# Animals And Plants (C)

Cabbage
Cabbage is a hardy biennial vegetable of the genus Brassica, order cruciferae.

Cabbage Butterfly
Cabbage Butterfly is a name often given to butterflies of the genus Pieris, but applied especially to Pieris brassicae, the large white form so common in gardens in summer. The eggs are laid on the under surface of the leaves of cabbage and other cruciferous plants, and hatch in about a fortnight giving rise to bluish-green larvae. These are exceedingly voracious and very destructive to the host plants. When fully fed the larvae quit the host plant and pupate on walls, trees etc. The autumn brood remains in the pupa stage untill spring, and then hatching gives rise to the early butterflies, whose offspring form the butterflies of full summer. In fine seasons there may be three generations, the rate of development being dependant upon the weather.

Cabbage Fly
The Cabbage Fly (Anthomyia brassicae) is a dipterous insect closely resembling the common house fly in appearance. The larvae attack the stalks of cabbage and other vegetables and often cause great destruction.

Cabbage Moth
The cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae) is one of the owlet-moths (Noctuidae) wose larvae are often very destructive to cabbages. It lives concealed in the centre of the vegetable, and destroys the heart.

Cabbage Palm
The Cabbage Palm or Cabbage Tree (Euterpe oleracea) is a tree native to the West Indies where it often attains a height of thirty meters. It is a handsome tree with a trunk free from the remains of the leaf-sheaths of dead leaves. The terminal bud and the interior of the stem are edible, pickled or boiled.

Cabbage Tree
see "Cabbage Palm"

Cacao
see "Cocoa"

Cactaceae
see "Cactus"

Cactus
Cactus is the order of fleshy, thickened and mainly leafless plants, the Cactaceae (also known as the Indian Fig order).

Caddis-Fly
The caddis-fly (may-fly) is an insect of the genus Phryganea, of the order Neuroptera. The larva forms for itself a small case of stones, grass-roots, shells etc and lives under water until it is ready to emerge from the pupa state. The larva devours large quantities of fish-spawn, and, ironically, are a favourite bait of anglers.

Caecilia
The caecilia is a small South American amphibian belonging to the order Apoda.

Caesalpinia
Caesalpinia is a genus of tropical, leguminous trees and shrubs of great beauty, and of some economic importance because of the dyes obtained from them.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima
see "Barbados Pride"

Caffre-Corn
Caffre-Corn (Sorghum vulgare) is a variety of millet.

Caiman
see "Cayman"

Cairina moschata
see "Musk-duck"

Cajanus
Cajanus is a genus of Leguminous plants of the sub-order Papilionacea. The only species, Cajanus indicus, is a valuable pulse found in the tropics where it is commonly called Congo Pea or Dhal.

Cajeput Tree
The Cajeput Tree (Melaleuca leucadendron) is an evergreen tree, bearing pendulous spikes of white flowers, found throughout Australia and South Asia. It drops its bark every year, and this is used by the natives as tinder. Oil distilled from its leaves is an aromatic oil formerly used externally as a stimulant and counter irritant.

Calabash
see "Bottle Gourd"

Calamint
Calamint is a plant of the genus Calamintha, of the natural order Labiatae. The plants are herbs or shrubs with dense whorls of purple-white or yellow flowers, with two-lipped corolla and four conniving stamens.

Calamus
Calamus (Sweet Flag) is a perennial herb native to India and southern Asia. It has narrow sword-shaped leaves and a thick branched rhizome. When crushed the leaves emit an odour of tangerine.

Calandrinia
Calandrinia is a genus of plants of the rock purslane order (Portulaceae). All the species are fleshy, with sprawling or trailing habit and entire leaves. Some are annual and some are perennial. The flowers open fully only in sunshine.

Calcarea
Calcarea are a class of sponges with a spicular skeleton made of calcium carbonate. The common British purse sponge is an example.

Calico Bush
see "Mountain Laurel"

California Buckeye
California buckeye (Aesculus californica) is a deciduous shrub of the family Hippocastanaceae, with opposite, palmately divided leaves with five leaflets; the flowers appear in a long, terminal cluster, white or pinkish, with stamens longer than the five petals; the fruit is a smooth, leathery capsule with one to three large brown, shiny seeds each with a pale scar.

Californian Poppy
The Californian Poppy is a perennial herb of the poppy order, from the California coast. It has finely-cut leaves and bright-yellow, saffron-eyed, four-petalled blooms.

Calligonum
Calligonum is a genus of desert and steppe shrubs of the natural order Polygonaceae. They are natives of North Africa, Western Asia and Southern Europe. They are sand-tolerating switch-plants and were planted along side railway lines in the desert to act as a living screen against sand-drifts.

Calling Crab
see "Fiddler Crab"

Callistemon
see "Bottle-Brush"

Calotropis
Calotropis is a genus of shrubs or small trees of the order Asclepiadaceae.

Calyptoblastea
The calyptoblastea is an order of hydrozoa. They are marine colonial forms in which the perisac is extended to form hydrothecae around the hydranths and gonothecae around the blastostyles.

Cam miles
Cam miles is a perennial dwarf herb of the order compositae.

Camberwell Beauty
The Camberwell beauty (Vanessa antiopa) is a British butterfly.

Camel
The camel is a group of even toed, ungulate ruminating mammals characterised by the absence of horns, the posession of incisor, canine and molar teeth, a fissure in the upper lip, a long and arched neck, one or two jumps or protuberances on the back, and a broad elastic foot which does not readily sink into the sand of the desert.

Camel-flies
see "Snake-flies"

Camellia
Camellia is a genus of plants of the order Ternstroemiaceae with showy flowers and elegant, dark-green, shining, laurel-like leaves.

Camelopard
Camelopard was a name once given to the giraffe, in the mistaken belief that the creature was a cross between a camel and a leopard.

Cameroons Dwarf
see "West African Dwarf"

Cammock
see "Rest-harrow"

Camomile
Camomile is a perennial dwarf herb of the order compositae.

Campanula Rapunculus
see "Rampion"

Campanulaceae
The Campanulaceae are an extensive natural order of gamopetalous dicotyledons usually herbaceous, with an inferior two or more celled fruit, many minute seeds, regular bell-shaped showy blue or white corolla, and milky acrid juice. They are natives chiefly of northern and temperate regions.

Camptosaurus
Camptosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the jurassic period. It mainly stayed on all-fours, but could rear up on its hind legs to run away from predators. It had hooves instead of claws on its fingers.

Camura
see "Africana"

Canaan Dog
The canaan dog (Kelef K'naani) is a breed of dog known for its intense barking, trainability, and survival abilities when food and water are scarce. The coat is short to medium in length, harsh, and straight and may be white with large spots in either black, red, or brown or it may be all brown or all black with or without white marks. The ears are medium-sized, pointed, and held erect. The tail is plumed and usually held curled over the back. The eyes are dark-coloured. The adult dog stands 48 to 61 cm tall at the shoulder and weighs 16 to 25 kg. The breed was developed during the late 1930s as a guard dog for kibbutzim and trained for mine detection in World War II. They are now used also as seeing-eye dogs, herding dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and for tracking.

Canada Goose
The Canada Goose (Brenta canadensis) is an American wild goose, about 80 cm long, brownish above, lighter belower with a black head, neck, bill and feet and a white patch on the cheek.

Canada Rice
Canada Rice (Zizania aquatica) is a floating grass found growing in lakes and sluggish streams in Canada and the northern USA. It yields an edible grain.

Canadian Hemp
Canadian Hemp (Apocynum Cannabinum) is a perennial herb with upright stems and branches headed by erect, many flowered stems and leaves which are nearly sessile. It grows in gravelly or sandy soil, mostly near streams. It is used in California for making twine, bags, cordage, fishing-nets and a coarse kind of linen.

Canadian Pond Weed
see "Elodea"

Canary
The canary (Serinus canarius) is an insessorial singing bird of the finch family and native of the Canary islands. They were introduced to Europe in the latter part of the fifteenth century. Many of the caged canaries kept are actually mules produced from cross breeding a canary with an allied species such as the goldfinch, siskin or linnet.

Canis latrans
see "Coyote"

Cannabis
Cannabis is a plant of the order urticaceae. The dried flowers were once used as a medicine in migraine and neuralgia.

Cantharides
The Cantharides (Spanish Fly) is a kind of beetle found in Italy, Spain and France. The body is about 20 cm long and of a golden-green colour. They live on trees and eat leaves. They exude a poison, cantharidin, when bruised which is used in blistering plasters.

Capelin
The capelin (Mallotus villosus) is a small fish of the salmon family found in North American coastal waters where it is used as a bait for cod and also eaten.

Caprinae
Caprinae is a sub-family of even-toed ungulates of the Bovidae. It includes the sheep and goat and the musk ox. The family is distinguished by the presence of ridged, curved, or spiral horns in both sexes, a somewhat hairy muzzle, and a short and flattened tail.

Capromys
see "Hog-rat"

Capsicum
Capsicum is a genus of annual plants of the order Solanaceae. They have a wheel-shaped corolla, and a many-seeded berry.

Capybara
The capybara (Hydrochoerus capybara) is a species of aquatic rodent also known as the water-hog or water-horse and in South America it is called the carpincho. It is about one meter long with a large thick head, a thick body covered with long, coarse brown hair and short legs with long feet which are webbed. It is found in South America where it feeds on vegetation and fish.

Caracal
The caracal is a species of lynx (Felis caracal) native to northern Africa and south-west Asia. It is about the size of a fox, mostly a deep-brown colour with tufts of long black hair on the ears.

Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal shield. The name is also given to the upper part of the hard shell of chelonian reptiles such as the tortoise, the lower part being called the plastron.

Caraway
Caraway is a biennial herb umbelliferae.

Cardamom
Cardamom is an aromatic perennial herb of the order scitamineae.

Carduus benedictus
see "Blessed Thistle"

Carex
Carex is a large genus of plants of the order Cyperaceae. They are the sedges, perennial grass-like herbs with unisex flowers aggregated in spikelets.

Cariama
The cariama is a large, long legged bird found in south America.

Caribou
The caribou is a north American reindeer.

Carinatae
The carinatae are an order of birds. They can fly.

Carludovica
Carludovica is a genus of palm-like monocotyledons native to tropical America.

Carmarina
Carmarina is a member of the order trachylina.a

Carnation
The carnation (Dianthus) is a hardy perennial plant of the order caryophyllaceae. Also known as the clove-pink.

Carnauba
Carnauba is a native palm of Brazil. When young the leaves are covered in a wax used to make candles.

Carnivora
Carnivora is the carnivorous order of eutheria. They primarily eat the flesh of other craniates. Canines are prominent. The caecum is small or absent.

Carnivore
A carnivore is a carnivorous mammal.

Carnivorous
Something which is carnivorous eats flesh.

Carob
The carob or bean tree, locust tree (Ceratonia siliqua), is a leguminous evergreen tree found in mediterranean countries. It was introduced to England in the 16th century. The pods of the tree, sold as locust beans were formerly feed to pigs and cattle.

Carp
The carp (Cyprinus) is a genus of soft-finned fresh water fish distinguished by a small mouth, toothless jaws and gills of three flat rays. They have a single dorsal fin and fairly large scales.

Carpenter Bee
The carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) is a bee named on account of the habit of forming a nest in dry wood, in which it excavates parallel galleries. Within these galleries cells are formed of wood pulp moistened by salivary juice.

Carpincho
see "Capybara"

Carpophore
In botany, a carpophore is a continuation of the flower-stalk, which passes in certain flowers, notably those of the order Umbelliferae, between the carpels, until it reaches their highest points. Often when the carpels are ripe, and separate from one another, they remain attached to the carpophore at its summit.

Carrageen
Carrageen (Irish Moss) is a common British seaweed (Chondrus crispus). When dried and boiled it yields a jelly used in food and medicine.

Carrion crow
The Carrion crow (Corvus corone ) is a British bird of the family Corvidae, order Passeriformes, closely related to Corvus cornix, the hooded crow. In the USA the name refers to the black vulture.

Carrot
The carrot (Daucus Carota) is a biennial vegetable of the order umbelliferae. It is a native of Britain and Europe and has tripinnate leaves of a feathery appearance. The plant rises to a height of some 60 cm and produces white flowers. The root is strong-flavoured and tapering. In the wild carrot the root is white, but in the cultivated variety it is orange in colour. Originally the carrot was cultivated as a food for cattle, it is now widely eaten by people.

Caruncle
A caruncle is the fleshy excresence on the head of a fowl, such the comb of a cock or the wattles of a turkey.

Carya
Carya is the hickory genus of plants.

Caryocar
Caryocar is a genus of plants of the natural order Caryocaraceae, consisting of tall trees native to tropical America which produce good timber and also butter-nuts.

Caryophyllaceae
Caryophyllaceae are an order of plants. They have opposite undivided leaves without stipples. The order includes the Carnation, chick-weed and sweet-william.

Caryophyllia
Caryophyllia is a member of the order zoantharia.

Caryopsis
Caryopsis is the botanical term for small one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit in which the seed adheres to the thin pericap throughout, such as in wheat and other grains.

Caryota
Caryota is a genus of spineless palms with doubly pinnate leaves. The genus is sometimes known as the fish-tail palms from the shape of the leaflets. When fully grown the plants bear large green or purple flowers, the spadices hanging down in graceful bundles.

Cashew
The cashew is a small evergreen tree (Anacardium occidentale) found in the caribbean. It's fruit is called the cashew-nut, and is small, kidney-shaped, ash-grey and contains an acrid juice. Its noxious property is destroyed by roasting after which it is deemed a great delicacy.

Cashmere
The cashmere is a small domesticated goat with large ears and small horns kept for its wool, milk and meat in mountainous areas of China, Iran and Kashmir.

Casmerodius albus
see "Great Egret"

Cassava
Cassava (Manihot utilissima) is a South American shrub of the order Euphorbiaceae. It grows to about 8 feet in height and has broad, shiny leaves roughly in the shape of a human hand and attractive white and pink flowers. The root is used in cooking.

Cassia
Cassia is a large genus of leguminous plants found in tropical countries. The species consists of trees, shrubs and herbs. The leaves are abruptly pinnated and usually bear glands on their stalks. The drug senna is obtained from the leaflets of many of the species.

Cassicus
The Cassicus is a genus of American insessorial birds, the Cassicans (American Orioles). They are allied to the Starlings and are remarkable for the ingenuity with which they weave their nests.

Cassowary
The cassowary are a genus of ruminating birds similar to the ostrich.

Cassowary Tree
see "Casuarina"

Castoridae
The Castoridae is a family of rodent animals comprising the beaver and others.

Casuaridae
The Casuaridae are a family of the order Casuariformes. These are the cassowaries. They have strong legs and a bald head topped with a helmet.

Casuariformes
The Casuariformes is an order of birds.

Casuarina
The Casuarina (Botany-Bay Oak), is the only genus of the order Casuarinaceae (cassowary trees). There are around 30 species mainly native to Australia. They are jointed, leafless trees similar to the Birches.

Cat
The cat is a genus of carnivorous mammal (Felidae or Felis). The genus includes the most highly specialized of the carnivores. The mechanism by which the claws are retracted (in some species) is highly sophisticated, and the claws are extremely sharp and powerful weapons. The teeth number thirty, and are used to tear meat which is then swallowed without mastication. The tongue is rough and functions as a rasp.

Cat-bird
The Cat-bird is a species of the American thrush. It is about 9 inches long. The plummage is dark gray on the top and paler grey underneath.

Cat-fish
The Cat-fish (Anarhichadidae) is a voracious fish of the gobies family. It was also called the Wolf-fish or Sea-Wolf in the 19th century.

Catalpa
The Catalpa is a genus of plants of the order Bignoniaceae. They are trees with simple leaves and large, gay, trumpet shaped flowers.

Catamount
Catamount is an old name for any wild cat, including the Lynx and the Puma.

Catamountain
Catamountain is an old variation of Catamount.

Catarrhina
Catarrhina is a suborder of anthropoidea. The nostrils face downwards. The internasal septum is narrow. The tail is never prehensile.

Catchfly
Catchfly is a popular name for several plants of the genus Silene.

Caterpillar
A caterpillar os the larval stage of a butterfly or moth. Wormlike in form, the body is segmented, may be hairy, and often has scent glands. The head has strong biting mandibles, silk glands, and a spinneret. Many caterpillars resemble the plant on which they feed, dry twigs, or rolled leaves. Others are highly coloured and rely for their protection on their irritant hairs, disagreeable smell, or on their power to eject a corrosive fluid. Yet others take up a 'threat attitude' when attacked. Caterpillars emerge from eggs that have been laid by the female insect on the food plant and feed greedily, increasing greatly in size and casting their skins several times, until the pupal stage is reached. The abdominal segments bear a varying number of 'pro-legs' as well as the six true legs on the thoracic segments.

Catha
Catha is a genus of plants of the order Celastraceae, mostly native to Africa. The leaves and twigs of one species are used to make khat, a drink similar to coffee.

Catheturus lathami
see "Brush Turkey"

Catmint
Catmint (catnip) is a plant of the order Labiatae. It grows to a height of around 3 feet and has pink tinged white flowers and stalked, downy, heart-shaped leaves. It is so named for the fascination cats have with it.

Catnip
see "Catmint"

Cattle
The term cattle applies to all members of the ox genus.

Cattleya
Cattleya is a genus of orchids native to Central and South America. They have handsome flowers and leathery or fleshy leaves. They vary in height from a few centimeters to one meter.

Caudex
In botany, caudex refers to the scaly trunk of palms and tree-ferns.

Cauliflower
The cauliflower is a vegetable of the order cruciferae.

Cavicornia
The Cavicornia (or Cavicorns) are a family of ruminats characterised by persistent horns, (thus differing from the deer) consisting of a bony core and a horny sheaf covering the bone. They comprise the antelopes, goat and ox.

Cavicorns
see "Cavicornia"

Cavy
The cavy are small rodents found in south America.

Cayman
Cayman or Caiman is the name given to several species of tropical American alligators, differing from typical alligators in certain minor details of structure. They are most numerous on the banks of the Amazon where they are known as jacare or yacare.

Cecidomyia
Cecidomyia is the genus of insects to which the Hessian-fly belongs.

Cecropia
Cecropia is a genus of soft-wooded evergreen trees, all natives of tropical regions. They are known as snakewood, and belong to the order Urticaceae.

Cedar
The cedar is an ornamental evergreen tree native of Africa and India.

Cedar Waxwing
see "Cedar-bird"

Cedar-bird
Cedar-bird or Cedar Waxwing is a name given to the American wax-wing (Bombycilla cedorum) on account of its fondness for the berries of the red cedar. It is a songless bird of the order Passeriformes, common to North America. It is gregarious in habit, swift in flight, and has a voracious appetite, feeding on berries, fruit, and insects. It is related to the common waxwing.

Cedrela
Cedrela is a genus of large timber trees.

Celandine
Celandine is the name of two british flowers. Greater celandine belongs to the poppy family. Lesser Celandine (swallow-wort, pilewort) was thought to be a cure for piles.

Celastraceae
Celastraceae is an order of polypetalous dicotyledons, consisting of shrubs and small trees, natives of southern Europe, Asia, America and Australia.

Celeriac
Celeriac is a variety of celery in which the root resembles a turnip. It is used in cooking.

Celery
Celery (Apium graveolens) is a biennial vegetable of the order umbellifereae native to Britain and the temperate countries of Europe and Asia.

Cembra Pine
The Cembra Pine (Swiss stone pine, Siberian pine, Arolla pine) is a conifer found in Central Europe. It has edible seeds and yields a turpentine called Carpathian balsam.

Centaure
Centaure are a genus of composite plants. The species are annual or perennial herbs with alternate leaves and single heads, all the florets of which are tubular. They are found in Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.

Centaurea
Centaurea is a genus of composite plants. They are all annual or perennial herbs with alternate leaves and single heads, the florets of which are tubular. The genus includes corn blue-bottle, purple sultan, white sultan and knapweed.

Centaury
Centaury is an annual herb of the gentian family. It has pretty red flowers and was extolled for its medicinal properties by herbailists in the past.

Centriscus scolopax
see "Trumpet-fish"

Century Plant
see "Agave"

Cephalochordata
The cephalochordata is a class of sub-phylum acrania. They are the lancets. Small fish-like animals. The notochord extends the whole length of the body, even to the tip of the snout.

Cephalopoda
Cephalopoda is a class of phylum mollusca. They are the squids and octopuses. The head is well developed and surrounded by prehensile tentacles. The eyes are large and complex.

Cephaloptera
Cephaloptera are a genus of cartilaginous fishes of the ray family. They have a pair of small fins which stand out from the head like horns, hence they are called the fin-headed rays or horned rays.

Ceramiaceae
Ceramiaceae is an order of cellular sea-weeds consisting of thread-like jointed plants of a red or brown-red colour.

Cerastes
Cerastes is a genus of deadly African vipers. They have two small horns formed by the scales above the eyes, hence they are called Horned Vipers.

Cerasus
Cerasus is the cherry genus of trees.

Ceratodus
Ceratodus (barramunda) is a genus of fishes belonging to the Dipnoi order (lung-fishes). They are between 3 and 6 feet long and are found in Australian rivers.

Ceratonia siliqua
see "Carob"

Cercopithecus
Cercopithecus is a genus of African monkeys, including the Guenons, one being the Diana Monkey and another the Green Guenon.

Cereal
Cereal is a term applied to Gramineae cultivated for food (wheat, barley, rye, oats &c.). The name comes from Ceres, the goddess associated with corn.

Ceroxylon
Ceroxylon (the wax palm) is a genus of South American palms.

Certhia
Certhia is a genus of perching birds of the Certhiidae family.

Cervidae
Cervidae is the deer family of animals which includes the Cervus genus.

Cervus
Cervus is the deer genus of animals.

Cervus canadensis
see "Wapiti"

Cestoda
Cestoda (the Cestodes) is a class of phylum platyhelminthes commonly known as the tapeworms. They are internal parasites lacking an alimentary canal. They have no definite sense organs, and the nervous system is poorly developed. The cuticle is thick and many-layered. Hooks and/or suckers are limited to one end. They have great reproductive powers, both sexual and asexual.

Cestodes
see "Cestoda"

Cestracion
Cestracion is a genus of cartilaginous fish allied to the sharks. They possess several rows of blunt hind teeth, adapted for crushing the shells of molluscs.

Cetacea
Cetacea is an order of eutheria. They are aquatic mammals with a streamlined body devoid of hair. They have a thick layer of blubber for insulation. The hind limbs are absent, and the fore limbs adapted to form paddles.

Ceterach
Ceterach is a genus of ferns of the sub-order Polypodiaceae.

Chaffinch
The chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) is a common British bird of the finch family.

Chama
Chama is a genus of marine bivalves including the giant clam.

Chamaerops
Chamaerops is a genus of palms belonging to the northern hemisphere and consisting of dwarf trees with fan-shaped leaves borne on prickly petioles and a small berry-like fruit with one seed.

Chameleon
A chameleon is a lizard. It can change colour to suit its surroundings.

Chamois
The chamois is a ruminating animal found in south Europe and west Asia.

Champak
The Champak is an Indian tree of the order Magnoliaceae held in high esteem by Buddhists.

Champignon
Champignon is a name given to the common mushroom of Britain (Agaricus campestris) and also to the edible fairy-ring fungus Marasmius oreades.

Chanterelle
The chanterelle is an edible British mushroom of a bright orange colour.

Characeae
The Characeae are an order of cryptogamous plants, nearly related to the Algae, composed of an axis consisting of parallel tubes which are either transparent or incrusted with lime carbonate.

Charadrius
Charadrius is a genus of birds which includes the lapwing, pratincole and oyster-catcher.

Charbray
The charbray is a large, horned, white breed of domestic beef cattle developed at Texas suring the 1940s.

Charlock
Charlock () is a common British yellow weed, also known as wild mustard.

Charolais
The charolais is an unusually large and white French breed of domestic beef cattle.

Chat
The chat are several species of bird of the thrush family.

Chaulmugra
Chaulmugra is a tree found in South Asia. The oil was used in India and China as a remedy in skin diseases and blood impurities. The medicinal use of the oil in skin and chest infections was introduced to Europe and America around 1900.

Chaus
The Chaus is a genus of Asiatic and African lynxes including the Libyan chaus and the Caffre-cat. They are fond of water and are excellent swimmers.

Chavica
Chavica is a genus of plants of the order Piperaceae which includes the long pepper, Java long pepper and the betel-pepper.

Cheetah
The cheetah (Cynoelurus jubatus) or hunting leopard is a carnivorous animal resembling a cat, but not a true member of the cat family. They were formerly trained and used for hunting proving very popular with the French monarchy.

Cheiranthus
Cheiranthus is the wallflower genus of plants.

Cheironectes
Cheironectes are a genus of acanthopterygious fishes, having the pectoral fins supported like short feet upon peduncles. They use these fins to crawl over mud and sand when they get left dry be a receeding tide. They may also take short leaps like a frog, and from this they are often called frog-fish. They are found in North-East Australia.

Chelonia
The Chelonia are an order of anapsida (reptiles) which includes the tortoise and turtle.. The trunk is short and broad and protected by a carapace and a plastron. The head, neck, tail and limbs can be withdrawn under the shields for protection. The jaws are strong, but lack teeth.

Chenopodium
Chenopodium (Goosefoot) is a genus of plants of the natural order Chenopodiaceae. They are weedy plants common on wastelands and bear small greenish flowers which are sessile in small clusters collected in spiked panicles.

Cherry
The cherry is a fruit tree of the order rosaceae.

Chervil
Chervil is the name of any of several plants of the carrot family (order Umbelliferae). The garden chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) has leaves with a sweetish odour, resembling parsley. It is used as a garnish and in soups. Chervil originated on the borders of Europe and Asia and was introduced to Western Europe by the Romans.

Chestnut
The chestnut is a tree of the order cupuliferae.

Chetah
Chetah is the old 19th century spelling of Cheetah.

Chick pea
The chick pea is an annual herb of the order leguminosae.

Chicory
Chicory (Cichorium intybus), is a perennial herb of the order compositae. Native to Europe and West Asia where it grows on chalky soils, it has large, usually blue, flowers. Its long taproot is used dried and roasted as a coffee substitute. As a garden vegetable, grown under cover, its blanched leaves are used in salads. It is related to endive.

Chiffchaff
The chiffchaff is a small song bird. It visits England in the summer.

Chile pine
The Chile pine (Araucaria imbricata) or monkey puzzle is a conifer native to Chile which grows in England and was used for the masts of ships. In Chile the seeds are eaten.

Chilopoda
The chilopoda are the centipede order of myriapoda. The genital aperture is posterior.

Chimpanzee
The chimpanzee is a large anthropoid ape.

Chinchilla
The chinchilla is a small squirrel like rodent found in the andes.

Chinese Tallow Tree
The Chinese tallow tree (Excoearia sebifera) is a member of the order Euphorbiaceae. The wood was used in China for engraving blocks, and a kind of tallow was obtained from the seeds.

Chios
The Chios is a breed of sheep of uncertain origin. The Chios is typically white with black, occasionally brown, spots around the eyes, and on the ears, nose, belly and legs. The entire head is often black. The mature size of the ewes is typically 48-70 kg and rams from 65-90 kg indicating regional differences. Female conformation is typically dairy. The breed is classified as semi-fat-tailed.

Chipmunk
A chipmunk is a species of ground squirrel common in Siberia and north America.

Chiroptera
The chiroptera is an order of eutheria. They are small mammals with strong powers of flight. The limb bones are strong and slender. The wings are formed of skin. The teeth bear pointed cusps.

Chiru
The chiru is an antelope found in Tibet.

Chondrichthyes
Chondrichthyes is a subclass of fish including the sharks, dogfishes, skates and rays. They are fishes with a cartilage endoskeleton. The jaws are well formed.

Chondrus crispus
see "Carrageen"

Chordates
see "phylum chordata"

Chough
The chough is a bird of the crow family with red feet and bill. It is found on sea cliffs.

Chow-Chow
The chow-chow is a variety of dog introduced to England from China where they were bred for food. They are cobby in build with a flat, wide skull and a substantial muzzle under the eyes and nose. The tongue and lips are black. the ears are small, pointed and carried erect and forward. They average 22 kg in weight.

Chrysalis
A chrysalis is the inactive state into which larva pass before becoming imago.

Chrysanthemum
The chrysanthemum is a hardy annual plant of the order compositae.

Chrysoplenium
Chrysoplenium is a genus of annual or perannial rather succulent herbs with alternate or opposite crenate leaves and inconspicuous greenish axillary and terminal flowers.

Chub
The chub is a fresh water fish of the carp family.

Cicada
The cicada is a group of large four winged insects.

Cichorium endivia
see "Endive"

Cichorium intybus
see "Chicory"

Ciliata
Ciliata are a highly organised class of the Protozoa, characterised by the posession of cilia, which may be distributed all over the body, and act as swimming organs, as in the slipper animalcule, or may be restricted to certain parts of it, as in the stalked bell animalcule, in which their action serves to sweep food-particles into the gullet.

Ciliata vera
Ciliata vera are a subclass of ciliophora. They are free swimming animals.

Ciliophora
Ciliophora are a class of protozoa with relatively simple life-histories. The locomotor structures are cilia arranged in definite tracts. The cilia arise from grooves in the pellicle. Ciliophora have a unique nuclear structure, comprised of a meganucleus concerned with trophic activities, and a micronucleus concerned with reproduction.

Cinchona
The cinchona is a tree native to South America with fragrant white or pink flowers. The bark contains quinine and other related alkaloids. The tree was named in honour of the countess of Chinchon, the vice-Queen of Peru after she was cured by cinchona bark in 1638.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree.

Circus cyaneus
see "Northern Harrier"

Cirripedia
Cirripedia is a subclass of crustacea. These are the barnacles. Sedentary animals with a reduced head and abdomen.

Cistus
Cistus, the rock-rose, is a genus of plants of the order Cistaceae native to Europe and the countries bordering the Mediterranean. They are called rock-roses because of the resemblance of their flowers to those of roses. The flowers are large, and delicately coloured and textured but last only a day.

Citron
The citron is a tree related to the lemon, bearing large yellowish fruits shaped like a lemon, but with coarse, thick, furrowed skin which is preserved in sugar for confectionary and cakes. The citron is native to India but is cultivated through the Mediterranean and in California and Florida.

Citrus
Citrus is a genus of trees and shrubs of the rue family which includes the lemon, orange, lime and tangerine. They are widely cultivated for their edible fruit.

Citrus decumana
see "Grapefruit"

Citrus Limonum
see "Lemon"

Civet
The civet (Viverridae) are a family of carnivorous animals similar to the cats. They inhabit tropical Asia and Africa and are celebrated for producing a scented substance used in perfume.

Cladrastis tinctoria
see "Yellow Wood"

Clam
The clam is a marine Lamellibranch mollusc akin to the cockle. The giant clam is the largest known bivalve mollusc with a shell as large as one meter across and weighing around 120 kg. Clams are found in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

Clark's Grebe
Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) is a medium-sized diving bird of the order Podicipediformes, family: Podicipedidae with a long slender neck, slender pointed yellow bill. Grey back; black cap; white cheek, breast and neck; eye in white area of cheek. It is a common winter visitor along the California coast, in bays and the Salton Sea breeding on inland lakes.

Clear-wings
The clear-wings are a family of moths, related to the clothes moth, but distinguished by the absence of the scales from the wings. Many of them mimic hymenoptera, notably the hornet clear-wing, which closely resembles the large wasp, after which it is named.

Cleaver
Cleaver (Goose Grass) is a plant of the Rubiaceae. It has rough stems and 6 - 8 leaves in a whorl with distinctive curled prickles. The flowers are axillary and greenish white. The fruit is rough with hooked prickles and the seed vessels are globular and tenacious, clinging to the coat of any animal that touches them. The alternative name of Goose Grass comes from the fact that geese like to eat the entire plant.

Cleg
The cleg (clegg, breeze-fly, gad-fly) is a name applied to the members of the insect family Tabanidae, which are flies furnished with a lancet-like proboscis, of powerful flight, and a habit of sucking blood. It is only the female which sucks blood, and in some examples - such as the Hadrus lepidotus of Brazil - they may inflict wounds which bleed very freely. The common cleg (Tabanus bovinus) is a large insect resembling a bee which produces a deep hum which panics horses and cattle. It also attacks man, and its hard proboscis can penetrate even thick clothing.

Clepsine
The clepsine are hirudinea.

Click Beetle
The Click Beetle (Skip-jack) is a beetle related to the fire-flies, which when lying on its back, has the power of regaining its feet by a rapid jerk accompanied by a clicking sound produced by the jumping mechanism in its thorax. The larvae, known as wire worms, live in the ground and feed on the roots of cereals damaging crops.

Climbing Perch
The Climbing Perch is a freshwater fish about 20 cm long, with a compressed body and a long spiny dorsal fin. It is found in India and countries to the east, and can travle long distances on land, breathing air by means of a bony labyrinth richly supplied with blood-vessels and situated in the upper part of the branchial chamber.

Climbing Plants
Climbing Plants are divided by Darwin into 4 classes. The first group twine spirally round a support, the second are aided by sensitive, modified leaves, branches or flower stems. These two grade into one another. The third ascend by the aid of hooks, and the fourth by rootlets.

Clothes-Moth
Clothes-Moth is a general name for a great variety of small, so-called Tineine moths, the larvae of which feed mainly on dried animal substances, and are very destructive to woollen goods, furs etc.

Clouded Leopard
The Clouded Leopard (Clouded Tiger) is a large species of wild cat ranging from Nepal to eastern Borneo. It has a relatively large head, short legs and a long tail and its pattern consists of large, black-edged dark patches. It is about 2 m in total length and weighs around 20 kg. It lives in the forest feeding on birds and small mammals, but is not closely related to either the leopard or the tiger.

Clouded Tiger
see "Clouded Leopard"

Clove-Pink
see "Carnation"

Clover
Clover or trefoil (Trifolium) as it is also known from the division of the leaf into three leaflets, is a small herb of the order Leguminosae characterised by the crowding of the numerous flowers into a rounded or oval cluster and by the flowers remaining in position after the formation of the pod.

Club-Moses
Club-Moses is a group of epiphytic land plants, with dichotomous branching of root and stem, and numerous small, closely-placed leaves; with sporophylls resembling the vegative leaves, grouped as cones at the end of some shoots, bearing single sporongia on the upper side.

Clupea harengus
see "Herring"

Clupea sprattus
see "Sprat"

Clydesdale terrier
see "Paisley Terrier"

Coal-fish
The coal-fish (Gadus virens) also called the saithe and greencod, is a predaceous member of the cod family, distinguished by its dark, almost black back, white lateral line, and long lower jaw with a barbel. It extends from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. It feeds on other fish, particularly herring.

Coal-tit
The coal-tit (Parus ater) or coal-titmouse, is a British bird so named from its black colour. It has a glossy blue-black head with white spots.

Coal-titmouse
see "Coal-tit"

Coati
The coati (Coati Mundi or Nasua) is a carnivorous mammal related to the racoon. Found in south America and Mexico. It has a long mobile snout, a long tail, and feet armed with strong claws for digging and climbing. Coatis often hunt in companies, and feed on lizards, birds, insects and other animals and eggs.

Coati Mundi
see "Coati"

Cob nut
The cob nut is a domesticated variety of the hazel.

Cobra
The cobra is a venomous snake found in Africa and south Asia.

Coccidia
Coccidia are a group of the Sporozoa exclusively parasitic on animals of various kinds, both vertebrate and invertebrate. They are mostly found in such organs as the liver or kidneys, but are not blood parasites. Their reproduction is both sexual and asexual, and they undergo a complicated series of changes in their life history, but each species is restricted to a particular host.

Coccidia vera
The coccidia vera are a suborder of coccidiomorpha. They are parasites found chiefly in invertebrates, but also in vertebrates. The trophic phase is typically intracellular.

Coccidiomorpha
The coccidiomorpha are an order of sporozoa.

Coccus cacti
see "Cochineal"

Cochineal
Cochineal is a scaled insect (Dactylopius coccus or Coccus cacti) found on cactii in Mexico. The dried body of the female is used to prepare the red dye, cochineal.

Cockatoo
Cockatoo is the name of any of several crested parrots, especially of the genus Cacatua, family Psittacidae, of the order Psittaciformes. They usually have light-coloured plumage with tinges of red, yellow, or orange on the face, and an erectile crest on the head. They are native to Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. There are about 17 species, one of the most familiar being the sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) of Australia and New Guinea, about 50 cm long, white with a yellow crest and dark beak.

Cockchafer
The cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris) is a common European beetle, about three cm long and destructive to the foliage of fruit and forest trees.

Cockle
The Cockle is a Lamellibranchia bivalve mollusc. It is recognised by its ribbed, heart-shaped shell. They are found on British shores.

Cockroach
The cockroach (Blatta orientalis) is an insect of the order Orthoptera. In the common species the male is fully winged and the female wingless. The eggs are enclosed in horny purse-like cases attached to the abdomen of the female and carried about until the young are ready to hatch. The larvae resemble the adults, but are wingless. The American cockroach is larger than the British species, and both sexes are fully winged. The German species is very much smaller, and both sexes are winged and it also has the ability to climb smooth surfaces such as window panes.

Cocoa
Cocoa (Cacao) is a small tree (Theobroma cacao) of the natural order Sterculiaceae, native to tropical America. The powder derived from the fruit of the tree is also called cocoa, and is used to make chocolate.

Coconut Crab
The Coconut Crab is a large land crustacean about 60 cm or more in length and massive in proportion. It is related to the hermit-crab and is found in many of the Indo-Pacific islands. It lives in holes at the roots of palm trees and feeds upon fallen coconuts, fruit, carrion and its injured companions. It uses its powerful claws to tear the husk off the coconut and hammers at the "eyes" until a hole is made. It then either extracts the fruit directly or smashes the coconut against the ground to break the shell.

Cod
The Cod is a fish of the family Gadidae. They are found in the Atlantic and Baltic. The cod takes from 3 to 4 years to reach maturity and achieves an average length of around one meter.

Codlin Moth
The Codlin Moth is a pretty little moth which in its larval stage is very destructive to apples, devouring principally the pips and causing the condition known as "worm eaten". When full sized, the grub eats its way through the rind and pupates in a crevice of the tree.

Coelacanthini
The coelacanthini is a rare order of crossopterygii which was thought to be extinct, until a specimen was caught off west africa in 1939.

Coelentera
Coelentera (Coelenterata) are primitive phyla of water animals, including the jelly-fish, sea anemones, corals and others. The body is radially symmetrical, and in the simplest forms consists of an undivided sac, the alimentary canal with the mouth, which is provided with tentacles and serves both for taking in food and ejecting undigested particles.

Coelenterata
see "Coelentera"

Coelophysis
Coelophysis was a cunning and agile carnivorous dinosaur from the triassic era. It was 2.5M long and about 1m tall when standing on its back legs.

Coffee
Coffee is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the order rubiaceae.

Coffer-fish
The coffer-fish (Ostracion) are members of the order Plectognathi, and are remarkable for the hard shield or carapace with which the body is covered, which is made up of six-sided scutes, joined together in a mosaic. They are found only in tropical and sub-tropical seas.

Colchicum
Colchicum is a genus of autumnal-blooming plants of the order Liliaceae which includes the meadow saffron. Many of them are very handsome, the colours being mostly purple or white, and the flowers similar to crocuses. The colchicums are natives of southern Europe and western Asia.

Collembola
Collembola is an order of apterygota. The spring tails.

Collie
The collie is a breed of English sheep dog.

Colombian Wooless
see "Africana"

Colorado Beetle
The colorado beetle is a north American beetle that attacks potatoes. It is a striped beetle resembling a ladybird in shape. It reached Europe in 1877, but has been prevented from establishing itself in England.

Coluber Constrictor
see "Black snake"

Columbine
Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) is a plant of the Ranunculaceae family. The flower is purple, blue or white with five petals each ending in a spur.

Colutea arborescens
see "Bladder Senna"

Comeback
The comeback is a type of sheep which was first developed by crossing a British long-wool cross back to the Merino. More recently Comebacks have been produced by crossing breeds such as the Corriedale and Polwarth with the Merino. Australia has approximately three million Comebacks which are mainly concentrated in cool wet areas. Although close to the Merino in type, Comebacks are selected to maximize production of meat as well as wool.

Comfrey
Comfrey is a large, handsome plant of the borage family. It is common in watery places and on the banks of rivers. The stems are branched and leafy, almost one meter high, winged in part with elliptical leaves. The flowers are white, pink or purple and droop in forked clusters.

Comisana
The Comisana (Lentinese, Red Head, Testa rossa, Faccia rossa) is a breed of sheep found in southeastern Sicily. It is a diary breed with course to medium wool quality and a reddish-brown face. It originated from the Maltese and Sicilian breeds in the late 19th and early 20th century. The breed has semi-lop ears and is polled.

Common Bryony
Common Bryony (Bryonia dioica) is the only native British species of Bryony. It is a climbing plant found in hedges and has cordate palmate leaves and axillary bunches of flowers and red berries which are highly poisonous. The thick long fleshy root has acrid emetic and purgative properties and has been used medicinally.

Common Loon
The Common Loon (Gavia immer) is a water bird of the order Gaviiformes, family Gaviidae. Like all loons, the common loon has a straight, pointed bill, swims low in the water and has feet placed at the posterior of the body, making it a poor walker. It is an expert fisher, diving from the surface. It is a common winter visitor in ocean waters along the California coast. Also found in estuaries and bays.

Common Tansy
see "Buttons"

Common Tortoise-shell
The Common Tortoise-shell (Vanessa Urticae) is a British butterfly whose caterpillar lives on nettles.

Compositae
Compositae is the largest known natural order of plants containing over 12,000 species of herbs or shrubs found all over the world. The flowers are numerous and sessile, forming a close head on the dilated top of the receptacle and surrounded by an involucre of whorled bracts. The flowers are monopetalous.

Compsognathus
Compsognathus was a tiny carnivorous dinosaur from the jurassic period. It was 70cm tall, about the size of a hen. It was a fast and agile creature.

Condor
The condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus) is the largest of the vultures. It is found in South America, principally in the Andes. It is mainly black in colour with some grey on the wings and a collar of white down on the neck. The wingspan is roughly 3 meters. Condors are carnivorous, feeding mostly on dead animals but may also attack old, young or weak goats, cattle and horses.

Coney
see "Cony"

Confervaceae
Confervaceae are a family of marine algae which have green fronds which are composed of articulated filaments.

Conger
The conger is an edible marine fish of the eel family found in most oceans. The skin is without scales and the back-fin reaches from the neck to the tip of the tail. An adult female conger grows to about 2 meters long, but the male is much smaller.

Conger eel
see "Conger"

Conger-eel
The Conger eel is a genus of marine eel characterized by a long dorsal fin beginning near the nape of the neck, immediately above the origin of the pectoral fins, and by having the upper jaw longer than the lower. The common conger eel grows to about 10 feet long and weighs more than 100 pounds.

Congo Pea
see "Cajanus"

Coniferae
Coniferae are the conifers; pines, firs and their allies. Many conifers are tall forest trees of pyramidal shape; the others are irregularly branched shrubs. The male flowers are either solitary or aggregated in clusters, and fall after shedding their pollen. The female flowers vary in the different genera.

Conirostres
Conirostres is a subdivision of the order Insessores consisting of genera having a stout conical beak. The best known genera are the larks, tits, finches, sparrows, crows and linnets.

Conus
Conus is a genus of gasteropodous molluscs of the family Conidae. They are found in the southern and tropical seas.

Convallaria
Convallaria is a genus of plants of the natural order Liliaceae, the only species being the lily-of-the-valley.

Convoluta
Convoluta is a member of the order rhabdocoelida.

Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae is an order of plants comprising about 700 species of climbers having large and very beautiful flowers. They are abundant in the tropics, and are important as medicines.

Convolvulus
Convolvulus is a genus of plants of the order Convolvulaceae consisting of slender twining herbs with milky juice., bell-shaped flowers and five free stamens.

Cony
Cony (or coney) is an old English name for the rabbit.

Conyza
Conyza is a genus of plants of the natural order Compositae. They are annual or perennial herbs found throught warmer regions of the world.

Cook Wrasse
see "Striped Wrasse"

Coopworth
Coopworth are a breed of sheep imported to Australia in 1976, after being developed in New Zealand in the 1950s from a cross of Border Leicester and Romney. Coopworths have been selected on visual criteria, wool quality, frame and carcass attributes, and measured performance, including fertility and lamb survival, growth rate to weaning, growth rate to yearling stage, leanness, growth and fleece production of 30-35 micron wool. This selection program has produced an efficient, dual-purpose sheep ideally suited to most environments in Australia. It is easy to care for and produces high milk yields for lamb production. Coopworths are performing well in Australia from the hot country of Riverina of NSW and Western Australia, to the wet, cold country of Victoria and Tasmania.

Coot
The coot is a British water bird of the rail family.

Copaiba
Copaiba is the common name of several plants of the genus Copaifera, natural order Leguminose, which grow in Brazil, Peru and other countries in South America.

Copepoda
Copepoda is a subclass of free-living or parasitic crustaceans without a carapace. The antennules are frequently enlarged and used for swimming. The thoracic appendages are biramous.

Copper Head
The copper head (Trigonocephalus contortrix) is a north American snake allied to the rattlesnake.

Coppersmith
The coppersmith is a south Asiatic bird of the barbet family, so called from the sound it makes which resembles the sound of hammering metal.

Coptis
Coptis is a small genus of plants of the natural order Ranunculaceae.

Coquito
The coquito (Juboea spectabilis) is a palm tree found in Chile and allied to the coconut. It grows to about 15 meters and its sap when boiled makes palm-honey.

Coral
Coral is a marine organism related to sea anemones.

Coral Tree
Coral tree is a popular name for any of several tropical trees of the genus Erythrina, family Fabaceae, with bright red or orange flowers and producing a very lightweight wood.

Corallium
Corallium is a member of the order alcyonaria.

Coregonus vandesius
see "Vendace"

Coriander
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an umbelliferous plant native to Italy. The fruit, often called a seed though it is not, is dried and used in cookery.

Coriaria
Coriaria is a genus of shrub plants found in southern Europe. They are used in tanning and a black dye is extracted from them.

Cork Oak
The Cork Oak is a tree native to southern Europe and north Africa. It rarely exceeds 12 meters in height, and has egg-shaped ever-green leaves and flowers produced in April and May. The acorns ripen in October and are edible with a sweet taste resembling chestnut. The bark of the tree is stripped off for cork.

Cormo
The Cormo is a breed of sheep that were developed in the earlier part of the 1960's in Tasmania, Australia. To arrive at the current day Cormo rams of the Corriedale breed were crossed with Superfine Saxon Merinos. The name Cormo is from the names of two of the parent breeds, Corriedale and Merino.

Cormogens
Cormogens are those plants in which there is a distinct axis of growth. They comprise the phanerogams and the higher cryptogams.

Cormorant
The cormorant (Phalacrocorax) is a genus of birds of the Pelicaniformes family. They are divers with long necks and strong, solid beaks. There are 30 species.

Corn Marigold
The Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum) is a rich orange coloured British wild flower.

Corn Salad
Corn Salad (lamb's-lettuce, Valerianella olitoria) is a plant of the order Valerianaceae nati e to Britain and Europe. It is a weak succulent herb which grows to about 25cm tall and is used as a salad in early spring.

Corn-beetle
The Corn-beetle (Cucujus testaceus) is a minute beetle, the larva of which is often very destructive to stores of grain, particularly wheat.

Corn-cockle
The corn-cockle (Agrostemma Githago) is a plant of the natural order Caryophyllaceae, with large purple flowers.

Corn-crake
The Corn-crake (landrail, Crex pratensis) is a species of bird of the order Grallae of the family Rallidae. It is a wading bird, reddish-brown in colour and feeds on worms and insects.

Corn-fly
Corn-fly is a popular name of several insects of the family Muscidae.

Corn-moth
The Corn-moth (Tinea granella) is a small moth the larva of which destroys corn sheaves in the field.

Corn-thrips
Corn-thrips is a minute species of thrips which feeds on the juice of corn.

Cornaceae
Cornaceae is a natural order of polypetalous exogens consisting of about 100 species of plants.

Corncrake
The Corncrake (land-rail) is a brown bird akin to the rails and moorhens. It is about the size of a partridge, and spends much of its time on the ground hunting for insects, on which it feeds. It nests in high grass or corn and at nightfall utters a harsh call. The corncrake is found throughout Europe and visits Britain in the summer and Africa in the winter.

Cornel
The cornel (cornelian tree) is a species of dogwood tree of the order Cornace ae. It is native to Asia and southern Europe.

Cornelian Tree
see "Cornel"

Cornflower
The Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is a favourite garden flower of the family Compositae. The flowers are double and blue, white, rose or carmine in colour. Cornflowers are effective as cut flowers or for border cultivation. They are hardy annuals, and may be sown in April or May.

Cornus
Cornus is a genus of plants of the natural order Cornaceae.

Coronellidae
Coronellidae is the smooth snake family of non-venomous snakes.

Coryne
The coryne is of the order gymnoblastea.

Corypha
Corypha is a genus of palms which includes the fa-palm, gebang palm and taliput.

Corythosaurus
Corythosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the cretaceous period. It had a duck-like bill filled with hundreds of tiny teeth which were used for mincing leaves. It had a hollow crescent on top of its head.

Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster is a small shrub belonging to the family Rosaceae, having entire, ovate leaves, smooth above and cottony on the underside. It has small pinkish solitary flowers and small reddish berries. In Britain, it occurs wild only in part of Wales but is cultivated in the south of England.

Cotton
Cotton is a tropical and sub tropical herbaceous plant. The cotton is the white or tawny mass of fibres which envelope the seeds within the dry capsular fruit of the plant.

Cotton Boll Weevil
The Cotton Boll Weevil is the larva of a Noctuid moth which destroys the cotton bolls and the fruit of other useful plants in north America and elsewhere.

Cotton-grass
Cotton-grass is a group of sedges. They are plants of the colder parts of the northern hemisphere and have long silky hairs springing from the base of the ovary to envelop the seed. The hairs were once used to stuff pillows, but cannot be spun because they do not twist, as do cotton fibres.

Cotton-wood
The cotton-wood is a north American tree.

Couch-grass
Couch-grass is a noxious weed whose spiked flowers somewhat resemble an ear of wheat in structure. It is a perennial grass and the rhizome spreads rapidly in all directions in light soil, sending up leafy stems from the nodes.

Cougar
The cougar is a large American cat. Also called the puma.

Cow
A cow is a female ox. Also the female of the elephant, rhinocerous, whale and seal.

Cow-bunting
The cow-bunting is a north American bird of the Sturnidae (Starling) family. It leaves its own eggs in other birds nests for them to hatch.

Cow-tree
see "Bread-fruit"

Cowrie
The Cowrie is a marine gastropod mollusc with an oval shell which in some species is the size of a hen's egg.

Cowslip
The Cowslip (Paigle) is a wild flower found in British pastures and hedge-rows. The flowers possess sedative properties and used to be made into wine.

Coyote
The coyote or prairie wolf (Canis latrans) is a type of wild dog found in north America.

Coypou
The Coypou (Coypu) is a South American rodent about the size of and resembling a beaver.

Coypu
The coypu is a south American water rodent.

Crab
see "crabs"

Crab-apple
The Crab-apple is a small, wild and very sour species of English Apple.

Crabs
Crabs are malacostraca.

Crack willow
see "Withy"

Cranberry
Cranberry is the fruit of the whortleberry bush. It is native to Europe, north asia and north America.

Crane
The crane (Megalornithidae) is a family of birds distinguished by long legs and neck and powerful wings.

Crane's Bill
see "Geranium"

Crane-fly
The Crane-fly is a genus of two-winged insects (Daddy-long-legs).

Cranium
The cranium is the skeleton enclosing the brain.q

Crassulaceae
Crassulaceae is the stonecrop family of herbs and shrubs. They have thick fleshy leaves and starlike flowers and are found in most parts of the world, especially South Africa. They grow in the diest regions where grass and moss cannot grow, on naked rocks, old walls and on hot sandy plains.

Crawfish
see "Crayfish"

Crayfish
Crayfish are various crustaceans. The common crayfish is also known as the river lobster which resembles the lobster in appearance and habits. They are also called crawfish.

Creeper
The creeper is a family of birds which resemble the woopecker in their habbit of creeping up tree trunks.

Cress
Cress is the name of several species of plants, most of them of the order Cruciferae. Water cress is used in salad and was used as a medicine for its antiscorbutic properties.

Crinoidea
The crinoidea are the sea lily class of phylum echinodermata. The body is cup shaped and attached to the substratum by a stalk. Both the mouth and anus are on the side of the body away from the stalk. The five main arms bifurcate, and on the branches are small side branches.

Crithmum
see "Samphire"

Crocodile
The crocodile is a large aquatic carnivorous reptile. Related to the alligator.

Crocodilia
Crocodilia is an order of diapsida. They are large reptiles adapted to life in rivers and lakes. The tail is flattened from side to side and is a powerful swimming tool.

Crossbill
The crossbill (Loxia) is a genus of birds of the finch family. They are distinguished by the crossed tips of the bill.

Crossopterygii
The crossopterygii is a division of fish known as the lung fishes. They have a single or double lung, and a modified heart and vascular system. They live in shallow fresh water where oxygen levels are insufficient for gills.

Crow
The crow is a family of 35 species of bird.

Crowberry
Crowberry is a plant found in northern Europe, Asia, England and Scotland.

Cruciferae
Cruciferae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants with cross like four petaled flowers.

Crustacea
Crustacea is the crustacean class of arthropods. They are mainly aquatic animals breathing by gills. There are two pairs of antennae and three pairs of jaws.

Crustacean
see "crustacea"

Crustaceans
see "crustacea"

Cryptogam
Cryptogam is a general term embracing all the lower or non-seed bearing plants. The name was given to them before the advent of the microscope made it possible to study their sexual reproduction. The cryptogams are the ferns, mosses, fungi and algae.

Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes diarrhea, although in people who are immunosuppressed it can also cause respiratory and gallbladder infections. It is transmitted by the fecal-oral route.

Ctenophora
The Ctenophora are a phylum of animals represented by a number of marine forms which somewhat resemble jelly-fish.

Cuban Lily
see "Scilla"

Cuckoo
The cuckoo (Cuculidae) is a family of birds. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.

Cucurbia Pepo ovifera
see "Marrow"

Cucurbita
see "Gourd"

Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae is a large and important group of herbacious plants with succulent stems which climb by means of tendrils which spring from the base of the leaf-stalks. The leaves are usually lobed and rough; the flowers often large, white, red or yellow; the fruit juicy or fleshy. The group includes the melon.

Culex pipiens
Culex pipiens is a species of mosquito found only in the London Underground system. It is believed to have developed from mosquitos trapped in the tunnels when the system was built in the 19th century.

Cumacea
Cumacea is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is small exposing four or five of the thoracic segments. The abdomen is slender.

Cunina
Cunina is a member of the order trachylina.

Cupuliferae
Cupuliferae is a family of trees distributed chiefly in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere and also in tropical Asia. The family includes the beech, chestnut, oak and birch.

Curassows
Curassows are a family of game-birds inhabiting Central and South America but related to the bush-turkeys of Australia.

Curlew
The curlew is a British water bird.

Cusk
The cusk (Brosme brosme) is an edible fish found in North Atlantic coastal areas.

Cuttle-Fish
The Cuttle-Fish is a name applied to various ten-armed molluscs of the class Cephalopoda. They are distinguished by their internal calcerous shell (cuttle bone).

Cycad
The Cycads are an order of tropical trees and shrubs with usually simple, sometimes dichotomous trunks marked with leaf scars, and resembling palms and tree ferns. The leaves are pinnate, and curled in the bud-like fan fronds. The flowers are always terminal, resembling cones.

Cycadaceae
Cycadaceae (Cycads) are a natural order of gymnospermous plants, resembling palms in their general appearance, and, as a rule, increasing by a single terminal bud. The leaves are large and pinnate, and usually rolled up when in bud like a crozier. The microscopic structure of the wood as well as the general structure of their cones ally them with the conifers.

Cycads
see "Cycadaceae"

Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a group of low-growing herbaceous plants of the Primrose family found in the mountains of the Mediterranean and Central Europe. They have globular, bulb-like roots from which arise long stalked, heart-shaped leaves, and white, pink, lilac or crimson flowers.

Cyclostomi
The cyclostomi are a subclass of agnatha. They are modern eel-like creatures which eat fish.

Cygnet
Cygnet is the name for a young swan.

Cygnus
see "Swan"

Cyme
A cyme is an irregularly branched inflorescence in which later flowers are produced laterally on the stem of the first flower, as in the forget-me-not.

Cynodon dactylon
see "Bermuda Grass"

Cyon primoevus
see "Buansuah"

Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae is the sedge family of plants somewhat resembling grasses, but differing from them in the possession of triangular solid stems, closed leaf sheaths, and no ligules. The inflorescence is a group of spikes of glumes, in the axial of each being three stamens and one carpel.

Cypress
Cypress is a group of evergreen cone-bearing trees and shrubs, with small adnate opposite leaves, and small globular cones on a few fleshy scale-leaves.

Cyprinus
see "Carp"

Cystoflagellata
The cystoflagellata are an order of phytomastigina. They are transparent plankton.

Copyright 1997,1998 Servile Software Enquiries to Matthew Probert

START PAGE

This site is run as a free public information service