This little plant, identified as Equisetum arvense by a colleague, appears to have grown right through one of the metal posts of the bridge of Amsterdam University College (#AUC #UvA #VU).

I think it should be the mascotte of all students at Science Park:

"Those who persevere against all odds find the light at the end of the tunnel."

#plants #nature @plants

TL;DW: You can't, unless it is still attached to the plant. Just eat it right away, it will not get any riper.

The plant is frost-hardy, but all parts of the plant above ground die in winter.

From the Singapore Cloud Forest

From the Singapore Cloud Forest

Singapore Cloud Forest. Not sure what plant it is, but I guess from the Araliaceae.

Singapore Botanic Garden

Singapore Botanic Garden

I think the plant is from the Zingiberales, but I don't dare to identify it more than that.

Penang, Malaysia.

It has been driving my allergies nuts since April 30th.

This is in the Singapore Botanic Gardens

I see these all over the Midwest. Learn about how Monotropa uses the fungal connection between tree roots to siphon nutrients on this old webpage recommended by the US Forest Service.