the wearer.

Hibernation
Hummingbirds are capable of slowing down their metabolism at night, or any other time food is not readily available. They enter a hibernation-like state known as torpor. During torpor, the heart rate and rate of breathing are both slowed dramatically (the heart rate to roughly 50–180 beats per minute), reducing the need for food.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird
http://www.wbu.com/education/hummingbirds.html

Hello!

How you doin'?
It's been a while since my last post :)