Julia Wilson

Julia is a writer and landscape consultant from Wollongong with a love of horticulture. She had been an avid gardener for over 30 years, collects rare variegated plants and is a home orchardist. Julia is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge of plant propagation and plant toxicology. Whether it’s giving advice on landscape projects or sharing tips on growing, Julia enjoys helping people make their gardens flourish.

Australian Finger Lime (Citrus australasica)

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Finger limes

What is a finger lime?  Ι   History  Ι   Modern cultivation  Ι   Characteristics   Ι  Is finger lime self-pollinating?  Ι   How to grow finger limes   Ι   Pests and diseases   Ι   Nutritional information   Ι   Uses   Ι  Is finger lime toxic to dogs and cats?   Ι   Recipes

What is a finger lime? 

Also known as ‘caviar lime‘, the Australian finger lime (Citrus australasica, F. Muell) is a small thorny citrus tree or shrub, native to the subtropical rainforests of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, Australia. The elongated ‘finger-shaped‘ fruit of Australian finger limes is highly valued for its juicy, citrusy pulp and distinctive caviar-like texture.

Finger lime fruit grows in a range of colours, from green and yellow to pink and red. This tangy and tart fruit has a variety of culinary applications, including garnishing cocktails and seafood dishes to flavouring desserts and jams. While still relatively unknown outside of Australia, finger limes are gaining popularity as a gourmet ingredient and are being cultivated for commercial sale around the world.

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Philodendron vs Monstera deliciosa: What Is The Difference?

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What is the difference between a Swiss cheese plant and a split-leaf philodendron?

Plant names can be confusing, especially to the gardening or houseplant newbie. There is the scientific, or botanical name, which must follow the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. The botanical name consists of two binomial Latin names; the genus (family) and the epithet. Common names are just that, the common name, which is the informal name given to a plant or plants.

  • Scientific name: Monstera deliciosa
  • Common name(s): Swiss cheese plant, fruit salad plant

The scientific name is always written in italics but not the common name. Most people outside of horticulture will refer to a plant by its common name. After the scientific name has been written in full in an article, it is customary to shorten the scientific name of plants from Monstera deliciosa to M. deliciosa.

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Why Do Some Plants Have Holes or Slits in the Leaves?

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Why do some plants have slits and holes in their leaves?

Which plants have fenestrated leaves?     Why do some plants have slits or holes in them?     Why isn’t my monstera developing split leaves?

The plant kingdom has evolved in numerous interesting ways to guarantee its success in the wild. One such evolutionary adaptation is the holes or slits in some species of plants. Probably the most well-recognised example is the aptly named Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa).

Plant growers may have noticed that the smaller leaves start out without holes, but as they grow in size, slits or holes appear. These types of leaves are known as perforate or fenestrated and pinnatifid leaves. The word fenestration comes from the Latin word fenestratus, which means windows and pinnate is Latin for pinnātus, meaning feathered.

The mature Swiss cheese plant has both fenestrated and pinnatifid leaves. Fenestrations refer to the holes in the leaf, and pinnately divided leaves have slits in them.

Fenestrated and slit leaf

Why do some plants have slits or holes in them?

There are two theories as to why fenestration and pinnation occur:

  • The pinnations (slits) and holes (fenestrations) protect the leaf from high winds, which could potentially rip the leaf off the plant.
  • Monstera species are hemiphytes that live beneath the dense canopy in tropical rainforests. Fenestrations and pinnations in the upper foliage allow the lower leaves to receive sunlight and water.

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Is Ficus Toxic to Dogs?

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Is ficus toxic to dogs?

Is ficus toxic to dogs?

Ficus spp. is toxic to dogs. The toxic principles are ficin, a proteolytic enzyme, and ficusin, a psoralen, which are present in the milky sap. This causes ocular, oral, dermal and gastrointestinal irritation.

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Is String of Pearls Toxic to Dogs?

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Is string of pearls toxic to dogs?

Is string of pearls toxic to dogs?  Ι   What is string of pearls?  Ι   Toxicity  Ι   How toxic is string of pearls  Ι   Clinical signs  Ι   Treatment    Ι Prevention  Ι   Conclusion

Is string of pearls toxic to dogs?

String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) is toxic to dogs, cats and humans. The toxic principles are an irritant sap and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, a plant toxin that inhibits cell division primarily in the liver which can lead to acute liver failure.

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Philodendron Pink Congo Scam

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Philodendron pink congo

The popularity of rare and unusual houseplants has skyrocketed in recent years thanks to the rise of plantfluencers on Instagram and Pinterest. Facebook groups, Marketplace, eBay and Etsy are popular sites for avid plant lovers looking for a new plant to add to their collection. Of course, when something is in high demand along come the scammers.

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Is Swiss Cheese Plant (M. deliciosa) Toxic to Dogs?

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Is Swiss cheese plant toxic to dogs?

Is Swiss cheese plant toxic to dogs?

Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) is toxic to dogs. The toxic principle is insoluble calcium oxalate crystals known as raphides produced by specialised cells known as idioblasts. Raphides are embedded in the plant tissue and when the dog chews the plant, needle-sharp needles formed in clusters (raphides) penetrate the oral mucosa causing intense pain, burning and swelling.

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About Botany-World.com

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About us

About Botany-World

Botany-World was created by myself in 2022 and draws upon over 30 years of gardening expertise. I am a passionate home orchardist and my suburban garden is home to 37  fruit trees, which include Japanese and Australian citrus varieties such as Australian finger lime, yuzu, and sudachi. I am also a rare plant collector, with a special interest in rare variegated plants.

I grew up in North Yorkshire, England, and moved to Australia at 19. My English childhood has given me a love of cottage gardens that remind me of home. During spring and summer, my garden is full of daffodils (I have planted 300 in 2023), bluebells, forget-me-nots, clematis, dahlias, larkspur, Canterbury bells, cosmos, zinnias, delphiniums to name a few. Not only do these flowers add beauty to my garden, but they also create an ideal environment for wildlife and insects.

My garden

I work in the landscaping industry and in my free time enjoy gardening, running, bushwalking and photography.

As an animal lover with four cats and three dogs, plant toxins are an extremely important topic for me. Some plants and pets just don’t mix and it is important for pet owners to be aware of which plants are safe and which are toxic. The toxicity of plants can range from mild to deadly.

Get in touch

Please feel free to reach out with any feedback, comments, or suggestions, or to report any errors. While I cannot address medical inquiries, I will do my best to respond to all genuine (non-advertising) messages related to the site.

Contact details: [email protected]