Microcystis aeruginosa

Species: Microcystis aeruginosa

English Name: Microcystis aeruginosa

Chinese Name: 銅綠微囊藻

Family: Microcystaceae

Description:

A species of freshwater cyanobacteria which can form harmful algal blooms (HABs) that are of economic and ecological importance. They are the most common toxic cyanobacterial bloom in eutrophic freshwater. Characterized by small cells (of only a few micrometers diameter), which lack individual sheaths. Cells usually are organized into colonies (large colonies of which may be viewed with the naked eye) that begin in a spherical shape, but losing their coherence to become perforated or irregularly shaped over time. The coloration of the protoplast is a light blue-green, appearing dark or brown due to optical effects of gas-filled vesicles.

 

 

 

 

 

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Nelumbo nucifera

Species: Nelumbo nucifera

English Name:  Lotus

Chinese Name: 蓮

Family: Nymphaeaceae

Description:

Perennial aquatic herbs. Rhizome creeping horizontally. The petioles are held out above the surface of the water, the blades are orbicular, centrally peltate, waxy above. Flower terminal at tip of pedicel, large, fragrant, dark red, pink, white or pale green.

Its is mostly cultivated in ponds.

Preparation: Whole herb is used. The rhizome can be collected in autumn, flower and stamen in June to August. The seeds and receptacle are harvested in July to October and the green embryo removed from the seeds.... Read more »

Ginkgo biloba

Species: Ginkgo biloba 

English Name:  Gingko

Chinese Name: 銀杏

Family: Ginkgoaceae

Description:

Ginkgo biloba is the oldest living tree species. A single tree can live as long as 1,000 years and grow to a height of 120 feet. It has short branches with fan-shaped leaves and inedible fruits that smell bad. The fruit has an inner seed, which may be poisonous.

It  has a long history of being used in traditional medicine to treat blood disorders and improve memory, and it’s best known today as way to potentially keep your memory sharp. Laboratory studies have shown that ginkgo improves... Read more »

Selaginella uncinata

Species: Selaginella  uncinata

English Name: Peacock spike-moss, Blue Selaginella, Rainbow Moss

Chinese Name: 翠雲草, 藍地柏, 綠絨草

Family: Selaginellaceae

Description:

Named after its striking, iridescent, bluish-green summer foliage that changes to a rusty-rose in the winter months  and notable for its frilly, metallic-blue foliage, Peacock fern is closely related to true ferns, but in its own plant family, the Selaginellaceae. This perennial, trailing plant is native to China. Its creeping stems hug the ground and root as they spread. The scale-like leaves are green with a lustrous cast of blue-green to powdery blue.  No flowers are produced, but this “fern ally” makes spores upon small leafy spikes.

... Read more »

Ganoderma lucidum

Species: Ganoderma lucidum 

English Name:  Lingzhi Mushroom, Reishi Mushroom

Chinese Name: 靈芝

Family: Ganodermataceae

Description:

The Lingzhi Mushroom  has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 4,000 years to treat liver disorders, high blood pressure, arthritis, and other ailments. It is a polypore mushroom that is soft (when fresh), corky, and flat, with a conspicuous red-varnished, kidney-shaped cap and, depending on specimen age, white to dull brown pores underneath. It lacks gills on its underside and releases its spores through fine pores, leading to its morphological classification as a polypore. Grows wild on decaying logs and tree stumps.  Occurs in six different... Read more »

Avicennia marina

Species: Avicennia marina

English Name: Grey mangrove, White mangrove

Chinese Name:   海欖雌 [白骨壤]

Family: Avicenniaceae

Description:

A common species in Macao, usually found from the mid to the seaward mangrove margins. It usually grows taller than most of the other species and distinguished by its gray bark.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:Araño-Tagulao, K, Chan, SK,Wong, S., Ang, PO, Kam, K. Macao’s Mangroves, University of Saint, Joseph, 2012.

Acrostichum aureum

Species: Acrostichum aureum

Commom Name: Mangrove Fern, Golden Fern

Chinese Name: 鬯蕨

Family: Pteridaceae
Description:
A mangrove fern, bearing spores instead of flowers and fruits when fertile. Sparsely distributed in Macao, it is mainly found landward together with mangrove associates.

 

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:
Araño-Tagulao, K, Chan, SK,Wong, S., Ang, PO, Kam, K. Macao’s Mangroves, University of Saint, Joseph, 2012.

Sonneratia apetala

Species: Sonneratia apetala 

English Name: Mangrove apple

Chinese Name: 無瓣海桑

Family: Lythraceae

Description:

It is sparsely distributed but the tallest among the mangrove species in Macao, growing up to a height of about 15-20 meters. It can also be distinguished by its dark or black bark and very round fruits.

 

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:
Araño-Tagulao, K, Chan, SK,Wong, S., Ang, PO, Kam, K. Macao’s Mangroves, University of Saint, Joseph, 2012.

Kandelia obovata

Species: Kandelia obovata

English Name: Kandelia

Chinese Name: 秋茄

Family: Rhizophoraceae

Description:
A species mainly distinguished by its candle- or pen-like droppers hanging on tree branches. It is widely distributed in Macao and can be found from the back to the seaward edge of the mangrove forests.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:
Araño-Tagulao, K, Chan, SK,Wong, S., Ang, PO, Kam, K. Macao’s Mangroves, University of Saint, Joseph, 2012.

Aegiceras corniculatum

Species: Aegiceras corniculatum

English Name: River Mangrove

Chinese Name: 桐花樹

Family: Mysinaceae

Description:

Like Acanthus, it is also a dominant and widely distributed mangrove species in Macao, mainly found from the mid to the seaward edge of mangrove forests. A shrub or short tree with usually reddish petioles.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:
Araño-Tagulao, K, Chan, SK,Wong, S., Ang, PO, Kam, K. Macao’s Mangroves, University of Saint, Joseph, 2012.

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