Butcher’s Broom, The Fruits Grow on its leaves

The mysterious and rarely seen Butcher’s Broom, or Ruscus aculeatus, is a low-growing permanent shrub with hard, erect, stems and very rigid leaves that lay off in a sharp spine. Thus, from the center of the leaves grow small greenish-white flowers that flourish in early spring and grow into red berries in autumn. The minute red berries are attached directly to the leaves by a short stem, making it a very bizarre looking plant. Butcher’s Broom belongs to Liliaceae family and has the height between 60 cm to 90cm max. 

Therefore, the Butcher’s broom is not breaking any rules of the plant kingdom, because what appear to be leaves are really modified stems called “cladodes” that have been compressed to not only look like leaves but serve their function as well. Hence, Butcher’s broom is extensively distributed, from Iran to the Mediterranean and the southern United States. Butchers Broom has a long history of use in herbal medicine traditions as a diuretic and blood vessel toner. They have also been used for over two thousand years as laxative and diuretic and use to cure various ailments such as hemorrhoids, varicose veins, itching, deobstruent, aperient, and swelling. 

The plant young shoots are also eaten like those of asparagus. So, the stiff twigs were once bundled together and used by butchers to save their cutting boards clean, from which came its public English name: butcher’s broom. It is also recognized by others names such as “Knee Holly”, because of its knee height, “Jew's Myrtle”, for its use during the Feast of Tabernacles, “Sweet Broom” and “Pettigree”, although its meaning is not clear. Furthermore “Butcher's Broom” is very hardy, thriving in almost any soil or situation, and is frequently planted in shrubberies or edges of woods, on account of its remaining green after the deciduous trees have shed their leaves.

Moreover, to extracts of butcher’s broom have been used throughout the ages, but the medicinal use of this plant did not become common until the last century. Therefore, research in the 1950s specified that butcher's broom could induce constriction of veins, because of which it is still widely used for treating definite circulatory diseases. It also covers an alkaloid which inhibits the passing of sodium ions across the cell membrane and thus is an effective anti-arrhythmic substance. Also, Butcher’s broom is widely planted in gardens and its berries used as decorations purpose. The primary related species phytochemical in the similarly named Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius is sparteine, a cardiac depressant - use with great caution.

The Pudu, Smallest Deer in the World

The Pudu is the smallest deer in the world, similar in appearance to the northern Pudu (Pudu Mephistopheles, but a little smaller. However, the southern Pudu (pudu puda) has a small glossy reddish-brown to dark brown coat with slightly lighter underparts and legs, extremely cute to look at. The deer belonging to the Pudu genus even people have captured them for pets, which is the main reason of declining his population. The Pudu deer have a reddish brown coloring on their bodies and their ears and lips are orange shade; however, southern Pudu fawns are spotted with white or perhaps for camouflage. Their fur is long and coarse which is different from what most deer species offer. The smaller sizes are probably the reasons why people take keen interest in them.  The fully grown deer weight is 26 to 30 pounds and is just over a foot, though males do grow antlers but small body size of this animal they’re only several inches in length. 

The deer normally likes moderate winter and arid warm climate, even live in dense forest and often come out to open areas in search of food. The Pudu deer is very secretive in their movements just to minimize the risk of predators finding them. His natural habitat is known to live solitary life other than breeding the young one. They are habitually leave massive piles of dung though as a way of marking their territory. Pudu’s are most active in morning, late afternoon and evening but do not interact socially, a very frightened animal and barks when in fear and their fur bristles and shivers when angered. The Pudu is very wary animal and moves slowly and stops frequently, smelling the air for scents of predators. However, Pudu is proficient climber, jumper and sprinter and flees in a zigzag path when being pursued. 

Moreover, the Pudu deer has short stature; they like to look in food in their close grounds. The deer is known to be very adaptable to their environment when it comes to feeding.  Normally, they like to eat seasonal fruits, but can feed on leaves and twigs from plants and lower branches of trees. The deer can be able to get up on their hind legs to reach the higher up foods, even some deer can climb on tree go to the distance the food they’re looking for. The Pudu breeding seasons start in fall and takes almost 210 days for the young to be born afterwards. The sexual maturity occurs about six months of age in the females. The female deer only is able to born one fawn due to smaller bodies. The young deer is very small at birth weight just three pounds and takes three months to their full size. The Pudu deer average life span is 8 to 10 years in the wild and the longest recorded lifespan is 15 years and 9 months. 

The Pudu deer are facing a dwindling population due it its small size, which make them common prey for a variety of predators i.e. Wild Cats, Cougars, Eagles, Owls and Fox.  The Pudu deer is extremely popular in zoos as well enticing crowd due to his cuteness. Yes, humans have a great fascination for this small deer and they set out to hunt it, although very few peoples get the chance and success in it idea. Experts are doing their best efforts in order to increase their population and quality of genetics can be maintained. The common public cannot see the Pudu deer in the wild due to its natural hiddenness and low numbers as well. As of, the species are classified as endangered in the IUCN Red List. Source: Charsimaticplanet.com

Incredible Photographs Show the Bond between a Man and his Animals

These incredible images shows, how bond between a man and his pride of big cats. A pride of African lions and the world distinguished “Lion Whisperer” Kevin Richardson have become the likely stars of a glossy Mercedes-Benz advertising campaign. The majestic animals climb onto the bonnet of a Mercedes SUV in his wildlife sanctuary in Pretoria South Africa. In the playful photo series, photographer Adrian Steirn is being busy to raise awareness of the plight of animals in the Africa. His main aim is to take a single picture which shows what legacy we will leave for our future generations. Therefore, in one photo Kevin Richardson wrestling comfortable with two fully grown lions. The 36 years old photographer hearing a 2 tonne jeep creak and move and observe the dents in the car that the lion had left behind. 

It was extremely unbelievable experience and fascinates to see the size of their paws. The lions were off to jump onto the vehicle, how acrobatic animals they are.  Kevin Richardson is a conservationist and founder of wildlife sanctuary, brought millions their fans into discussion about lion conversation. He has now more than 30 lions and have an intimate bond with his cats. His best practice to use love, understanding and trust to develop bonds with animals. Although, he has shown his skills in several documentaries mainly focus in relationship with the animals. He wanted to show the plight of lions both in captivity and in the wild.

Sterin the photographer is extremely bewildered with the relationship between Kevin’s and big cats. He put his soul and heart into lion conversation, show their massive value to our world in this ways was a great opportunity. The lions weren’t wild but habituated lions with huge carnivores. They are extremely big animals so a natural fear absolutely in my heart, and I was very well aware of them because things can go wrong very quickly with the lions. They’ve finished their worked within 48 hours in Pretoria Welgedacht Private Game Reserve. These days, lions numbers are significantly decreasing and current population roughly fall in to 20,000 only as compare to 100,000 in the early 1990’s. 

The Stunning Beauty of Braided Rivers

This can be easily called true nature's masterpieces, as below Incredible photographs reveal the spectacular beauty of braided rivers that look like inky watercolor paintings. However, when you see aerial view it gives the scenarios with colorful paint dripping down them, breathtaking natural wonder of braided rivers.  Therefore, the majestic colors occur when rivers continuously split into smaller channels, displaying the impression they have been braided. Moreover it tends to take place on steep slopes that have a massive supply of coarse-grained sediments. 

Once the river flow cut down, these sediments are deposited to form little temporary islands that disrupt the water flow. Furthermore, the wide blocks of water tend to be shallow, with enthralling patterns regularly created. Even though few of most incredible examples are Brahmaputra River in Tibet and Joekulgilkvísl in Iceland, which both snake their way through the mountains? Here’s the chance you can see some of best nature’s beautiful braided rivers. Moreover, as a result, braided rivers exist close to mountainous regions, particularly those with glaciers. Therefore, braided channels are also found in environments that affectedly decrease channel depth, and hereafter channel velocity, such as river deltas, alluvial fans and peneplains.