'/> Fascinating Flowers: April 2015

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

12 Beautiful and Extremely Unique Flowers

Roses and tulips add glitters into a garden. No doubt about that. However, there are hundreds of beautiful flower somewhere out there that possess beauty that is the envy of other flowers!

Here is a list of beautiful flowers and extremely unique ones that will definitely make your garden a beauty to behold.

African Daisy Pink Whirls (Osteospermum)

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This flower clearly defines what beauty is. A spectacular bloomer, ‘Pink Whirls’ bears large, striking purplish-pink 'pinwheels' daisy-like flower. Circling a central disc, the petals are broad at the base, then tubular, then spoon-shaped at the tip. Each flower lasts about a week.

Toad Lily (Tricyrtis hirta)

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No fall garden should be without toad lilies. This hardy perennial plant is native to Japan. It bears stunning orchid-like flowers.

The six-petaled flowers are 2.5 cm (0.98 in) wide; white to light pink or lilac in color speckled with various shades of purple.

Winged Stem Passion Flower (Passiflora alata)

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Passiflora alata is a climbing vine native to the Amazon region of Brazil. It bears fragrant flowers about 7–10 cm (3–4 in) wide, bowl-shaped with distinct coronal filament in bands of purple and white.

Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)

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Also known as “lady-in-a-bath”, is a species of flowering plant widespread in northern China, Japan, Korea and Siberia. It bears unique heart-shaped flowers having bright fuchsia-pink and white inner ones. Some varieties produce yellow, pink, red, and white flowers.

Fetid Adders Tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii)

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This striking wildflower has three pointed white sepals (the actual petals are small and inconspicuous) with fine maroon lines. However, the flowers have a stinky smell. Fetid Adders-tongue also called slinkpod can be easily spotted sprouting on the forest floor in some coast ranges of the Santa Cruz mountains and up to northern Oregon. The little ill-scented flower annual blooming signals the start of Spring.

Appearing first are two mottled green and brown basal leaves, which open up to reveal the pedicel (the flowering stalk). Soon, three large, maroon-striped sepals follow. The true petals are smaller and inconspicuous with maroon-tipped spikes surrounding the three-part stigma.

Monkey Orchid (Dracula simia)

photo link A rare species, Dracula simia bears unique flowers resembling a baboon’s face. The species occurs in grassland, open woodland, and cloud forests of Ecuador and Peru.

Black Pearl Lily (Ornithogalum arabicum)

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Black Pearl Lily or Arabian Star Flower has multiple stems; and each produces many fragrant white petals with glistening black pea-sized centers (also known as Arabs Eyes). A native to several areas of Europe, Black Pearl Lilies make good cut flowers with their lovely straight stems.

Bat Flower (Tacca Chantrieri)

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Bat Flower is another beautiful and extremely unique flowering plant found in the tropical forests of China, Thailand and Burma. It bears purple to black flowers! Other varieties produce maroon, bronze, brown, green and maroon blooms.

The flower consists of two large dark brackets (leaves that look like petals) with long filaments 'whiskers' forked at the ends. These dark colored brackets resemble wings, while the long filaments resemble whiskers of a bat, hence the name.

The flowers themselves can reach up to 30.48 cm (12 in) across; the ‘whiskers’ can grow up to 76.2 cm (30 in).

Stuart's Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa)

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This beautiful and extremely unique flower is native to the arid regions of central and northwestern Australia. Stuart's Desert Pea bears a distinctive blood-red leaf-like flowers, each with a bulbous black center, or "boss". It is one of Australia's best known wildflowers.

Flame Lily (Gloriosa superba)

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This simply amazing flower, also called Fire Lily, is native in tropical and southern Africa to Asia. This climber bears spectacular red and yellow flowers.

Cliff Bottlebrush (Callistemon comboynonsis)

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This small Callistemon species are endemic to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. It bears unique flowers resembling matchstick-like objects instead of the usual petals. Flower heads may come in mostly red; but some crimson, green, pink, white or yellow depending on the species.

Blue Passion Flower (Passiflora caerulea)

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This flowering plant is endemic to South America (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil).

You will definitely be amused and captivated by the uniqueness of its minty scent flower! The flower structure is complex - about 10 cm in diameter, an inner disc 'corona' of blue, purple and white filaments; and an outer ruffle of five bluish-white sepals and petals.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

The Eye-catching Tiger Lilies

Some interesting facts that will help us to identify the Tiger Lily.

Tiger Lily

The genus Lilium, comprises about 100 species of true lilies. One species that is worth studying is the Tiger Lily. Read on to learn some information about this showy flowering plant.


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Like other true lilies, the Tiger Lily has a tall, straight stem that could reach 80–200 cm tall. The stem has long, stiff, linear dark green leaves 6–9 cm long and 1–2 cm broad. Trumpet-shaped flowers that face downward are borne on this stalk. These flowers are orange colored with small black spots. The flower petals, which comes in set of six are long and pointed.


Tiger Lily is known by various names such as: Lilium lancifolium, Lilium tigrinum, Columbia lily, Devil Lily, Oregon Lily, Kentan, Western Red Lily, Western Wood Lily, Leopard Lily, Chalice-Cup Lily, Pine Lily, etc.


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The most common flower color is orange, though other cultivars produce yellow, pale pink, red, red-orange, lavender, peach, buttery gold, melon, apricot and lavender.


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Tiger lilies do not produce any seeds. However, they do produce tiny bulblets (bulbils). These bulbils ripen, drop and root on the soil; thus, producing new plants.


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Flowers have strong, sweet and fragrant smell that bloom from early summer to early fall. A good ornamental plant, because the flowers lasts from ten days to three weeks.


In Asia, Tiger lilies are cultivated for its edible bulbs. Some plant parts have medicinal uses too.


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Warning: All parts of the plant are toxic to cats. It can produce kidney failure, lethargy, and even death.


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Tuesday, April 14, 2015

The Majestic Waling-waling — The Queen of Philippine Orchids

Worship by the natives as a tree goddess and desired by hundreds of flower growers! What do Waling-waling possesses that many are awed by its majestic beauty? Read on to know the orchid’s secrets.

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Waling-waling (Euanthe sanderiana) is considered the most beautiful and popular orchid species from the Philippines. An epiphyte that thrives on branches of tall trees, it is widespread in the rainforests of Mindanao in the provinces of Cotabato, Davao, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao, and Zamboanga. Since its discovery in 1882 the elegant orchid had faced the threat of extinction, primarily due to the destruction of its natural habitat and over-collections by local inhabitants.

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The Waling-waling is a strap-leaf orchid species that comes in two forms — pink and white. It grows up to 1 meter tall with long narrow leaves. The flowers are flat about eight cm across and the leaves are about 40 cm long and 3 cm wide. The petals are obviate, bluish pink, with buff-yellow stain. The sepals are greenish with purple streaks.

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The Euanthe sanderiana or The Vanda sanderiana, thrives in a partly shaded location and blooms during the monsoon season (from July to October ). Studies have shown that the species growing at high bears flowers early. The flower comes in variety of colors including pink, brown, yellow and various shades of green. The best place to see the orchid is in the forest trees in Davao, and Surigao.

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The Waling-waling “Queen of Philippine Orchids,” is desired by orchid breeders and growers for its showy and attractive flowers. Furthermore, the native Bagobo people worship the majestic orchid as “Diwata,” a tree goddess.

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Thursday, April 2, 2015

The Exceptional Roses

A list of the 10 most fragrant rose cultivar.

When is a rose apt to be called a sensational bloom. The ‘All America Rose Selections’ (AARS) had this to say, “beauty plus fragrance equals an exceptional rose bloom”. Read on to know the experts choice for the top ten roses having ‘Fabulous Fragrance’.

Double Delight

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Double delight rose is a beautiful, large-flowered hybrid tea rose. It is one most widely grown roses over the past several years. The bushy plant, having large leaves ranges in height from 90 to 150 cm. The double bloom has a creamy white and yellow heart with red edges. The reddish hue is created due to the changing with sun exposure, so no two flowers are alike. An All-American Rose Selection (AARS) winner in 1977, Double Delight rose has a delightful fragrance one will love. Expect a strong, sweet, spicy scent.

Elle

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Elle, winner of the All American Award in 2005, is another hybrid tea rose. The plant is about 60-90 cm in height, having large, dark green leaves. The colorful flower with 35+ petals shows shell pink with bright yellow undertones. The blooms emit a strong, spicy scent.

4th of July

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The Fourth of July, is a climbing rose that can reach 10 – 14 feet in height. Known for its festive and colorful blooms, it is a very disease resistant rose cultivar. The fourth of July, the first climbing rose to win AARS, have semi-double blooms with red and white striped coloring. The blooms release a very refreshing and sweetly scent.

Honey Perfume

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The Honey Perfume, a floribunda rose, is the AARS winner in 2004. A completely beautiful rose, this upright growing rose cultivar averages from 90 to 105 cm in height and 2-3 feet wide. The bright apricot yellow flower borne in cluster can have up to 30 petals. Honey perfume has a moderate, spicy scent. This rose shows excellent mildew resistance, and repeat blooms all season long.

Memorial Day

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The Memorial Day is an upright shrub growing up to 5 feet tall with very attractive bright green leaves. An AARS winner in 2004, this hybrid tea rose has large orchid-pink rose blooms with a petal count of 50-plus. The rose fragrance is that of the classic damask rose scent. The fragrance is so intense that just a single bloom is enough to fill a room!

Midas Touch

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Midas Touch rose, a winner in 1994, is another hybrid tea growing to about 1.2-1.8 m tall. The golden yellow flower is about 4 inch in diameter with up to 25 petals with moderate, musk fragrance. The plant itself is very resistant to rust and black spot.

Mr. Lincoln

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Winner of the AARS award in 1965, Mr. Lincoln, is another hybrid tea known for its velvety, deep red blooms. One of the most popular garden roses, the bush can grow up to 5 feet in height and about 2 feet wide. The flowers with about 30 -50 petals are held in a sturdy, upright stems. An excellent cut flowers, the blooms exhibit a very fragrant rose scent.

Scentimental

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In 1997, Scentimental was the first striped rose to run away with the AARS award. A spicy scented floribunda, this upright -growing bush is expected to grow 90-120 cm in height. The flowers appear in large clusters with red and white coloration. The plant is highly resistant to black spot, rust and mildew.

Sheer Bliss

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A perfect wedding rose, Sheer Bliss is an upright hybrid tea rose growing to about 90 to 215 cm in height. The large bloom is white tinted with a shade of pink in the center. Sheer Bliss exhibits a slightly fragrant spicy rose scent.

Sun Sprinkles

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Sun Sprinkles, AARS winner in 2001, is a modern miniature rose with brilliant yellow blooms. The bushy plant can grow between 45-60 cm tall. The bloom size is about 2 inches with 30-35 petal count for each flower. The blooms have a light spicy scent.