This is an absolutely beautiful dark dark purple
corn.
Also known as Kculli this ancient type of corn is particularly
known in Peru and parts of South America and one of the oldest corn in
the world, and a staple food of many societies since prehistoric times.
Purple Corn bears well-sized ears with large kernels that ripen to a
deep purple-black color.
People of the Andes make a refreshing drink sweetened with fruit, sugar
or honey from the purple corn called "chicha morada" which is now
recognized as a nutritive powerhouse due to its phenolic and
anthocyanins content. The Anthocyanins are a type of complex flavonoid
that produce the blue, purple or red colors of the corn. Phenolics are
known to have many bioactive and functional properties. Purple Corn has
higher C3G antioxidant capacity and antiradical kinetics than
blueberries.
Also highly desirable for corn meal and corn pudding as well as a natural fabric and hair dye and cosmetics. Start indoors as this corn requires a long growing season 100-120 days.
US Source Available Seeds
Very unusual and exotic looking prehistoric
specimen Tree. The tree is native to central and southern Chile and
western Argentina.
Because of the great age of this species, it is
sometimes described as a living fossil. Its conservation status was
changed to Endangered by the IUCN in 2013 due to its declining
abundance.
Distinctive, armor-like, scale-like, triangular leaves, persist for 10
to 15 years, sometimes longer on the trunk, ovate-lanceolate in shape, 1
to 2 inches long, shiny green Cones are erect, globular, dark brown, and 4 to 7 inches long by 3 to 6
inches wide, scales have long triangular recurved points; developing in
2-3 years and falling off at maturity; seeds are brown to orange,
triangular in shape, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, the edible nut is long and
narrow with 2 small even wings that are denticulate at the top.
It is
the national tree of Chile. Hardy to zones 7-11.
Seeds are available here:
Sandersonia aurantiaca, known as christmas bells,
is a climbing bulbous plant from South Africa with attractive
orange-yellow, bell-shaped flowers.
These beautiful and long-lasting flowers were once common in their wild
habitat of Swaziland, but are now threatened due to the expansion of
agricultural activities.
Sandersonia is a half hardy, perennial. Grow in a sheltered, sunny site
with well-drained soil. As its name suggest, the flowers have a very
unusual urn-like shape, and form at the tips of slender, bow-shaped
stems. Highly prized and long lasting cut flower.
Named after John Sanderson, 19th century Scottish journalist and amateur botanist who in 1851 discovered the plant in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Available Seeds....
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