Wisteria

Wisteria a hardy climber.  Seen here in the pretty purple colour.  There are many varieties and I do not know which one this is.. possibly the Wisteria floribunda - the Japanese Wisteria. Family: Fabaceae (Pea family)

They are said to grow vigorously and need to be controlled.  And the blooms seen here are really worth it.  The pictures here were taken of the flowers allowed to trail down the roof of the London Apprentice - the popular pub in Isleworth. For more info check this link

Dutchman's Pipe

Common Name - Orchid cactus, Jungle cactus, Night blooming cereus, Dutchman's Pipe .  Some even refer to it as the Queen of the Night.  Popularly known in India as the Brahma Kamal, or the Flower of Brahma.

The flower blooms once a year at night.  For some the period may be longer.  The blooming of the flower is said to be very dramatic.  And the bud moves and sways as opens.



 It is said to emit a lovely fragrance as it opens.  The flower is not a lotus ( as the Indian name indicates) but is a true cacti.  The flower is considered sacred, and people who see the flower are supposedly 'lucky'.

Since it is nocturnal, pollinators for the flowers are bats and moths.

This flower was in bloom at Ravuri's apartment in Hyderabad.  Pictures also taken by him.

Botanical name Epiphyllum oxypetalum    Family: Cactaceae (cactus family)

Sweet Pea

Annual climber.  Can be used to grow over bamboo trellis or just around the fence.

Some varieties are very fragrant.  Like this one which was photographed.  The stems are somewhat folded and the petals of the flower has been compared to that of a butterfly.  Seen in lovely colours of white, pink, purple.



Botanical name: Lathyrus odoratus    Family: Fabaceae (pea family)

Photographed at Lodi Gardens, New Delhi.

Butterfly Pea

I go past the apartments which has this climber over its compound wall.  Have not been able to stop and take the picture, and have finally used the one my bro took on his visit to India last year. 

The flower is seen generally in cobalt blue, but it appears you have it in white and a light lavender hue too.  The flowers are presented upside down and give it its unique appearance.  They flower in late summer.  The deep blue flower with it's white throat.

A member of the pea family.  The peas can be used for sowing. The plant is a favourite for a hanging basket.

Botanical name: Clitoria ternatea    Family: Fabaceae (pea family)

Australian Gold Vine

Common name: Australian Gold Vine, Shower of gold climber, Vining Galphimia, Vining Milkweed

Golden yellow star shaped flowers that grow on a vine.  Has red stamens. This is the first time I have seen this vine.  The flowers seem very delicate apparently because of the lovely subdued yellow colour.

Botanical name: Tristellateia australasiae    Family: Malpighiaceae (Barabados cherry family).

Picture taken at Hitex Convention Centre, Hyderabad.

The four pillars on the outside of the pavillion had four different climbers.

Blue Dawn Flower

Common name - Blue Dawn Flower, Oceanblue morning-glory, Blue morning-glory



I saw the vine very nicely allowed to climb onto a pillar at the Hitex Convention Centre, at Hyderabad.

  The flowers open in the morning and fade to magenta by evening. Unfortunately I did not stay there long enough to see that happen.  This plant can also grow all over if left unheeded.  

Botanical name: Ipomoea indica    Family: Convolvulaceae (Morning glory family)

Lonicera... which one?

Pictures here taken by S in London.  She writes that the plant has lovely red berries and flowers.  And I was given the task of identifying it.



I presume it belongs to Lonicera ( named in honour of a German botanist - Adam Lonicer).  And there are 180 species that belong to this family.  20 of them grow in Europe.  I think this might be Lonicera periclymenum, known as Common Honeysuckle, European Honeysuckle or Woodbine.



Flowers are creamy white or yellowish and has a fragrant smell and can be grown to beautify a hedge or a wall.

The fruit is a red berry and in most species are mildly poisonous.  The plant attracts moths and humming birds.

Surprisingly, I read that in certain places of US the plant is banned as it is invasive!

Family : Caprifoliaceae

Bougainvillea

Common name: Bougainvillea, Lesser Bougainvillea

This common climber found over fences was named after the French navigation Louis de Bougainvillea who discovered the climber in Brazil.  As a child, I saw the flowers only in pink and white.  These days they are found in bright colours of so many hues.  It has sharp thick thorns and therefore not attacked by cattle, goats or birds.  

 

 

 

The actual flower is small and generally white.  Clusters of three flowers are surrounded by either three or six colourful bracts of various colours - in this case - pink.  The flower is also known as paper flower, since the bracts are papery and thin.

The climber is found everywhere.  On a walk in the KBR park, Hyderabad, in summer, when most trees were stark and leafless, we were so happy to see flowers on an otherwise leafless tree.  On closer look, we found that the bougainvillea had crept up the tree, and it looked beautiful.



 

Botanical name: Bougainvillea glabra       Family: Nyctaginaceae (Bougainvillea family).

Stamp - flowersofindia.net

Rangoon Creeper

Common name: Rangoon Creeper, Burma creeper • Hindi: मधु मालती Madhu Malati

There is this lovely climber on a wall close to home.  I have always wanted to take a picture, but in the vicinity, we have a fishmonger, a 'chinese fast food cart', and small kiosks and curious onlookers.  So I just put my camera away.  This picture was taken at KBR park, a small one right now, and not at its best because of the blistering heat. But still did make a pretty picture.

Lotusleaf mentions that the British planted the creeper along the railway tracks in Burma and that is how it got its name.

Also supposedly found in the forests of India, Malaysia, and the Phillipines.  But now cultivated and seen trailing from high compound walls .  They do make a pretty picture.

The creeper grows quickly and the flowers that are white change to pink and red.  The botanical name Botanical name: Quisqualis indica   translates to 'What is that?' in Latin!  Family: Combretaceae (Rangoon creeper family)

Creeping Philodendron or Split leaf Philodendron

I might be wrong here. I first thought it was the Swiss Cheese Plant or Split leaf Philodendron - but the leaves do not seem to be attached anywhere.  I am convinced however, that it belongs to the same family - Araceae or Alocasia family. 

If it is the creeping one - Botanical name: Rhaphidophora decursiva    or the Split leaf one then it is the Monstera deliciosa.

Source - ( flowesofindia.net, indiaplants.com)

Picture taken at Sainkipuri. SIL's home.

Allamanda

Common Name - Trumpet Vine

A tropical shrub or vine.  The genus is named after Dr. F. Allamand, a professor of Natural History. This plant is a native of Brazil.  It is a fast growing vine that needs to be trimmed.  It flowers almost all the year.  The leathery leaves are lancelike, pointed, and may either be opposite or in whorls of three or four. These are seen in different colours. 

Botanical name: Allamanda cathartica      Family: Apocynaceae (oleander family)

Skyblue Clustervine

Common name: Skyblue Clustervine, Pentantha

I always loved these blue flowers that grew along the grill in the balcony.  Skyblue Clustervine is a small freely blooming creeper . The stem of the creeper is slender and green and the leaves are arranged alternatively. The leaves are small, shiny and heart-shaped ( look at them!)  with pointed tips. The blue flowers are produced in clusters at the ends for long stalks. The petals are fixed by five white stamens.  The creeper looks so beautiful in full bloom.

Botanical name: Jacquemontia pentanthos    Family: Convolvulaceae (Morning glory family)



Picture by Sa - at Hyderabad. Info - Flowersofindia.net

Coral Vine

So beautiful! Right?  This was hanging outside the compound wall, by the roadside. Had to stop to take the picture.

Common name: White Coral Vine, Coral vine, Honolulu creeper, Mexican creeper,Bride's tears, Chain-of-love, Hearts on a chain, Love-vine

It is a fast growing, evergreen vine, climbing with tendrils that will reach 40 feet. Leaves are dark green heart-shaped to arrowhead-shaped to 5 inches long. Probably the heart shaped leaves and the delicate pink flowers led to its Mexican name cadena de amor or "chain of love". The actual flowers are tiny but the sepals are larger . 



 

Botanical name: Antigonon leptopus    Family: Polygonaceae (buckwheat family)

Info - Flowers of India.