Puede fácilmente acentuar la apariencia de bienvenida de un patio o un muelle con distintas macetas de flores anuales, o puede llenar las cajas de las ventanas con hermosos arbustos de rosas o con cualquier número de pequeñas plantas perennes. Ya sea que arregle sus macetas en un grupo para dar un efecto de masa o ilumine un pequeño espacio con un espécimen simple, estará encantado con esta fácil manera de crear un jardín.
La selección de maceta
La jardinería en contenedores y macetas le permite variar de manera fácil su esquema de colores, y a medida que cada planta termina de florecer, podrá ser reemplazada con otra. Ya sea que elija armonizar o contrastar sus colores, asegúrese de que haya una variedad en la altura de cada planta. Piense también en la forma y textura de las hojas. Las hojas altas y largas podrán dar fondo vertical para las plantas pequeñas de bajo crecimiento y con hojas anchas. Elija plantas con una larga estación de florecimiento, u otras estén listas para reemplazarlas cuando termine su época de florecimiento.
Experimente con macetas creativas. Tal vez usted tendrá viejos tarros de porcelana o una urna de cobre que podrá utilizar, o tal vez usted prefiera hacer algo realmente moderno con azulejos o mosaicos. Si decide comprar un contenedor en una tienda, puede elegir una de terracota que son hermosos, pero tienden a absorber agua. No querrá que sus plantas se sequen, así que pinte el interior de estas macetas con un sellador disponible en las ferreterías.
Las macetas más baratas de plástico también pueden ser pintadas por fuera con pinturas de agua para lograr un efecto interesante. Cuando esté comprando macetas, no olvide comprar los platos que convinen para los desechos del drenaje. Esto podrá evitar que los pisos de cemento se manchen o que se pudran las tablas de madera.
sábado 21 de noviembre de 2009
plantas y flores / plants and flowers: La jardinería en contenedores puede crear un santuario natural en una ciudad atareada, entre distintas terrazas
viernes 20 de noviembre de 2009
plantas y flores / plants and flowers: IRIS
Pavord says varieties of I. reticulata such as purple-flowered 'George' and blue 'Harmony' are excellent planted in shallow bowls to bring indoors. "Fifteen bulbs will fit nicely in a container about 9 inches across," she says.
In the ground, she advises, the early-flowering reticulatas grow best in sunny, sandy soils and do not like too much moisture. Plant them at least 4 inches deep to encourage them not to divide into tiny bulbils, which take at least two years to develop to blooming size.
Dutch irises like plenty of water while in growth in fall and winter and a hot baking in summer. Ogden says certain Dutch irises, including blue 'Professor Blau,' will naturalize and may be seen in many older gardens in April.
Paler blue 'Wedgwood' (bred in 1925) and 'White Excelsior' (1920) have different parents and usually flower several weeks earlier. Bulbs of Dutch iris, writes Pavord, are sold in several sizes, ranging from 2 ¼ inches to 4 inches and bigger. The bigger the bulb, the better the flowers.
SPANISH BLUEBELL
Scott Kunst, owner of the mail-order business Old House Gardens in Ann Arbor, Mich., advises North Texans to plant Spanish bluebells (H. hispanica), instead of English bluebells (H. non-scripta). Importers often package Spanish bluebells in blue, pink and white; Ogden champions the blue Southern heirloom.
"The round, white bulbs are happy anywhere they receive ample spring moisture," he writes. They bloom in dappled shade, and the mother bulb produces multiple bulblets to form a sea of blue.
miércoles 18 de noviembre de 2009
domingo 8 de noviembre de 2009
sábado 7 de noviembre de 2009
A new plant-eater theropod
The British journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B just
post a job with the description of the new dinosaur Nothronychus
graffami Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) of North America. In the picture
You can see the recovered material is practically no representation of all
anatomical elements except the skull. Nothronychus is included in the
Therizinosauridae family, a group of theropods unique because they present
a huge and long claws and teeth that suggest a vegetable diet.
post a job with the description of the new dinosaur Nothronychus
graffami Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) of North America. In the picture
You can see the recovered material is practically no representation of all
anatomical elements except the skull. Nothronychus is included in the
Therizinosauridae family, a group of theropods unique because they present
a huge and long claws and teeth that suggest a vegetable diet.
viernes 6 de noviembre de 2009
The power of medicinal plants Several scientific research seeking to validate their healing properties
The power of medicinal plants
Several scientific research seeking to validate their healing properties
http://www.elnuevodia.com/XStatic/endi/images/espanol/20091006_vyebie_2274395.jpg
The popular use of medicinal plants for treating various diseases has been part of the social and cultural development of mankind since time immemorial In fact, according to World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 80% of the world population use plants directly herbs as medicines, as a tea, decoction or extract, prepared with water, milk or alcohol.
However, most home remedies or herbal medicines have not been validated scientifically.
Specifically, the study of active compounds from tropical plants and their medicinal effects is the goal of scientists assigned to the Garden of Medicinal Plants Dr. Esteban Nunez Melendez of Medical Sciences Campus University of Puerto Rico.
The Garden is part of the Pharmacy Museum, is the live component where we study the active compounds of tropical plants and their effects in the treatment of various diseases, says researcher and professor Ricardo Guerrero, interim curator of the collection of plants medicines.
"Puerto Rico has approximately 3,000 species of plants and about 10% of them possess medicinal properties," he adds.
Beyond the folklore
For most of our ancestors, welfare, relief and prevention in the courtyard of the house, in each of the plants that were at hand to cure any ailment.
For example, we know that the guaiac tree was obtained that the only cure for a long time found the Europeans to deal with the epidemic of syphilis.
In fact, the tree was so coveted borinqueña guaiac in the treatment of this disease which was called lignum vitae wood and was one of our top exports.
But beyond the use of folk who have had medicinal plants, several researchers have teamed up to study the potential uses and effects of many of these herbs, some of them endemic to the island
One of the investigating Guerrero, widely used by Puerto Ricans for the treatment of diabetes, is the Costus speciosus, better known as insulin.
"In rats with induced diabetes, we found a decrease in blood glucose. But we have not figured out what compounds help in that process, "says Guerrero, who emphasizes that the purpose of this and other research is to validate the use to which it gives the plant. "And eventually bring medications with fewer side effects."
This also is looking to the study of a plant well known in the Island, or poppy Pavona (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) for the treatment of anxiety, said Dr. Nivia Perez Acevedo, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine of the UPR.
"Until now, did not know the effects of extract of the poppy flower for anxiety. But with the research we have found to produce anxiolytic effects that eventually could be an alternative medicine with fewer side effects, "says Perez, though that is still in a preliminary stage.
Other studies focus, for example, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of several plants with compounds known as alkaloids, the isolation and characterization of fatty acids in medicinal plants, or the use of extracts of certain herbs for the prevention of cataracts.
In fact, currently carried out more than twenty studies with several medicinal plants, which also seeks to identify the possible toxicity of some of them, and the interactions they may have with traditional medications or other herbs.
Methods of preparation
• Infusion or tea: Pour boiling water over fresh or dried grass and cover. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes and strain. It will warm, sweetened with honey.
• Maceration: the plant is left to soak overnight or eight hours, sometimes for several days, depending on the floor, clutching slips while the plant.
• Decoction: Use with hard parts of the plant such as roots, barks, seeds, wood, stems. It gets in cold water, boil 10 minutes and filtered. Take a little more water to compensate for what is lost by boiling.
Some research
• Study of the chemical composition of plants known as insulin (Costus speciosus, Costus spiralis), Cundeamor (Momordica charantia) and agave (Agave americana) for the treatment of diabetes
type II.
• Study of natural products with emphasis on the flora of Puerto Rico as a potential source of pharmaceuticals for cancer and tuberculosis.
• Study of Pavona or poppy (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) for the treatment of anxiety.
(Source: Garden of Medicinal Plants of the Medical Sciences Campus)
Remedies of Nature
• Valerian: The root of the plant, prepared as an infusion, is used as central nervous system sedative.
• Malagueta: The leaves contain high amounts of essential oil, used in the manufacture of alcohol. It is used in frictions and as an analgesic.
• Ruda: It has been used as antihaemorrhagic cancer. Pregnant women should not drink tea leaf because predisposes to abortion. The juice obtained from leaves and crushed damped as a local anesthetic is used against earache.
• Shirt: Among the many alkaloids contained, have been identified vinblastine and vincristine which are used for cancer drugs for the treatment of cancer. May produce symptoms of poisoning if consumed continuously.
Several scientific research seeking to validate their healing properties
http://www.elnuevodia.com/XStatic/endi/images/espanol/20091006_vyebie_2274395.jpg
The popular use of medicinal plants for treating various diseases has been part of the social and cultural development of mankind since time immemorial In fact, according to World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 80% of the world population use plants directly herbs as medicines, as a tea, decoction or extract, prepared with water, milk or alcohol.
However, most home remedies or herbal medicines have not been validated scientifically.
Specifically, the study of active compounds from tropical plants and their medicinal effects is the goal of scientists assigned to the Garden of Medicinal Plants Dr. Esteban Nunez Melendez of Medical Sciences Campus University of Puerto Rico.
The Garden is part of the Pharmacy Museum, is the live component where we study the active compounds of tropical plants and their effects in the treatment of various diseases, says researcher and professor Ricardo Guerrero, interim curator of the collection of plants medicines.
"Puerto Rico has approximately 3,000 species of plants and about 10% of them possess medicinal properties," he adds.
Beyond the folklore
For most of our ancestors, welfare, relief and prevention in the courtyard of the house, in each of the plants that were at hand to cure any ailment.
For example, we know that the guaiac tree was obtained that the only cure for a long time found the Europeans to deal with the epidemic of syphilis.
In fact, the tree was so coveted borinqueña guaiac in the treatment of this disease which was called lignum vitae wood and was one of our top exports.
But beyond the use of folk who have had medicinal plants, several researchers have teamed up to study the potential uses and effects of many of these herbs, some of them endemic to the island
One of the investigating Guerrero, widely used by Puerto Ricans for the treatment of diabetes, is the Costus speciosus, better known as insulin.
"In rats with induced diabetes, we found a decrease in blood glucose. But we have not figured out what compounds help in that process, "says Guerrero, who emphasizes that the purpose of this and other research is to validate the use to which it gives the plant. "And eventually bring medications with fewer side effects."
This also is looking to the study of a plant well known in the Island, or poppy Pavona (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) for the treatment of anxiety, said Dr. Nivia Perez Acevedo, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine of the UPR.
"Until now, did not know the effects of extract of the poppy flower for anxiety. But with the research we have found to produce anxiolytic effects that eventually could be an alternative medicine with fewer side effects, "says Perez, though that is still in a preliminary stage.
Other studies focus, for example, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of several plants with compounds known as alkaloids, the isolation and characterization of fatty acids in medicinal plants, or the use of extracts of certain herbs for the prevention of cataracts.
In fact, currently carried out more than twenty studies with several medicinal plants, which also seeks to identify the possible toxicity of some of them, and the interactions they may have with traditional medications or other herbs.
Methods of preparation
• Infusion or tea: Pour boiling water over fresh or dried grass and cover. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes and strain. It will warm, sweetened with honey.
• Maceration: the plant is left to soak overnight or eight hours, sometimes for several days, depending on the floor, clutching slips while the plant.
• Decoction: Use with hard parts of the plant such as roots, barks, seeds, wood, stems. It gets in cold water, boil 10 minutes and filtered. Take a little more water to compensate for what is lost by boiling.
Some research
• Study of the chemical composition of plants known as insulin (Costus speciosus, Costus spiralis), Cundeamor (Momordica charantia) and agave (Agave americana) for the treatment of diabetes
type II.
• Study of natural products with emphasis on the flora of Puerto Rico as a potential source of pharmaceuticals for cancer and tuberculosis.
• Study of Pavona or poppy (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) for the treatment of anxiety.
(Source: Garden of Medicinal Plants of the Medical Sciences Campus)
Remedies of Nature
• Valerian: The root of the plant, prepared as an infusion, is used as central nervous system sedative.
• Malagueta: The leaves contain high amounts of essential oil, used in the manufacture of alcohol. It is used in frictions and as an analgesic.
• Ruda: It has been used as antihaemorrhagic cancer. Pregnant women should not drink tea leaf because predisposes to abortion. The juice obtained from leaves and crushed damped as a local anesthetic is used against earache.
• Shirt: Among the many alkaloids contained, have been identified vinblastine and vincristine which are used for cancer drugs for the treatment of cancer. May produce symptoms of poisoning if consumed continuously.
El uso popular de plantas medicinales para el tratamiento de diversas enfermedades ha sido parte del desarrollo social y cultural de la humanidad desde tiempos inmemoriales De hecho, según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), aproximadamente el 80% de la población mundial utiliza plantas herbáceas directamente como medicinas, en forma de té, decocción o extracto, preparados con agua, leche o alcohol.
Sin embargo, la mayoría de los remedios caseros o a base de hierbas medicinales no se han validado científicamente.
Precisamente, el estudio de los compuestos activos de plantas tropicales y sus efectos medicinales es el objetivo de los científicos adscritos al Jardín de Plantas Medicinales Dr. Esteban Núñez Meléndez del Recinto de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad de Puerto Rico.
El Jardín, que es parte del Museo de Farmacia, es el componente vivo donde se estudian los compuestos activos de las plantas tropicales y sus efectos en el tratamiento de diversas enfermedades, dice el investigador y profesor Ricardo Guerrero, curador interino de la colección de plantas medicinales.
“Puerto Rico cuenta con aproximadamente 3,000 especies de plantas y cerca de 10% de ellas posee propiedades medicinales”, agrega el investigador.
Más allá del folclor
Para la mayoría de nuestros ancestros, el bienestar, el alivio y la prevención estaban en el patio de la casa, en cada una de las plantas que tenían a mano para curar cualquier dolencia.
Por ejemplo, se sabe que del árbol de guayacán se obtenía la única cura que por mucho tiempo encontraron los europeos para enfrentarse a la epidemia de la sífilis.
De hecho, el árbol de guayacán borinqueño era tan codiciado para el tratamiento de esa enfermedad que recibió el nombre de palo santo y su madera fue uno de nuestros primeros productos de exportación.
Pero más allá del uso folclórico que han tenido las plantas medicinales, varios investigadores se han unido para estudiar los posibles usos y efectos de muchas de estas hierbas, algunas de ellas endémicas de la Isla.
Una de las que investiga Guerrero, usada ampliamente por los puertorriqueños para el tratamiento de la diabetes, es la Costus speciosus, mejor conocida como insulina.
“En ratas con diabetes inducida, comprobamos una disminución en glucosa sanguínea. Pero todavía no hemos averiguado qué compuestos ayudan en ese proceso”, explica Guerrero, quien destaca que el propósito de esta y otras investigaciones es validar el uso que se le da a la planta. “Y, eventualmente, lograr medicamentos con menos efectos secundarios”.
Es lo que también se busca con el estudio de una planta muy conocida en la Isla, la pavona o amapola (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), para el tratamiento de la ansiedad, señala la doctora Nivia Pérez Acevedo, del Departamento de Anatomía de la Escuela de Medicina de la UPR.
“Hasta ahora, no se conocían los efectos del extracto de la flor de amapola para controlar la ansiedad. Pero con la investigación hemos encontrado que produce unos efectos ansiolíticos que, eventualmente, podría ser una alternativa medicinal con menos efectos secundarios”, explica Pérez, aunque afirma que todavía están en una fase preliminar.
Otros estudios se enfocan, por ejemplo, en las propiedades anticáncer y antiinflamatorias de varias plantas con compuestos conocidos como alcaloides, la aislación y caracterización de ácidos grasos en plantas medicinales, o el uso de extractos de ciertas hierbas para la prevención de cataratas.
De hecho, actualmente se llevan a cabo más de veinte estudios con diversas plantas medicinales, en los que también se busca identificar la posible toxicidad de algunas de ellas, así como las interacciones que pueden tener con medicamentos tradicionales o con otras hierbas medicinales.
Métodos de preparación
• Infusión o té: Se vierte el agua hirviendo sobre la hierba fresca o seca y se tapa. Dejar reposar de 10 a 15 minutos y colar. Se tomará caliente, endulzarlo con miel.
• Maceración: Se deja la planta en remojo durante toda la noche u ocho horas, a veces durante varios días, dependiendo de la planta, se cuela estrujando bien la planta.
• Decocción: Se usa con partes duras de la planta, como raíces, cortezas, semillas, maderas, tallos. Se pone en agua fría, se hierve 10 minutos y se filtra. Echar un poco más de agua para compensar lo que se pierde con la ebullición.
Algunas investigaciones
• Estudio de la composición química de plantas conocidas como insulina (Costus speciosus, Costus spiralis), cundeamor (Momordica charantia) y maguey (Agave americana) para el tratamiento de la diabetes
tipo II.
• Estudio de productos naturales con énfasis en la flora de Puerto Rico como una potencial fuente de medicamentos contra cáncer y la tuberculosis.
• Estudio de la pavona o amapola (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), para el tratamiento de la ansiedad.
(Fuente: Jardín de Plantas Medicinales del Recinto de Ciencias Médicas)
Remedios de la naturaleza
• Valeriana: La raíz de la planta, preparada en forma de infusión, se usa como sedante del sistema nervioso central.
• Malagueta: Las hojas contienen gran cantidad de aceite esencial, usado en la fabricación de alcoholado. Se emplea en fricciones y como analgésico.
• Ruda: Se ha usado como antihemorrágico uterino. Las mujeres embarazadas no deben tomar infusiones de la hoja porque predispone al aborto. El jugo que se obtiene de las hojas amortiguadas y machacadas se emplea como anestésico local contra el dolor de oídos.
• Playera: Entre los numerosos alcaloides que contiene, se han identificado la vinblastina y la vincristina que se emplean como drogas oncológicas para el tratamiento de cáncer. Puede producir síntomas de intoxicación si se consume de forma continua.
jueves 5 de noviembre de 2009
Plantas y Flores :/ plants and flowers Growing potted salvia
salvia_officinalis
Sage is a small shrub, much branched, green and gray colored flowers of white, blue and violet. Interestingly, its name comes from the Latin word salvare, due to the properties to be awarded.
Actually there are many uses, both as essence for cosmetics and perfumery, and liquor as condiment, in addition to being recognized as a plant tonic qualities, choleretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic and stimulating, among others.
salvia1
How is it cultivated? Preferably in places with warm temperate climates, which do not have much frost. During the coldest months of winter, it's good to move the pot to a more agreeable to preserve it.
This plant is very adaptable to different soil types, but the best specimens are obtained on calcareous soils and porous, and resists drought. Where possible, lots of light for the sage, to be watered 2 to 3 times a week, and should not be reduced in its first year.
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