Podcast Script:

The plant in front of you is called photinia, from the family rosaceae. The first thing you'll notice is that it's shaped like a car. Photinia plants are commonly used as garden art as they are easily pruned into a variety of shapes and grow quickly. At first glance you may also notice that some of the leaves have a colorfull red tinge characteristic of photinia plants.
Get a little closer now and feel the leaves. Waxy and smooth aren't they? That's because photinia has adapted to be very drought resistant by developing a thick waxy cutin.
If your lucky you've visited this plant when it has clumps of small white flowers or little red berries. But if not, you can add interest to your visit by sticking your head in the bush and observing the somewhat rough and entagled branches which support the plant. Now take one more look at the leaves an you'll notice that the veins are branching. That's right! Photinia is a dicot, also easily identified as such by its five-petaled blossoms. It is unlikely, however, that you will be able to observe these blossoms on your visit because the flowers and berries on this photinia plant are usually cut off during the pruning process.
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