Water droplets on a spider's web

Bombus (bumblebee)_wake-up_Munich_Germany_March 2016

Today while having a walk I have met a bumblebee. He was making an impression that he does not know what is going on around him and walking very slowly - behaving like he would just wake up from a loooong sleep ;)

Sea Life

Chelonia mydas (green sea turtle), one of the most common marine turtle.

Chelonia mydas

Rhizostoma luteum, for very long time there were doubts whether this jellyfish really exists.

Rhizostoma luteum

Rhizostoma luteum

Rhizostoma luteum

Rhizostoma luteum

Nautilus pompilius, known as ´´living fossil´´.

Echidna nebulosi, a moray eel.

Muraena helena (Mediterranean moray), is another example of a moray eel. 

Some interesting facts about moray eels is that they must open and close their mouth all the time for the breathing, and that they can swim backwards.

Muraena helena

Balistes carolinensis (grey triggerfish) might be very aggressive, 

especially when having eggs in the nest.

Amphiprion ocellaris (common clownfish, anemonefish), known also as "Nemo" ;) 

You can meet anemonefish e.g. at the Great Barrier Reef.

Amphiprion ocellaris has a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones: from this interaction the fish 

gets food and protection from predators ;)

Spring_2016

Helleborus viridis (green hellebore), family Ranunculaceae.

Leucojum vernum (spring snowflake),  family Amaryllidaceae.

Helleborus, family Ranunculaceae.

Helleborus, family Ranunculaceae.

Helleborus, family Ranunculaceae.

Helleborus, family Ranunculaceae.

Crocuses_February/ March_Germany 2016

Bees_February_Germany 2016

Crocus In The Rain_Munich_Germany 2016

Crocuses are spring flowers that belong to the family Iridaceae. Did you know that the most expensive spice on earth, saffron, is derived from the stigmas of the Crocus sativus? ;) The red color of saffron originates from the crocin, which is a carotenoid dye. Besides its culinary benefits, saffron is also used to color the clothes (e.g. by Buddist monks), and possesses cosmetic and medicinal properties. Saffron was used already in ancient times; it seems that Cleopatra knew its beneficial properties as according to some historical documentations she used saffron for the warm baths ;)

An interesting fact about crocin is that it has antitumor properties. During the ´´International Cancer Study & Therapy Conference´´ that is going to be held in April 4-6, 2016 in Baltimore (USA), Professor Amr Amin from the UAE University, will give a talk ´´Crocin (saffron’s biomolecule) is a potent preventive agent against liver cancer´´.