Morning Glory

Morning Glory, Bindweed, Ipomoea, Calystegia, Argyreia nervosa

Morning Glory is a common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae.   Found this perennial climbing vine growing wildly at the beaches of Batangas.  Most Morning Glory flowers unravel into full bloom in the early morning.  The flowers usually start to fade a few hours before the petals start showing visible curling.  They prefer full sun exposure  throughout the day in an environment with well-balanced supply of  moisture.

Morning Glory was first known in China for its medicinal uses, due to the laxative properties of its seeds.  Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations used the morning glory species Ipomoea alba to convert the latex from the Castilla elastica tree  and also the guayule plant to produce bouncing rubber balls.  The sulfur in morning glory's juice served to vulcanize the rubber, a process predating Charles Goodyear's discovery by at least 3,000 years.  Aztec priests in Mexico were also known to use the plants hallucinogenic properties.  The seeds of morning glory can produce a similar effect to LSD when taken in large doses.

 

Linking to Floral Friday Fotos and Today's Flower

Tiger's Tail

 Sansevieria trifasciata, Tiger's Tail, Mother-in-law's Tongue

I have known this plant since childhood.  It was abundant in my elementary school yard---we called it Tiger's Tail.  But I have never seen it with flowers before.  Sansevieria trifasciata is a native to tropical West Africa, an evergreen herbaceous perennial plant forming dense stands.  It is also commonly known as Snake Plant because of the shape of its leaves or Mother-in-law's Tongue because of their sharpness.

In China and Japan, it is called Tiger's Tail Orchid; in Brazil, it is commonly known as espada-de-sao-jorge (sword of Saint George).  In Africa, the plant is used as a protective charm against evil or bewitchment.  The leaves are also used for fiber production, the sap has antiseptic qualities, and the leaves are used as bandages in traditional first aid.  This plant makes a good houseplant--it is believed to act as a good air purifier.  Some reports seem to suggest that Sansevieria produces oxygen at night, which makes it suitable to be placed in the bedroom.

I found these Tiger's Tails at a resort in Montalban, Rizal.

Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed.  Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

Linking to Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Flowers-Saturday and Today's Flowers

White Orchids

 White Phalaenopsis, Moth Orchid

Orchids are used for their ornamental value, medicinal properties, for perfume preparation, as fodder and even as food for humans.  For medicinal purposes, orchids are even used today in traditional Chinese medicine.  Use of dried orchids ranges from cancer treatment to eye-sight improvement.  

Orchids are also sold as edible decorations for food.  Orchid canes are stir fried in many Asian countries, also being used for making sauces in Japan and Singapore, flowers are pickled in Nepal.  

"Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life." ~ S.D. Gordon

White Cymbidium

Love comes to those who still hope even though the have been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they've been betrayed, to those who still love even though they have been hurt before.  Happy Easter!  

 Linking to Today's Flowers

Crown of Thorns

Corona de Espina, Euphorbia milli Desmoul, Crown of Thorns

Consisting of around 300 genera and 7,500 species, Euphorbia, sometimes known as spurges, is one of the most diverse genera in the plant kingdom.  This specie of Euphorbia is a native of Madagascar, and widely cultivated in the Philippines.  A few years ago, there was a craze of collecting Euphorbias in every color. My aunt and her friends traveled all over looking for Euphorbias.

Popularly used in South Brazil with "dragon's blood", the red latex from Christ's Crown of Thorns is used as treatment for warts.  In Chinese folk medicine, Euphorbia compounds are used in cancer treatment.

In a study of 41 plants tested against E. Coli, Shigella spp (a bacteria that causes dysentery) and Vibrios spp (a bacteria causes foodborne disease) among others, Euphorbia milli was one of the 28 that showed anti-bacterial activity.  Dry flower powder of Euphorbia milli was found to have 100% total inhibition of Aspergillus (a fungi, mold species).  The crude latex of Euphorbia milli is a potent plant molluscicide (pesticides against molluscs to control snails, slugs)  and a promising alternative to synthetic molluscicide used in schistosomiasis (also known as snail fever, a chronic parasitic disease) control.

 

 Linking to Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Flower Saturday 

Marigold

Marigold, Tagetes erecta, Mexican Marigold

This species of Marigold is a native to Mexico and Central America, regarded as  flor de muertos (flower of the dead) in pre-hispanic Mexico and still widely used in the Dia de los Muertos celebrated every November 2nd (our All Soul's Day).  The Aztecs gathered this wild plant as well as cultivated it for medicinal, ceremonial, and decorative purposes.    Water infused with the fragrant essential oil of the flower was used to wash corpses in Honduras, and the flower is still commonly planted in cemeteries.  

Marigold foliage has a musky, pungent scent--it is said to deter common insect pests.  It is often planted with tomatoes, eggplant, chili peppers, tobacco and potato.

Since the pre-hispanic times, this plant has been used for medicinal purposes.  The Cherokee used it as a skin wash and for yellow dye.  Due to antibacterial Thiophenes exuded from the roots, Tagetes erecta should not be planted near any legume crop.

Marigold is widely cultivated in Thailand and India to be used as garlands and decoration for weddings, festivals and religions events.

The flower petals have been used in lettuce salads. Today, Tagetes erecta is grown to extract lutein, a common yellow/orange food color added to pasta, vegetable oil, margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressings, baked goods, mustard, and ice cream (in EU countries).  The oil of the flower maybe added to perfumes to infuse an apple scent into them.  The essential oil contains antioxidants.

 

Linking to Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

Pink Kalachuchi

 

Kalachuchi, Frangipani, Plumeria, Temple Flower, Flor de Mayo

Kalachuchi is a small, deciduous tree, 3 to 7 meters high, with a crooked trunk, smooth and shiny stems, succulent with abundant sticky, milky latex that can irritate skin and eyes. It is related to Oleander and there are more than 300 species.  This flowering tree is a South American native, brought over by the Spaniards from Mexico.  Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night to lure moths to pollinate them.  The common name "Frangipani" comes from an Italian noble family, a 16th century marquess who invented a plumeria-scented perfume.  

The bark, leaves and flowers are used in folk medicine--considered anti-inflammatory, diuretic, induces menstrual flow, reduces fever, purgative.  In Java and Madera, boiled bark is used to treat venereal disease; in Yucatan, latex is used for toothache, decoction of flowers is used for diabetics in Mexico.  Source

In local folklore, Kalachuchi is often associated with ghosts and graveyard as they are often planted in cemeteries, flowers are used in sympathy wreaths.  The scent of plumeria has been associated with a vampire in Malay folklore, the pontianak (tiyanak in the Philippines) while Balinese Hindus use the flowers in their temple offerings.  In several Pacific Islands, plumerias are used for making leis; in modern Polynesian culture, it can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status---over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.  And on both ears if it's complicated---I made that up.*LoL*

"To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat."         ~ Beverly Nichols

Linking to Floral Friday Foto, Macro Flower- Saturday and Today's Flowers

Asystasia

@ mirandablue

Asystasia intrusa, Asystasia gangetica Linn., Purple Primrose, Zamboangenita

Found this small, branching herb at a village in Laguna.  We considered this as a weed when I was growing up but now it is cultivated as an ornamental plant.  This plant is used in folk medicine---leaves and flowers are used as intestinal astringent; in Africa, infusion of Asystasia is used to ease the pain during childbirth, asthma is treated with leaves and sap is applied to swellings and rheumatism.  It is also edible is some countries.  Source

@ mirandablue

Oh, the powers of nature!  She knows what we need, and the doctors know nothing. ~ Benvenuto Cellini

Linking to Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

Lirio

 Lirio, Crinum latifolium Linn., Pink-striped Trumpet Lily

This is my mom's Lirio, a rosette-like herb that arises from an underground bulb.  Bulbs and leaves are useful in herbal medicine.  Bulbs are used in folkloric medicine to cure rheumatic pain and sprain, juice of leaves for earaches.  In Vietnam and Cambodia, this herb is used in treatment of prostate and ovarian cancer.  There are studies that suggest potential use of Crinum latifolium for treatment of immunodeficiency such as cancer, leukemia and AIDS.   It is also used in cases of hypoxia, tissue regeneration, and hormone balancing.  It has anti-tumor, anti-viral properties. 

Sources:  here and here

In every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong; honor that; try to imitate it, and your faults will drop off like dead leaves  when their time comes.  ~ John Ruskin

Linking to Floral Friday Fotos,  Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flower

Scarlet beauty

Spent the weekend at a friend's beach house in Subic a few weeks ago. I spied the neighbor's garden for flowers and found these tiny red flowers that resemble Santan (Ixora) and Pentas except for the yellow stamens and buds.  It was blooming side by the side Franginanis, Bougainvilleas and Heliconias.

Red is the ultimate cure for sadness. ~ Bill Blass

Peregrina

Linking to Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flower

Anthurium

Anthurium - Kaumana (red), Pink Exotica (light pink), Flamingo Flower, Painted Tongue

With its open, heart-shaped flower and tropical disposition, Anthurium symbolizes hospitality and has an incredible vase life.   It is a large genus of about 600-800 species belonging to the araceae family.   The species thrive mostly in wet tropical mountain forest of Central and South America, no members of this genus are indigenous to Asia.  The flowers are hermaphrodite, containing male and female flowers. Anthurium is one of the flowers commercially grown in the Philippines for the cut flower industry.

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.

~ Lao Tzu

Linking to Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

A rose is a rose is a rose...

Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense.

~ Mark Overby

Linking to Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers