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Traditional Herbal Plants In Malaysia



Misai Kucing


The scientific name for this plant is “Orthosiphon Aristatus” and it is a common ornamental plant or garden herb in Malaysia.
(**Add on 14 Sept, 2009 – READ HERE for an article in our local newspaper recently on “Misai Kucing Cures All” , and the lady talked about the A H1N1 Flu and breast cancer.)
In addition to treating gout (it removes urea acid), the active compound of Misai Kucing is also good for -
  1. diabetes by balancing blood sugar levels
  2. stress
  3. high blood pressure
  4. removing toxins
  5. revitalise our energy
  6. regeneration and building of new cells
  7. balancing our body systems


Tomorrow Leaf Plant








Angelica keiskei was once a popular medicinal herb in Singapore. From afar,  it looks like a enlarged version of the flat leaf parsley plant (Petroselinum neapolitanum). In fact, do not be surprised to know that both plants are members of the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family. Common vegetables such as the carrot, celery and dill are also members of this family.
This medicinal herb is often sold singly in pots. It grows as a rosetted plant with a height of about 20 to 30 cm tall. Its large, much divided leaves confers a rather lush look to the entire plantThe leaves are consumed like a vegetable either in the raw form or cooked by lightly blanching it. When cut, the aerial parts of this plant exude a yellow sap which is found to be an abundant source of furocoumarins and a range of polyphenols. These are believed to possess health-enhancing and anti-cancer properties. However, it is reported that the consumption of Angelica keiskei can lead to skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis in some individuals. Like many members of the Apiaceae family, Angelica keiskei also features a tap root underground that is short and thick. It is also edible and is served either in the cooked or pickled form.

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National Flowers of Different Countries




Most countries have a national flower. National Flowers are symbol representing the country, some national flowers have cultural or religious roots that go back hundreds or even thousands of years and may or may not have been officially adopted. Many countries held their national flowers with pride and uses them in many international events as an ambassador. Here are some of the national flowers of some countries.



Country                 : Malaysia
National flower     : Hibiscus







Country                 : Singapore
National flower     : Vanda Miss Joaquim Orchid




Country                 : Indonesia
National flower     : Jasmine ( Melati )




Country                 : Thailand
National flower     : Cassia fistula




Country                 : Phillipines
National flower     : Sampaguita



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Marine Mammals



Dolphin
Steller sea lion
Range: North Pacific rim from Northern Japan through the Bering Sea to Northern California.
Status: Endangered (IUCN), Endangered (ESA)
Synonyms: Northern sea lion
Galapagos fur seal
Status: Vulnerable (IUCN)
Synonyms: Galapagos Islands Fur Seal, Arctoc�phale Des Galapagos, Oso Marino De Las Gal�pagos









Blue whale
Range: Oceanic
Status: Endangered (IUCN), Endangered (ESA)
Synonyms: Sulphur bottom whale, Sibbald's rorqual, blue rorqual, great blue whale, great northern rorqual, Ballena azul, rorqual bleu, baleine bleue

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TOP 10 Unique Animals In the World

Top 10 Evolutionarily Unique Animals

Using a scientific framework to identify the world’s most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species, the EDGE of Existence programme highlights and protects some of the weirdest and most wonderful species on the planet. This is a list of the top 10.



The pygmy hippo is a solitary animal that lives among dense vegetation along streams and swamps and in the rainforests of West Africa. It sometimes lives in cultivated areas, but the pygmy hippo is shy: it avoids people, as well as other hippos. Each hippo has its own territory. The male’s territory is larger than the female’s; both mark their territorial boundaries with their droppings.  The pygmy hippo feeds mainly when it is dark. It spends most of the day resting within its territory. It changes resting places once or twice a week.



This animal is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus to occur in New Guinea. It is named in honour of Sir David Attenborough. It was considered extinct until recent expeditions have discovered tracks and locals have reported seeing the creature.




An imposing animal, the Bactrian camel can reach seven feet in height and weigh up to 1,500 pounds. The species’ thick, brown coat changes with the seasons. During winter, it thickens to provide added insulation against the cold while large chunks of fur are shed in the summer to keep the animal cool. Both male and female Bactrian camels have two large humps on their backs. The Bactarian camel is endangered due to loss of habitat.




This dolphin, also called a Baiji, is a freshwater dolphin found only in the Yangtze River in China. Unfortunately it has already reached the conservation status of Critically endangered – possibly extinct. Fossil records suggest that the dolphin first appeared 25 million years ago and migrated from the Pacific Ocean to the Yangtze River 20 million years ago.



The slender loris is a small, nocturnal primate found only in the tropical rainforests of Southern India and Sri Lanka. They are able to live in wet and dry forests, as well as lowland and highland forests. They prefer thick, thorny vegetation wherein they can easily escape predators and find the large assortment of insects that is the mainstay of their diet. The Indian government has laws protecting the slender loris, but its effect is difficult to gage.



This antelope has recently become very rare, with current censuses reporting fewer than 400 individuals. Only one hirola exists in captivity: an aging female at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. It is a relic species, and only exists today (barely) due to its unique habitat requirements. Another name for this antelope is the “four-eyed antelope”, due to its pronounced, dark-colored preorbital glands, which are enlarged when excited.

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Sloth



he Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth is approximately the size of a house cat, ranging from 45-60cm. Like all sloths it has long limbs and a small head for the size of its body. Sloths’ fur hangs ‘backwards’ compared to other mammals, lying from the stomach to their back. This enables the water to run off while it is in a tree. Sloths do not have visible toes but instead have long claws. In this species they have three claws on each foot, which enable them to hang from the branches of trees (2). The brown-throated Tree-toed Sloth can also be distinguished from other species by its brown fur and upturned mouth, giving the sloth a constant ‘smile’.
Despite their name the Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth is often tinged with green due to the growth of blue green algae in its fur, especially in the rainy season. Adult males also have a yellow/orange patch of fur with a black stripe between their shoulders.
Sloths have a low nutrient diet which leads to a slow metabolic rate. To manage this low energy diet they have large segmented stomachs that weigh a third of the sloth’s total weight. The lack of energy meanssloths are extremely slow moving and they only move out of the tree once a week to defecate. Maintaining temperature also becomes difficult with a slow metabolism and sloths will move into sunnier parts of a tree to keep warm (2).

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The Unfamiliar Animals - Tarsier

The Tarsier is a small type of primate that not many people are familiar with. It spends most of its time in the trees and they have long tails. They are nocturnal so they are mainly out at night, making it hard to see them. In some cultures the Tarsier is considered to be a good luck charm and highly regarded. They only weigh about 5 ounces when they are fully mature.





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Video of endangered animals




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