Thursday, March 03, 2011

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!

15 comments:

  1. Those are some incredibly gorgeous plants! I especially think the first one, from India, is a stunner.

    I presume you'll be bringing back seeds?

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh, wow. wow. !!!

    incredible.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I love the way they drape.. so different from anything we see here.

    ReplyDelete
  4. those are really cool...love the way the one drapes by the door...and the walkway is really cool as well...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Isn't it amazing what grows out of our knowledge and sight! How cool that you are sharing with us - thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love them. The top one is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a wonderful greenhouse you'd have with the beauties revealed. All are gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  8. There's a really nice botanical garden just down the road that has me spellbound every time I go. I have four plants in my office (all around 10 years old) that are doing great. I'm proud of myself. :^)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm headed to a vacation in an new place. New vegetation, new food. I'm glad I read your post tonight. It will help keep my eyes open for different species of plants. I might just get lost in some of them.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Exotic indeed. I see what you mean by the fall in experience.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, look at these amazing plants. I bet there are a lot of non-native ornamental plants that really thrive in that climate. Hope they haven't overtaken the native plants.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, you have a really big room without walls here! Thanks for visiting ESR.
    Also, thanks for the garden vaca- I've never been to Jamaica! I've always wanted a greenhouse too.
    You've done good plant info research. Sometimes I go nuts trying to find what I saw. Interesting stuff.
    I'll be back again-

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very striking! Are there any large tropical greenhouses in your area?

    ReplyDelete

Glad to hear from you once again. I really like these visits. Come sit on this log and tell me what you are thinking.