Shoebutton ardisia (Ardisia elliptica)

Lempeni or duck's eye or coralberry or shoebutton ardisia (Ardisia elliptica) are shrub species in Primulaceae, grow in tropical climates, survive under the shade of large trees in dense forests, strong single roots and produce sweet fruit.

A. elliptica can grow up to 5 meters high, a single stem and stands upright with many short branches, has oval shaped leaves, elongated, rather thick, smooth texture, shiny, pink when young and will turn dark green when old.

Flowers appear on leaf axils, umbrella-shaped with reddish purple crowns and white petals to pink. Lempeni produces round and clustered fruits, which are green when young and turn red, purple and black when old.

Ripe fruit emits purple ink when broken, about 5-6 mm. Seeds are round and 5 mm in diameter. Ripe fruit is preferred for consumption for sweetness. The leaves are antiplatelet, are antibacterial and contain many antioxidants.

Ardisia solanacea and Ardisia humilis are considered the same species as Ardisia elliptica by some experts. Individuals reach reproductive maturity in 2-4 years in the wild and 1-2 years in cultivation. Mature plants in the forest with lots of sun can produce 400 fruits.

Seeds do not require dormancy. Seedlings and shoots can live in very shady places for years. With a little sunlight, young plants quickly develop into adults and reproduce. The fruit is favored by birds and mammals so it is very quickly spread throughout the landscape.

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Ardisia
Species: A. elliptica

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar (Amanita javanica)

OPINION - Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar ( Amanita javanica ) is a mysterious fungus species and has been enigmatic since it was first reported by Boedijn in 1951 and after that no explanation or reporting of specimens is believed to be the same as expected. Boedijn (1951) described A. javanica which grew on Java island as having the characteristics covered in the Amanita genus. Corner and Bas in 1962 tried to describe Javan mocca and all species in Amanita based on specimens in Singapore. Over time some reports say that they have found A. javanica specimens in other Southeast Asia including also China, Japan, India and Nepal. But there is no definitive knowledge and many doubt whether the specimen is the same as described by Boedijn (1951). I was fortunate to have seen this species one afternoon and soon I took out a camera for some shots. In fact, I've only met this mushroom species once. Javan mocca is an endangered species and I have never seen in my experience in...

Javanese grasshopper (Valanga nigricornis)

Wooden grasshopper or Javanese grasshopper ( Valanga nigricornis ) is an animal species of Acrididae, grasshoppers that have at least 18 subspecies, insects with very wide diversity in color and size, sexual dimorphism in which females are larger in size and paler in color. V. nigricornis in males has a length of 45-55 millimeters and females 15-75 mm. The head is square and green or yellow or brown or black in color. A pair of antennas has a black color. The eyes are large and gray or white or brownish. The hind legs are very large and have a green or yellow or brown or black color, plain or brindle. The limbs have two rows of large and long spines with black tips facing backward. The wings have a length exceeding the belly, a rough surface and are brown or green or yellow or black in color with pulse lines forming spaces filled with black color. The hind wings are rose red which will be visible when flying. Nymphs are pale green or yellow or brown or blackish in color. Javanese gr...

Dlium