Tumbuhan Menyambut Hangat

Makhluk hidup berdarah dingin perlu menghangatkan tubuh mereka untuk mendapatkan tenaga yang dibutuhkan untuk kegiatan apa pun. Keperluan ini dipenuhi dengan berjemur di bawah sinar matahari. Namun, menurut sebuah penelitian baru, diketahui bahwa serangga memiliki pusat pemanas yang tidak dimiliki oleh makhluk hidup berdarah dingin lainnya. Sebagian serangga menghangatkan tubuh mereka di tempat yang hingga kini tidak diketahui: pada tumbuhan.

Roger Seymour, pakar biologi dari Universitas Adelaide, Australia, menyatakan bahwa sekitar 900 spesies tumbuhan diketahui menghasilkan panas di dalam bunganya. Panas ini, yang cara kerja pembangkitnya belum diketahui, menyebabkan tersebarnya aroma yang menarik perhatian serangga-serangga penyerbuk bunga. Sebuah laporan yang diterbitkan oleh Seymour dan rekan-rekannya di majalah Nature mengungkapkan bahwa panas ini juga dapat berperan sebagai perangsang bagi serangga-serangga penyerbuk. (1)

Para peneliti mengkaji tumbuhan Philodendron solimoesense, yang tumbuh di koloni Prancis Guiana dan diserbuki oleh serangga-serangga dari spesies Cyclocephala colasi. Para ilmuwan tersebut menempatkan alat kecil di dalam bunga-bunga tumbuhan tersebut, dan menemukan bahwa panas dihasilkan pada malam hari, 4°C lebih hangat daripada suhu di lingkungan luar. Panas ini menarik perhatian sejumlah kelompok serangga ke arah tumbuhan.

Kelompok peneliti itu lalu berpindah ke penelitian tentang pemenuhan kebutuhan energi serangga-serangga tersebut, dengan menggunakan respirometer - sebuah alat yang mencatat energi yang digunakan oleh serangga. Dengan menempatkan serangga-serangga tersebut ke dalam alat ini, para peneliti menemukan bahwa seranga-serangga itu membutuhkan lebih banyak energi untuk menjaga agar tubuh mereka tetap hangat ketika berada di luar tumbuhan. Seekor serangga yang menghangatkan tubuhnya di malam hari di luar tumbuhan menghabiskan energi dua hingga lima kali lebih besar daripada seekor serangga di dalam bunga.

Seymour menyatakan bahwa serangga-serangga kecil seperti C. colasi membayar "harga sangat mahal" agar tetap hangat, sebab mereka kehilangan panas dengan sangat cepat. Berkat tumbuh-tumbuhan penghasil panas ini, serangga-serangga tersebut dapat mengalihkan lebih banyak energi untuk keperluan makan dan berkembang biak. Tumbuhan ini menyediakan lingkungan yang sedemikian nyaman dan berguna bagi serangga-serangga itu sehingga mereka menghabiskan 90% waktu mereka dalam kehangatan bunga-bunga.

Perilaku saling memberi di antara tumbuhan dan serangga memperlihatkan satu contoh mengagumkan tentang kerjasama. Ringkasnya, sebuah tumbuhan yang tak mampu berpindah dari tempatnya membutuhkan sebuah kendaraan untuk mengangkut serbuk sarinya ke tumbuhan lain. Kebutuhan ini dipenuhi oleh serangga yang bertindak persis layaknya mobil angkutan pengiriman barang. Sebaliknya, serangga menemui kesulitan untuk menghangatkan tubuhnya di malam hari. Di saat suhu turun, serangga harus menghabiskan sebagian besar energinya untuk mengatasi perbedaan suhu ini.

Pada titik ini berlangsunglah sebuah proses yang memenuhi kebutuhan kedua makhluk hidup tersebut: Sang tumbuhan menaikkan suhu tubuhnya sebesar kira-kira 4°C lebih hangat daripada suhu lingkungan sekitar di malam hari. Ini dimungkinkan oleh pengaturan khusus pada fisiologi tumbuhan tersebut.

Akan tetapi, bagaimana perilaku menghangatkan tubuh ini muncul untuk kali pertama? Dengan kata lain, apakah yang memicu proses fisiologis dari peristiwa ini? Mampukah sang tumbuhan berpikir untuk menarik perhatian serangga dalam rangka memenuhi kebutuhannya, dan meneliti fisiologi serangga dalam hal kebutuhannya akan panas dan memahami bahwa menyediakan panas bagi serangga di malam adalah cara yang cerdas? Sudah pasti, tidak. Tumbuhan ini bahkan tidak memiliki otak untuk berpikir hal apa pun. Oleh karena semua ini tidak mungkin dapat dirancang oleh tumbuhan sendiri, maka sudah pasti terdapat kecerdasan mahahebat yang melakukan perancangan itu. Kecerdasan mahatinggi itu sudah pasti milik Allah Yang Mahakuasa. Allah menjadikan tumbuhan dan serangga ada, dan melengkapi keduanya dengan kemampuan untuk saling memenuhi kebutuhan di antara mereka. Dia menciptakan hubungan kerjasama semacam itu yang jumlahnya tak terhitung dan menjamin kehidupan di alam agar senantiasa berjalan dalam keselarasan. Dialah yang memenuhi segala kebutuhan makhluk hidup. Sebaliknya, Tuhan kita Yang Mahakuasa tidak membutuhkan apa pun sama sekali.

Sebagaimana dinyatakan di dalam Al Qur'an:

Katakanlah: "Dia-lah Allah, Yang Maha Esa. Allah adalah Tuhan yang bergantung kepada-Nya segala sesuatu. Dia tiada beranak dan tidak pula diperanakkan, dan tidak ada seorangpun yang setara dengan Dia". (QS. Al Ikhlaash, 112 :1-4)

Banyak Jenis Herba Atasi Perut Mulas

BATU EMPEDU berulah, perut bisa mulas. Maag kumat, perut bisa mulas dan sebah. Masuk angin dan diare, perut juga dapat muneg-muneg. Banyak pasal yang dapat membuat perut terasa mulas dan muneg-muneg.

Dalam bahasa medis mulas perut disebut kolik. Tanda serangan penyakit ini adalah munculnya rasa nyeri di bagian usus dan sekitarnya. Oh ya, saat wanita datang haid kadang juga disertai perut mulas. Menyusui terlalu banyak dapat pula memicu perut mulas.

Gangguan kesehatan ini bisa datang tiba-tiba dan membuat nafsu makan menurun. Ditandai dengan usus yang seolah-olah bergerak dan selalu bersuara.

Seringkali buang air besar dan kadang disertai kentut yang berbau busuk. Serangan ini dapat berkurang setelah penderita dapat muntah.

Terapi herbal apa saja yang dapat digunakan? Banyak bahan alami dapat dipakai untuk menyembuhkan kolik. Antara lain kencur, jahe, kedaung, mengkudu, sembung, pati aren, batang gayam dan akar camcao batang.

Bila menggunakan kedaung, sangrai 8 biji kedaung hingga hangus, lalu digiling halus, seduh dengan setengah gelas air matang panas, tambah 1 sdm madu, aduk sampai rata dan hasilnya diminum sekaligus.

Atau gunakan 5 jari akar camcao batang, dicuci dan dipotong-potong seperlunya, rebus dengan 3 gelas air hingga tinggal separuhnya. Setelah dingin disaring, minum hasilnya 2-3 kali sehari.

Ramuan berikut juga dapat menyembuhkan perut mulas. Bahannya terdiri 1/2 ggm beluntas, 1/4 ggm legundi, 1/5 ggm galing kerbau, 1.4 ggm lombok rawit dan 3 jr gula aren. Seluruh bahan direbus dengan 3 gelas air bersih hingga tinggal dua gelas,. Setelah dingin disaring, hasilnya diminum 3 kali sehari. (Jbo)

Plants And Flowers Can Bring Earth Day Right Into Your Home

April 22nd is Earth Day, a day to celebrate this planet we call home and all the natural beauty it has to offer. Many people celebrate the day by planting a tree or bush or simply by spending the day outside, enjoying the splendor of nature. But, what if you live in a city where nature isn't as abundant as you'd like or if you're just unable to get outdoors to plant a tree or bush? Well, your florist could help you bring a little nature right into your house or apartment, no matter where you live. Better yet, your florist can even help you create or purchase a plant or arrangement that fits your lifestyle, personality, and living space.

Using flowers and plants, you can create looks ranging from the soft and natural to the dramatic and feisty. Here are just a few looks you can achieve:

• Natural Look: Place loose, wispy arrangements in a vase or glass bowl. Flowers may be monochromatic or multicolored.
• Calming: Flowers in shades of blue are proven to have a calming effect on our moods.
• Dramatic Look: If you're not into the more traditional styles, you might be interested in creating a bold, dramatic look using deeply colored blooms in bright orange, fiery red, or brilliant yellow.
• Outdoorsy: If you're a country girl or guy at heart, you might be interested in bringing that outdoors feel inside using arrangements containing seasonal grasses or twigs. The arrangements can be placed in clay pots or baskets to further enhance the feel. If you're looking for a long-lasting way to bring the green of the outdoors into your home, your florist can assist you in picking a potted plant that will flourish in the space you have available. Here are just a few plants you might choose from:
• Philodendron: The philodendron is a large-leafed plant available in red or green and with several different leaf shapes. Philodendrons grow beautifully in bright, indirect light and away from drafts. They are, however, poisonous so you should place them in areas that are not accessible by children or pets.
• Dieffenbachia: These plants are very popular as indoor plants because they grow better indoors than many other types of plants. In fact, they can grow up to four or five feet tall under the right conditions.
• Cactus: The cactus is perfect for the individual with little time to spend caring for plants and limited space. They are extremely hardy and, because the soil should be allowed to thoroughly dry between waterings, they require very little attention.
• Areca Palm: A beautiful plant with a tropical look, the areca palm is available in various sizes from 3 feet all the way up to 10 feet tall. They grow well in bright locations with ample watering.

Regardless of your location or living arrangements, celebrate this Earth Day with a call to your florist. Bring a little nature into your home!

About The Author

Wesley Berry is the President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar business that was established in 1946. He is also the Headmaster of the Professional Florists' Institute, a floral design school located in Michigan. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at http://www.800wesleys.com.

5 Most Popular Flowers for your Garden

When planting a garden there are many questions which you must ask yourself before you begin. Where are you going to plant it, do you have the garden equipment to do so and how big do you want your garden to be? When do flowers bloom and what are their heights? These are all very important questions, however they mean very little if you have not yet decided which types of flowers you want to plant. There are many to choose from and don’t le anybody tell you which ones you can and can’t plant. Gardens are unique and fascinating to look at because each one is unique it its own way.

There are endless possibilities of flowers to choose from but if you are unsure of which types of flowers are known to look best in gardens, keep reading and you will find out. The following is a list of the five most popular types of garden flowers chosen by gardeners from all over the United States:

1. Cosmos - These flowers have the ability to grow anywhere from 12 inches to 4 feet tall. Cosmos are perfect for cutting gardens and are often picked out of gardens and used in flower arrangements.
2. Marigold – Marigolds can be found in yellow, orange, red or a combination of all colors. This type of flower blooms in 45 to 50 days from sowing and very rarely requires additional water than what the rain provides.
3. Morning Glory – Morning glories have heart shaped leaves and are available in a variety of colors including white, blue, red, pink and lavender. This type of flower has the capability to become more than ten feet high.
4. Zinnia – Zinnias are traditional, old fashioned flowers which are constantly blooming all season. If there is not a lot of rain, this type of flower will require watering on a consistent basis but try to get water on the foliage (leaves) as this can cause mold which can potentially cause the plant to die.
5. Sunflowers – There’s no better flower for your garden than the sunflower. Sunflowers have yellowish-orange petal with a black circle in the middle. These flowers can grow to be as tall as 6 feet or possibly even higher depending on the flower itself.
   

In order for your garden to flourish successfully, you will have to maintain it and keep it healthy on a daily basis. Watering cans, pruning shears, gloves and spades are all types of gardening equipment which will assist you in keeping your garden in good condition. These pieces of equipment are very important and are relatively inexpensive.

The types of flowers you choose will have a large impact on the overall outcome of your garden. The list above was provided as a guideline for novice gardeners who area unsure of which flowers may be most adaptable to a garden atmosphere.

Which flowers you choose will ultimately be your choice and regardless of the kinds or colors of your flowers, your garden will be a wonderful piece of work for everyone to admire.

Aglaonema

Take a quick look at the picture, you will definitely recognize a plant you have seen plenty of times. Aglaonema is one of the most favorite indoor plants, as it grows easily with minimum care and is ideal to even the most inexperienced amateur gardener.

Its name is once more totally Greek and its parts are translated as "aglos: shiny nema: string. Regardless of the Greek origin of its name, aglaonemas come from the tropical forests of south-east Asia, from Thailand and Cambodia to Vietnam and Malaysia. The first time aglaonemas crossed their natural borders was around 1900 when the plant was brought to America and has been cultivated ever since. The first new varieties were developed in the 60s; those varieties led to the plants we know today as aglaonemas. However, new varieties are still being developed in the US mainly, the differences being in the color of its leaves.

Aglaonemas belong to the aroids family, together with spathifyllum, dieffenbachia and philodentron. As its "relatives", it has shiny oval-shaped leaves, with jigged edges, fleshy to the touch and with impressive alternations of various tones of green. Its flowers look like small white callas and they produce a few yellow or red fruits. However, the basic reason for cultivating aglaonemas is their wonderful foliage and not its colors. Depending on the variety, its height can easily reach one meter or over.