4 handle specimen slide set (orange handles)

Real butterfly (Red Lacewing - Cethosia biblis), Golden Scorpion - Mesobuthus martensii, flower of Yellow Daisy - Chrysanthemum multicaule & Snowland Daisy- Chrysanthemum paludosum & Persian Violet - Exacum affine, leaf of Ginkgo - Ginkgo biloba specimen encased in indestructible lucite block. The lucite blocks are encased in a plastic handle for easy obervation.

Safe, authentic and completely unbreakable product put real specimens right at your fingertips!

Anyone can safely explore the specimens from every angle. 

The pictures of butterfly show the top and reverse side of the butterfly.

The butterfly wings are disassembled and laminated before embedding into the material so as to retain 100% of the original color(colors of butterfly are mostly powder particles attached to the wings), otherwise up to 90% of the color will be dissolved into the Lucite material after production and the wings become almost transparent.

Size of each handle is 8.8x16.5x2.6 cm (3.5x6.5x1.0 inch).

Weight of each handle is 105 gram.

These are handmade real animal and plant specimen crafts. Each one will be a bit different (specimen size, color and posture) even in the same production batch.
The pictures in the listing are just for reference as we are selling multiple pieces with same pictures.

These are ideal learning aids for students and kids and also are very good collectible items.

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Red Lacewing - Cethosia biblis

Distribution: Widespread from northern India to China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Phillipines.
Remarks: Members of the genus Cethosia are also known as " the lacewings" because of the distinctive shape of their wings. A butterfly of the rainforest, they are most easily seen along the forest edge or along tracks through the rainforest. Eggs are laid in batches on the tendrils of the food plant usually members of the passion flower family. The larvae feed gregariously and are strikingly coloured with long barbed spines that are reported to have urticating properties. The rather large and elegant bright orange-red adults are thought to be distasteful to predators.

The underside of the Red Lacewing is one of the most ornate in the butterfly world. The pattern itself looks as if it comes from Asia and we wonder if these common butterflies might have influenced the patterns of Malay Batik. The species would have been seen commonly around the villages and would stand out from the drab greens and browns of the forest. The species name 'biblis' means writing and refers to the chevrons on the wing margins; the word 'bible' has the same derivation.

Golden Scorpion - Mesobuthus martensii

Order: Scorpiones    Family: Buthidae   Genus: Mesobuthus    Species: M. martensii

Mesobuthus martensii is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. Its common names include Chinese scorpion, Manchurian scorpion, Chinese armor-tail scorpion and Chinese golden scorpion. Despite its common name, this scorpion is not only found in Manchuria or China, but also in Mongolia, Korea and Japan. Its preferred habitat is warm, dry areas with little vegetation. M. martensii can grow to about 6 centimetres (2.4 in) long, with females usually slightly larger, and has a life-span of about 4 to 6 years.

M. martensii, especially its tail, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many centuries to treat various neuronal problems, such as chronic pain, paralysis, apoplexy and epilepsy. Over the past few decades, dozens of novel proteins in this scorpion's venom have been identified, cloned and investigated for clinical applications. For instance, at least 51 long-chain peptides related to the sodium channel toxins and 18 peptides related to the potassium channel toxins have been described, along with two peptides, BmK AS and AS1, that act on ryanodine receptors. Apart from having analgesic properties, BmK AS is also the first long-chain scorpion peptide reported to have antimicrobial activity. Amongst the sodium channel-specific neurotoxins, there are a number of muscle relaxants, such as makatoxin I and bukatoxin, while BmKAEP and BmK IT2 have shown anticonvulsant activity in experimental conditions, inhibiting epileptic seizures induced in rats. BmK AGAP has both analgesic and antitumor properties and recombinant proteins could potentially be used in anticancer treatments.

Yellow Daisy - Chrysanthemum multicaule

Chrysanthemum multicaule, a native of Algeria, is an annual mum that we grow for IPM experiments in ecology class. Its size ( 12 inches max) and blooming in 12 weeks from seed makes it an excellent plant for teaching. I have grown it outside in zone 7; it reseeds itself well and blooms earlier than most mums. It is an excellent plant for borders.

Blooming Time: Mid-spring to early summer. The yellow blooms are 1½ inches across.

Culture: Chrysanthemum multicaule need full sun to light shade with cool to intermediate temperatures. In the greenhouse, we grow them in 4-inch pots for classes. Even with the small pot size, plants will still get to 12 inches tall. We use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat moss to 2 parts loam to 1 part sand or perlite. To each 0.01 cubic yard, we add 1 cup of hydrated lime, 1 Tbs of micronutrients and 2 cups 14-14-14 slow release fertilizer. The plants are kept moist for optimum growth. Plants are grown with 55° nights and day temps in the mid 70's. Plants from seed will bloom in 12 weeks at these temperatures. One must bear in mind that aphids love this plant, which is why we use it for IPM experiments.

Propagation: Chrysanthemum multicaule is easily started from seed in pots or outside where they are to grow.

Snowland Daisy - Chrysanthemum paludosum

Family: Asteraceae  Genus: Chrysanthemum   Species: paludosum 

Annuals
Tropicals and Tender Perennials

Height:12-18 in. (30-45 cm)

Bloom Color:White/Near White

Bloom Time:Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall

This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
This plant is resistant to deer

These sun-loving flowers have been garden favorites for centuries. They bloom in summer and fall in all colors except blue, and flowers range from the immense, showy Florists' Chrysanthemum to button-sized. The foliage has divided leaves with a strong scent. Use in borders or containers for cut flowers. The common name 'Daisy' usually refers to some kind Chrysanthemum, and "mums", to the fall-blooming hybrids sold in florists' shops. There are many other types as well, including annuals, perennials and subshrubs. Some of these are not called Chrysanthemums because the genus has been divided and renamed, so ask your local nursery. Shallow-rooted, they need moist soil and regular fertilizing. Pinch tips until mid-summer or when flowering begins. Divide plants in spring, discarding the "woody" parts. Cut back regularly to promote bloom. Leafminer causes unsightly squiggly lines on older leaves.

Persian Violet - Exacum affine

Order: Gentianales   Family: Gentianaceae     Genus: Exacum

Exacum affine, or Persian Violet, is a small herbaceous biennial plant native to the Island of Socotra, a Yemen archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Leaves are dark green, ovate to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long. Plants with great age will reach 2 foot (60 cm) tall. They make a great houseplant and in USDA zone 7 they are used in landscaping as annuals.

Blooming Time: Seeds of the plant sown in mid-winter will bloom in the summer, and seeds sown in the fall will bloom in the spring. The small o.4 inch (1 cm) bluish-lilac star-shaped flowers with deep yellow stamens are mildly fragrant. They are very showy.

Culture: Exacum affine need partial shade and a rich, well-drained soil mix. In the greenhouse, we use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part sand or perlite. Once seedlings become big enough to handle (the first set of true leaves), they are transplanted into 4-inch (10 cm) pots. Once they are transplanted, plants are given ample water and fertilized every other week until they set flower buds. At this time, plants are transplanted to 6-inch pots or hanging baskets -- usually 5 plants per 8 inch (21 cm) basket. Plants will bloom freely from this point on. During the winter months, plants are grown on the drier side and fertilizer is withheld until new growth starts in spring.

Propagation: Exacum affine are propagated from cuttings or by seed. Cuttings are slow to root and therefore seed usually produces much better plants. Seeds germinate in 15-30 days at 70-75 F (21-24 C).

Ginkgo - Ginkgo biloba

Division: Ginkgophyta Class: Ginkgoopsida Order: Ginkgoales Family: Ginkgoaceae Genus: Ginkgo

Ginkgo (also spelled gingko and known as the Maidenhair Tree) is a unique species of tree with no close living relatives. The tree is widely cultivated and introduced, since an early period in human history, and has various uses as a food and traditional medicine.