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:.:Strelitzia:.:


:.:Strelitzia:.:
Photo Information
Copyright: Nelson Viegas (njmv79) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 112 W: 17 N: 85] (413)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-10-15
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 8700
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-10-18 8:10
Viewed: 17266
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Strelitzia reginae Banks
Family: Strelitziaceae
Common Names: Crane flower, Bird of Paradise Flower, Geel Piesang
This must be one of the most well-known plants in the world. The fascinating blooms are sold as cut flowers by the million. In Los Angeles strelitzias are so extensively planted that it is regarded as the emblem of the city. Strelitzia reginae is, however, indigenous to South Africa where it grows wild in the eastern Cape. Here the strelitzias grow between other shrubs along the riverbanks and clearing in the coastal bush. Many other well known plants like Plumbago, Tecomaria and cycads come from the Eastern Cape which has a mild climate and rain distributed throughout the year.

Description
Strelitzia reginae from Flowering Plants of Africatrelitzia reginae is a bold structural plant, which forms large evergreen clumps of stiff leaves growing up from the base. The grey-green banana-like leaves grow about 1,5 m in height and the flowers stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. Mature plants are very floriferous with flowers in autumn, winter and spring.

The structure and pollination of the flowers are rather interesting. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower emerges, is called the spathe. This is placed at right angles to the stem, which gives it the appearance of a bird's head. The flowers, which emerge one at a time from the spathe, consist of 3 brilliant orange sepals and 3 bright blue petals. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. When the birds sit to have a drink of nectar, the petals open to cover their feet in pollen.
How to grow Strelitzia reginae

Strelitzia reginae is an easy plant to grow in the garden. Plants do well in full sun to semi-shade, love a rich loamy soil and plenty of water throughout the year.

Mandela's Gold

A beautiful yellow form of Strelitzia reginae was selected recently. This special selection, known as Strelitzia reginae "Mandela's Gold", has been multiplied at Kirstenbosch where large plantings can be seen flowering in the winter and spring. To increase the amount of seed most strelitzia flowers are hand pollinated at Kirstenbosch. This is done by gently scraping the pollen off with a finger or a stick, and placing it on the tip of the stigma of another plant. It takes a few months for the seed to ripen during which the green pods are often eaten by squirrels. To prevent this, the old flower heads are covered with brown paperbags after the flowers have been pollinated and the seeds start to develop.
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Infor taken from www.plantzafrica.com
blakitan, jeanpaul, SunToucher, XOTAELE, Evelynn, fyapici, Gerson, oscarromulus has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Evelynn: Thank you dear Evelynn!njmv79 1 10-21 08:05
To pablominto: Amigo Pablo, thank you.njmv79 1 10-21 08:05
To Juyona: Gracias amigo Victor!njmv79 1 10-21 08:04
To SunToucher: Thank you!njmv79 1 10-19 03:15
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Nelson,
Unique flower shape, very interesting broom-shape plant. Nice natural colors. Nice shot.

Ben Lakitan

Salut Nelson
Elle est tres belle cette presentation avec cette jolie plante.Les couleurs et les details sont jolis.
Merci et au revoir...JP

Hi Nelson,
A really beautiful flower which I've only seen in Singapore. But then there were only one or two next to eachother, and never that many.
Excellent sharpness and colors and great control over the exposure. I would love the see a close up of one of them.
TFS,
Niek

P.S. Geel Piesang...is that the South African name? It does sound of a mixture of Dutch and Indonesian.

Hermosa planta, de bellos colores.
Aquí, en las Islas Canarias decoran muchos jardines y se cultivan para la venta. Son preciosas las que has puesto hoy.
Un saludo.
JL.

This is a flower that always amazes one, no matter how "floriferous" they are! : ) This is a nice sharp image. Thanks for sharing it.

Evelynn : )

Hello Nelson,
Excellent capture of this exotic flower!
I like the way you capture the setting, as we normally get only a close-up of the flower...
Nice work, good clarity in colours and nice details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2632] (15573)
  • [2006-10-19 18:36]
  • [+]

Hermosas flores las strelitzias, buen disparo, saludos Nelson

Hi Nelson.
Is this plant nativ to there? I've never seen before this plant as flehly like this. They were cultivated in my country in parks and gardens. Very well taken photo. Bravo and thanks for sharing.
Greetngs.
Fevzi

Nelson,
This flower grows wild as a weed in Terceira Azores.
This is a great capture of yours. Love your notes.
Great POV & DOF.
You are a very patient being; going around looking for
unusual topics to share.
Congratulations,
Mario.

Hello Nelson.

Excellent, beatiful fleur.

Regards.
Jose Luis

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