Scarlet Flame Bean Tree

The Scarlet Flame Bean, West Indian Mountain Rose, Rose of Venezuela or the Supti as known in Bengali is the common name of the Brownea coccinea of the Caesalpiniaceae family

It is a slow growing, small tree from tropical America.  The orange red flowers hang beneath the foliage.

It was the end of the flowering season and had only a couple of flowers.  Picture taken at the The Agri-Horticulture Society of India, Kolkata.

December 2017

Bleeding Heart Creeper

Clerodendrum thomsonae - Popularly known as white bleeding heart, clerodendron - belongs to Verbena family. The name is derived from Greek word - kleros - meaning fate and dendron - meaning tree.

An ornamental climber.  The red/scarlet flower stands out against the white calyx which is heart shaped. The red/scarlet corolla bears four small stamens that is believed to trap insects.  The flowers thicken to a fruit with a red star on it which turns green and then purple and finally black.

In the garden of J& A at Udupi. 

Australian Bottle Plant

Common Name : Buddha Belly Plant, Pyhsic Nut.  A native of tropical America.

Australian bottle plant so called because it has a bottle shaped trunk thought to resemble the Buddha Belly!  This one is a realively small plant and the trunk was like this.  
It has tiny flowers occuring in clusters,  that are coral shaped placed on long stems .  The leaves are large and lobed. The flowers are found almost throughtout the year.

These pictures were taken at Gun Rock Colony, Secunderabad.

Botanical name: Jatropha podagrica
Family: Euphorbiaceae (Castor family)

Fucshia

Fuchsia are know for its pendant, bell shaped flowers .  And they  look especially beautiful in hanging baskets.   They are attractive because their sepals and petals are all brightly coloured.  And they attract a number of insects and birds.  Over a period of time, the plant once native to South America, is seen in many parts of the world, and because of hybridisation , in many different colours!

These were spotted just outside a Peter Rabbit Store in Kendal, UK.

Rose Campion

The bed of silver foliage set my camera into action.  I am still trying to identify the others.  This one with purple, purple-red attractive flowers is the Rose Campion

Also known as Silene Coronaria.  Belonging to the carnation family.  Silver and red make a striking combination!

Botanical name - Lychnis Coronaria.

Family - Caryophyllaceae

Chilean Fire Bush

Common name - Chilean Fire Bush, Flame Flower



A upward growing tree / shrub.  Very striking due to the masses of bright red flowers.  Blooms early summer.  Flowers split into  curved, coiled, twisted tubes.    A very attractive tree when in full bloom.  Native to Chile and Argentina.



Botanical name - Embothrium coccineum

Photograph - Benmore gardens, Scotland

Gulmohar Tree

Common name: Flame Tree, Royal Poinciana

While I hate the heat in summer, I love the trees that bloom this season.  The yellow Laburnum, the purple Jacaranda and the red/orange Gulmohar. 



Native to Madagascar, this tree is now seen almost all over India.  All through the months of May-June one finds the tree covered with clusters of bright orange flowers along with its delicate green fern leaves.

Botanical name: Delonix regia    Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Gulmohar family)

Picture taken at Somajiguda, Hyderabad

Red Poppy

Slightly confused about the flower - is it the Oriental Poppy or the Common Poppy.  But beautiful nevertheless. Narcotic content of the poppy is very minimal, but fresh flowers supposedly have the odour similar to that of the Opium Poppy.  These are single large red flowers with a black center.  They flower profusely in May-June, but I found this in March in Lodi Gardens, New Delhi



Botanical name: Papaver orientale    Family: Papaveraceae (poppy family)

National flower of Belgium and Poland.

Poinsettia

Common name: Poinsettia, Christmas plant, Lobster plant

This species of Euphorbiaceae has one thing in common. The degeneration of flowers. The flowers are rounded in the centre and almost look as buds. What makes the plant attractive are the bracts or modified leaves which are a lovely red colour.

Botanical name: Euphorbia pulcherrima    Family: Euphorbiaceae (castor family)

The species name - pulcherrima - means beautiful.  As the plant adds a lot of color and beauty to a garden.

The picture is of bunched poinsettia plants kept at the Horticulture exhibition, Necklace Road.

Red Salvia

Common name: Scarlet Sage, Red Salvia

These are common bedding plants and can form striking borders.  They add a burst of colour to the landscape.  They are found in other colours too - lavender, white, purple.. but the red variety is the most popular.



Botanical name: Salvia splendens    Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

Firebush

Common name: Firebush, Scarlet bush, Hummingbird bush

Semi woody shrub. With clusters of showy reddish,orange-ish scarelet tubular flowers.

Supposed to have showy berries too. Somehow I missed that!

Picture taken at Maru Enclave, Yapral.

Botanical name: Hamelia patens     Family: Rubiaceae (coffee family)

Sleeping Hibiscus

Common name: Sleeping hibiscus, Turk's Cap, Firecracker Hibiscus

I somehow always thought these were hibiscus flowers that had folded up.   Now I know better.  The name Sleeping Hibiscus is pretty apt too. 

Sleeping Hibiscus is a shrub from Mexico. The flowers are pendulous.  Have seen them only in red, but it appears there is a pink one too. 

Botanical name: Malvaviscus arboreus var. arboreus    Family: Malvaceae (Mallow family)

Strangely, the sleeping hibiscus flowers best when in bright sunlight.  I would have thought otherwise!

Picture taken at Hitex Convention Center, Hyderabad.

Info - http://flowersofindia.net

Red Cassia

Popular names : Red Cassia, Ceylon Senna



A popular avenue tree, native to South India and Sri Lanka.  The drooping branches provide shade and add to the beauty of the tree.  In full bloom clusters of flowers in red, pink, orange cover the branches. 



Seen lining the Necklace Road, Hyderabad, it is a pretty sight even without too many flowers.  Hoping to capture the tree in full bloom little later.



Botanical name: Cassia roxburghii      Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Gulmohar family)

Moon Cactus /Lollypop Cactus

Common name - Moon Cactus, Lollypop Cactus, Plaid Cactus

This is  a grafted cactus.  Grafting is done to keep the top colourful one alive.  It wouldn't be able to survive on its own since there is no chlorophyll.  The bottom one has the chlorophyll and the roots to keep the top portion going.  One would think since it is a cactus it will grow in harsh sunlight. But that will only cause the plant to burn.  Sunlight is essential but only in the morning or the evening hours.  Mild watering is required.

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii

Picture taken an Nong Nooch, Pattaya, Thailand.

Amaryllis Lilly

The leafless stalk carries one to serveral flowers large open flowers.  They are grown for the large showy flowers. Predominantly in one single colour, while others may have pronounced colours on the upper part of the six petals than on the lower ones. 

Botanical name: Hippeastrum hybrid      Family: Amaryllidaceae (Nargis family)

Photographed at R's home - Jubilee Hills.

Coral Plant

Also called firecracker plant.   Has long tubular flowers.  Branches start off erect and fall as they grow and known as a weeping shrub. 

Botanical name :Russelia equisetiformis    Family: Scrophulariaceae (Dog flower family)

Photographed at KBR Park, Hyderabad

Ixora

Common name: Ixora, Jungle geranium

In full bloom, the plant looks so lovely.  Flowers are in various colours.

This was growing in the neighbour's house. 

Botanical name: Ixora coccinea    Family: Rubiaceae (coffee family)

And the white Chinese Ixora that was in my SIL's house at Sainikpuri.  The shrub was in full bloom.



Botanical name: Ixora chinensis    Family: Rubiaceae (coffee family)

Flaming Katy

Common name: Kalanchoe, Flaming Katy

Kalanchoes are succulent plants with flat, glossy, green leaves. This one pictured here has small red flowers grouped together, but they can also be seen in pinks, oranges and yellow. Each flowerhead has about 20-50 flowers.

 There is an interesting story about the plant that originates in Madagascar.  It was brought from there to Paris in 1927, where a German merchant by name Blossfield managed to grow it as a houseplant and then began to trade it commercially.  The common variety of the plant is thus named after him (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana).  And kalanchoe came from a chinese word but it is still unknown how and when it was given to the plant.

Botanical name: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana    Family: Crassulaceae (sedum family)

Picture taken by Sa at  Hyderabad

Rat Tail Cactus

Though seen here trailing on the ground, this cactus is ideal for hanging baskets. Bright pink/red flowers are produced randomly along the stems. This species will not tolerate any frost, but does very well outdoors in the summer , but needs to be protected from full noon sun. The name 'Aporocactus' comes from the Greek for "Cactus that is not penetrable".

Botanical name: Aporocactus flagelliformis    Family: Cactaceae (cactus family)
Picture taken at Nong Nooch Gardens, Thailand.  Info - Flowersofindia.net

Hibiscus Flower

This flower is commonly called the Shoe Flower - I always wondered why till I read ( just now!) that  the flowers were traditionally used to polish shoes in Jamaica and some African countries

The flowers are conspicuous and showy and are have five or more petals.

Family Malvaceae

The hibiscus petal is was used to stimulate thicker hair growth and to prevent premature graying, hair loss and scalp disorders.



I do not know if this is the sleeping hibiscus or one which is not fully bloomed.

Both these were photographed at the Mahalaxmi Race Course, Mumbai

And another one at Sainikpuri