Exotic Stuff

This above is named Clock Vine (Thunbergia mysorensis), native of India and found near the city of Mysor from where it gets its name.  I found it blooming along a wall at the Strawberry Hill Hotel in Jamaica.   It is related to my black-eyed Susan vine that I grow each year although the little flowers on my vine look nothing like this.  The largest of these blossoms were at least 4 inches long.   The plant is supposed to attract humming birds although I think they would fall in!  (Click on photo if you want the fall-in experience.) The wall was covered in blossoms.  Varieties of this vine are considered invasive in the temperate climates in Australia as they cover native plants and ruin native ecosystems.  There are many varieties with many different colored flowers.  It gets its common name because it twines itself clockwise around the support as it climbs,  although one web site claims the name is given because its beauty stops time!

This red flower above grows on a very large shrub...maybe a short tree in Jamaica?  Its scientific name is Erythema lysistemon and I think it is a native of South Africa and sometimes called coral tree.

Below is a photo of an arbor covered in what they called jade flowers.  I think this plant is most fascinating because the flower color looks artificial.  It reminds me of the carnations we used to get at prom when they put white blossoms in colored water...and yes I went to a small agricultural town high school.  There is some co-pigmentation alkaline chemical thing going on that gives the color.

Strongylodon macrobotrys. The clue is in the name as the vines get to be 4 inches in diameter and up to 70 feet long.  It is a native of the Philippines and not Jamaica and as you can see, needs a lot of its own space.  It attracts some very specific wasp.

The last photo shows the shape and color of the flower buds before they open.  I think it looks like dragon's teeth and that is what they should name the plant...!  The contrast of purple and jade green is truly lovely.

Plants like these make me want to invest in a very large greenouse!