yet another neat flower i saw at the zoo. it had been remarked that i think i would make a lousy tour guide at the zoo. i would be like "And here is the elephant... and over here is the Dwarf Acacia tree. it's thorns have adapted to become hollow to be used as nests for symbiotic ants which protect the tree from various insect invaders. and over here is Common Nightshade. it is due to it's relation to it that tomatoes were once thought to be poisonous. as well as even potatoes yet another member of the nightshade family. and over here is the taro plant. not only is it used as a tropical ornamental plant but it is also a food source with large round roots also known as corms. this plant is used as a base starch in many places but most famously in Hawaii where it is made into Poi. What's that? oh yes Elephants are indeed large and those big ears on the african ones are used for many purposes other than just hearing. they also fan the body and allow the blood a large area to cool itself thereby being part of the air conditioning of the animal. and over here is the Mock Orange. while it looks like a true citrus it is not. the thorny branches are often used in Ikebana, japanese flower arranging for those that do not know..."