Dlium

Indian bael ( Aegle marmelos ) is a plant species in the Rutaceae family. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching heights of up to 20 meters (typically 10 meters) with a trunk diameter of 25–50 cm. Older branches feature spines—either solitary or in pairs. It grows wild in dry forests at elevations of up to 1,200 meters, in temperatures ranging from -6°C to 48°C. The leaves are arranged alternately and are trifoliolate. The main petiole is 2–4 cm long; the petiolules of the lateral leaflets are 3 mm long, while the petiolule of the terminal leaflet is 15 mm long. The lateral leaflets are ovate to elliptical, measuring 7 cm in length and 4.2 cm in width. The terminal leaflet is obovate, 7.5 cm long and 4.8 cm wide. The entire leaf surface is covered with small, dot-like glands. The inflorescence is an axillary raceme, 4–5 cm long, arranged in clusters. The sepals are broadly triangular and 1.5 mm long. The petals are oblong-obovate, 14 mm long and 8 mm wide, ranging in color from...

Fava bean ( Vicia faba ) is a plant species in the Fabaceae family. It is an annual herb that grows upright and rigid, reaching heights of up to 1.8 meters, with 2–4 stems that are square in cross-section. The leaves are 10–25 cm long, pinnately compound, and consist of 2–7 leaflets with a glaucous (waxy, bluish-green) appearance. Unlike some other legumes, these leaves lack tendrils for climbing surrounding vegetation. The flowers are 1–2.5 cm long and consist of five petals: white standard petals, white wing petals with black spots, and white keel petals. They emit a strong, sweet fragrance. The fruit is a broad, leathery pod, 5–25 cm long and 2–3 cm thick. Young pods are green, turning brownish-black as they mature; their surfaces are covered in a dense layer of fine hairs. Each pod contains 3–8 seeds, which may be round, flattened, or oblong—measuring 5–25 mm in length, up to 15 mm in width, and 5–10 mm in thickness. V. faba has a diploid chromosome number (2n) of 12 (six pairs o...

Squash ( Cucurbita moschata ) is a plant species in the Cucurbitaceae family. It is an annual herbaceous plant that grows as a vine, utilizing lateral tendrils that branch into 3–4 parts. The stems are soft yet woody, quadrangular in cross-section, hairy, and segmented; they can reach lengths of up to 25 meters, are bright green in color, and often develop roots at the nodes. The leaves are simple and arranged alternately, lacking stipules. They have grooved petioles (leaf stalks) measuring 9–24 cm in length. The leaf blades are broadly ovate, shallowly palmately lobed into 5–7 segments, and range from 10–35 cm in diameter. They feature a deeply cordate (heart-shaped) base and serrated margins. The surface is covered in fine hairs and sometimes displays white spots, which fade as the leaf matures. There are three primary veins originating from the base of the leaf blade. The flowers are solitary, bisexual, regular, and pentamerous (five-parted), with a diameter of 10–20 cm; they range...