Tag: Leaf

Teeny

The Oxalis is a delicate perennial herb that stays fairly short and small, reaching heights of between five and 30 centimetres. The compound leaves have three leaflets (resembling clover) and either has a tiny stalk or none at all. The flowers occur on their own (as opposed to in clusters) and have five petals and five free sepals. They are found in pink, white, red, purple and yellow varieties. The leaves and flowers droop or fold closed after nightfall. A seed-filled capsule is the fruit of the plant and can bear only one seed, or many at a time. The sap in the stem of the plant is sour, a characteristic for which this edible plant is often known.

Teeny

Nature, Picture of the day

Snacking

Because of their very long necks, giraffes are able to feed on the foliage of trees that is not accessible to other herbivores. The long prehensile tongue is used to pull pods and leaves into the mouth which are then stripped from the stems with the spatulate incisor teeth. Adult males generally reach a height of about 5 meters and females about 4,5 meters. Big males can weigh a massive 1 200 kilograms while females usually weigh some 800 to 900 kilograms. Their skin color is tan with light brown patches on females and dark brown patches on males. Both males and females have short horns covered in skin.

Snacking

Picture of the day, Wildlife

Camouflage

The water monitor is one of the most striking members of the Reptile family and is second in size only to the Nile crocodile. Including the tail, large adults can reach lengths of up to nearly 2.5 meters. Its body is adorned with beautiful yellow patterning, aiding it to be well camouflaged in its preferred habitat close to bodies of water and reed beds. Although usually found close to water, these monitors are not water dependent and will actively forage for food on land, travelling large distances from water if need be. They are also capable of climbing trees but are usually found basking on riverbanks.

Camouflage

Picture of the day, Wildlife