Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) is a plant native to North America that blooms in early summer, between June and September.

Its name, Primerose originates from the Latin and means first flower [1]. The other part of the name, Evening, refers to one of the characteristics of its flowers, they bloom only in the evening, within a matter of a few minutes, and close back again at the beginning of next day (see video at the end of this article). This plant is native to North America and blooms in early summer, between June and September. Image: Evening primerose by J Brew under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

OENOTHERA BIENNIS

Family: Onagraceae

Genus: Oenothera

Common names: Evening primrose.

Aloe ferox, a plant also known as Cape Aloe, Bitter Aloe, Red Aloe and Tap Aloe [2], indigenous to South Africa's Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Lesotho [2] and registered in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) [2], as its close relative Aloe vera is known also for being part of the the preparation of non-alcoholic beverages and smoothies.

In South Africa Aloe ferox has also been traditionally used as part of natural remedies for the treatment of constipation and other ailments [3], as well as to control worms in goats in Eastern Cape Province [4], however it seems the properties of this plant may extend to other broader uses as studies on it show, this article treats some of them.  Photograph: Aloe ferox by (2008) Dr. David Midgley licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

ALOE FEROX

Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
Common name: Cape Aloe, Bitter Aloe, Red Aloe and Tap Aloe [2].

Zingiber spectabile, also known as golden behive, is a plant that makes honour to its name "spectabile" which means admirable, explendid, marvelleous. It is also one of the most beautiful plants you may ever find in nature, specially if you live near to South-east Asia, where it's commonly found.

The plant plant exhibits its yellow and white leaves, and its oblong flower, forming a kind of beehive shaped flower, from where it gets its common name Behive ginger.

The major compound found in Zingiber spectabile, Zerumbone, was found to be the most active in cell growth inhibitory assay against colon carcinoma SW480 cells [1]. Photograph by (2008) Dr. David Midgley licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

ZINGIBER SPECTABILE

Family: Zingiberaceae
Common name: Beehive ginger, Ginger wort, Malaysian ginger.

Romanesco broccoli, an algorithmic beauty, cross between broccoli and cauliflower, sometimes called Broccoflower, is one of these plants that would let you think for a while if you're not in front of part of an out-of-this-world flora.

Broccoli, originally cultivated by the Etruscans and brought to Tuscany with them, place from where it was distributed later on, is one of the vegetables with anti-carcinogenic properties, from the genus Brassica known as one of the most effective at reducing the risk of cancer [1]. This property may be explained by the principle bioactive compounds, isothiocyanates (ITCs) [1], and diindolylmethane, a compound that is produced naturally during the digestion of indole-3-carbinol, a molecule found in Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables of its family, the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae. Image: Romanesco broccoli by Leon Brocard under Creative Commons license (CC by 2.0).

BRASSICA OLERACEA (BOTRYTIS GROUP)

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Brassica
Common name: Romanesco broccoli, Broccoflower.