Aiphanes is a
genus of
spinypalms which is native to
tropical regions of South and Central America and the Caribbean. There are about 26
species in the genus, ranging in size from
understorey shrubs with subterranean stems to
subcanopy trees as tall as 20 metres (66 ft). Most have
pinnately compound leaves (leaves which are divided into leaflets arranged feather-like, in pairs along a central axis); one species has
entire leaves. Stems, leaves and sometimes even the fruit are covered with spines. Plants flower repeatedly over the course of their lifespan and have separate male and female flowers, although these are borne together on the same
inflorescence. Although records of pollinators are limited, most species appear to be pollinated by insects. The fruit are eaten by several birds and mammals, including at least two species of
Amazon parrots. (
more...)
... that Finnish priest Kalervo Kurkiala, a chaplain in the
Waffen-SS, believed that military service was good for "country boys" and for "numerous bookworms and spoilt sloppy idlers"?
A Dusky Woodswallow(Artamus cyanopterus) feeding a
wasp to its chicks. The Dusky Woodswallow is found in eastern and southern Australia. It is medium sized and
swallow-like, although it is not related to true swallows. It is an
omnivore, with its diet consisting of insects, various forms of foliage, and
nectar from flowers.
This Wikipedia is written in
English. Started in 2001 (2001), it currently contains
4,035,388 articles. Many other Wikipedias are available; some of the largest are listed below.