Though the flowers of sweet pea are very beautiful as found in Meghalaya, seeds of many varieties of plants of the genus Lathyrus, including sweet pea, are toxic if eaten in quantity, unlike edible pea. A related pea species, Lathyrus sativus, is grown for human consumption but when it forms a major part of the diet it causes symptoms of toxicity called lathyrism. Sweet pea ingestion, it is believed, causes similar symptoms called odoratism or sweet pea lathyrism due to formation of collagen. The symptoms are similar to scurvy and copper deficiency which share the common feature of inhibiting proper formation of collagen fibrils. Seeds of the sweet pea contain beta-aminopropionitrile that prevents the cross linking of collagen by inhibiting lysyl oxidase, leading to loose skin. Recent experiments have attempted to develop this chemical as a treatment to avoid disfiguring skin contractions after skin grafting.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Sweet pea flower
Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), an annual climbing plant, growing to a height of 1-2 meter, is a flowering plant belonging to the genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae (legumes). It is originally native to the eastern Mediterranean region from Sicily east to Crete. The leaves are pinnate with two leaflets and a terminal tendril which twines around supporting plants and structures helping the sweet pea to climb. The flowers are generally purple, 2 cm to 3.5 cm broad in the wild plant and larger and very variable in colour in the many cultivated plants. They are often grown by gardeners for their bright colours and the sweet fragrance that gives the name ‘sweet pea’. Watch this variety from the Indian state of Meghalaya.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Orchid
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Flower of the orchid family
A flower of the orchid family found commonly throughout Kerala. Computer desktop wallpaper size 1024 x 768.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Neelakurinji 2006
Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is a bush with several branches. The species name Kunthiana has been derived from the River Kunthi which flows through the rich expanse of the renowned Silent Valley National Park in Kerala, India. It means that the plant has been first described from the vicinity of this river. The plant grows profusely in Shola grasslands and mountain slopes of the mighty Western Ghats and Nilgiris in India. Neelakurinji blooms in a clustered manner on typical inflorescence stocks once in every 12 years. The flowering season ranges between August and November with a peak period of late September and October although some varieties exhibit little variation in their phrenology. The flower has purplish blue colour when aged. It looks light blue in the earlier stage of blooming.
Neela Kurinjee flowers at Munnar
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A Red Hibiscus of Kerala
The author of the photo adds, "The Hibiscus is used as an offering to God Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship, white hibiscus is considered to have medicinal properties in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda. Roots make various decoctions believed to cure various ailments."
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Chempakam (Michelia champaca) Frangipani
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Saturday, June 21, 2008
Red Anthurium
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Pink Anthurium
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