Oct 6, 2010

Yellow Black Polka Dot Caterpillar

A photo of tiny yellow caterpillar will black dots.

Yellow Black Polka Dot Caterpillar
Note: Photo was cropped.

Recommended reading:
* Photo collection of Tropical caterpillars

Oct 4, 2010

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts

I get to hold a box of Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts, freshly flown from Hawaii. Would you believe it? Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts in Malaysia. And no, the nuts will not be roasted but destined to a nursery. Hawaii is the largest producer of Macadamia nuts.

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts Malaysia

Macadamia nuts (Macadamia integrifolia) are dry drupes containing a very hard seed-bearing endocarp. According to most botanical references, the outer husk represents part of the ovary wall or pericarp.

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts Malaysia

They are small to large evergreen trees growing to 2–12 m tall. The leaves are arranged in whorls of three to six, lanceolate to obovate or elliptical in shape, 6–30 cm long and 2–13 cm broad, with an entire or spiny-serrated margin. The flowers are produced in a long slender simple raceme 5–30 cm long, the individual flowers 10–15 mm long, white to pink or purple, with four tepals. The fruit is a very hard woody globose follicle with a pointed apex, containing one or two seeds.

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts Malaysia

The nuts are a valuable food crop. Only two of the species, Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla, are of commercial importance. The remainder of the genus possess poisonous and/or inedible nuts, such as M. whelanii and M. ternifolia; the toxicity is due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides.

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts Malaysia

Macadamia tree cultivation and processing

The macadamia tree is usually propagated by grafting, and does not begin to produce commercial quantities of nuts until it is 7–10 years old, but once established, may continue bearing for over 100 years. The macadamia nut has an extremely hard shell, but can be cracked using a blunt instrument, such as a hammer or rock applied with some force to the nut sitting in a concave surface, or a custom made macadamia nutcracker can be used.

Macadamia Nuts in the Diet Lower Cholesterol

How many times have you said, "nuts to the diet." Well now perhaps it should be "nuts in the diet." It seems that macadamia nuts may be a good addition to the daily diet, particularly if you want to reduce blood cholesterol levels. Macadamia nuts like all non-animal foods contain no cholesterol. But they are remarkable in the fact that their fat contains over 86% monounsaturated fatty acids. The average macadamia nut will also add about 18 calories to your diet. Oil from the macadamia nut is used in the cosmetic industry because of similarities between the nut oil and human skin.

Recommended link:
* Fruits Called Nuts
* HAWAII MACADAMIA NUT ASSOCIATION

Oct 2, 2010

Agarwood Aquilaria Crassna Saplings

Young Agarwood saplings between 3 to 4 inches in height and about one month old. The Agarwood species is of Aquilaria crassna, a resinous heartwood, used for perfume and incense. The resin is produced by the tree in response to infection by a parasitic ascomycetous mould, Phaeoacremonium parasitica, a dematiaceous (dark-walled) fungus.



When the Agarwood saplings reach the height of 3 to 4 inches, it can be transplanted into bags.



Photo taken at a nursery at 13th Mile Kuching-Serian road, just after the rain.

Agarwood is also locally known as Gaharu.

Sep 30, 2010

Kelpie and German Shepperd Puppy Faceoff

A local Kelpie faceoff with a German Shepperd puppy. Neither want to lose.

Kelpie and German Shepperd Puppy Faceoff

The ancestors of the Kelpie were simply (black) dogs, called Colleys or Collies. The word "collie" has the same root as "coal" and "collier (ship)". Some of these collies were imported to Australia for stock work in the early 1800s, and were bred to other types of dogs (possibly including the occasional Dingo), but always with an eye to working sheep without direct supervision.

So I have no idea how a look alike Kelpie can found its way here, at Borneo.

Sep 12, 2010

Blind Cat

Photo of a white blind cat. The blind cat belongs to my neighbor and they called the cat, Snowy. Blind Cat A blank stare. Blind Cat The cat use hearing to locate noises. Recommended viewing: * Orange Kitten * Two cats and a string * Newborn Kittens

Sep 4, 2010

Yellow Spiky Caterpillar - Series #20

A close up photo of a small pale yellow spiky caterpillar with an alien face (or is it Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle face), perched on a mango leave. This specimen look like my previous luminous green Euclea delphinii catepillar. Yellow Spiky Caterpillar Here's the YouTube video clip of the above caterpillar: Recommended reading: * Giant Caterpillar - Series #19 * Furry caterpillar - Series #18 * Two caterpillars - Series #17

Aug 5, 2010

Paper Wasp foraging Dimocarpus malesianus fruit flowers

Photo of Paper Wasp foraging among the Dimocarpus longan malesianus fruit flowers.

Aug 4, 2010

Orange Kitten

Local orange kitten spotted escaping from her cage to take a sun bath. The orange kitten looks scruffy and she should be given a water bath instead. Orange Kitten Orange Kitten Orange Kitten Orange Kitten By the way, the kitten belongs to my neighbor. Recommended reading: * Newborn Kittens * Two cats and a string * Mix Breed Siamese Cats Napping

  © Blogger template by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP