Dona Aurora/Mussaenda Philippica

The Mussaendas are ornamental shrubs with one or more of the sepals or calyx lobes developing unusually into large, petaloid structures. The genus Mussaenda belongs to the family Rubiaceae and includes some 200 species found in Africa, Madagascar, India, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Polynesia and Australia. In the Philippines, it is represented by about 20 species. A few of these are M. philippica A. Rich, M. benguetensis Elmer, M. palawanensis Merr., M. pinatubensis Elmer and M. magallanensis Elmer. Most of the locally grown Mussaendas are colorful hybrids and their development began with the discovery of M. philippica var aurorae Sulit, popularly known as ‘Doña Aurora.’  Source

Doña Aurora was first found in 1915 in the vicinity of Mount Makiling as a spontaneous mutant of the species Mussaenda philippica.  Doña Aurora is named after the wife of the former president Manuel Quezon, and has been utilized as one of the parents in the development of the Mussaenda hybrids.  

It is a shrub or small tree, 3 to 5 meters high.  Leaves are opposite, broad-ovate, with short-pointed tips, dark green and glossy.  Calyx lobes are expanded into white or greenish-white, large, leaf-like, oval bracts; the green blade expanded with short-acute or blunt tip.  Flowers are small, tubelike, expanded into 5, ovate lobes, yellowish orange in color.

 

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Capsicum Flower/ABC Wednesday

 C is for Capsicum Flower

We are all familiar with chili peppers but have you ever looked closely at the flower of this popular spice?  I was not even aware chili peppers have flowers---well, at the back of my mind, I know it has flowers but didn't really see them until the Christmas weekend I stayed at my brother's.

Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum.  It has been a part of the human diet in the Americas since 7500 B.C. and was introduced to Europe during the time of Columbus.  The spread of chili peppers to Asia was most likely a natural consequence of its introduction to Portuguese traders (Lisbon was a common port of call for Spanish ships sailing to and from the Americas) who aware of its trade value, would have likely promoted its commerce in the Asian spice trade routes then dominated by Portuguese and Arab traders.  Wiki

This capsicum is very important to my brother and his neighbors.  My brother even joked that he makes sure this plant is protected every time there is a typhoon.  The neighbors get their chili peppers from this plant; some of the ripe fruits are added to a vinegar dip we call "sinamak" that complements grilled pork, fish and shellfish; it also adds a kick to soy sauce, ceviche, and many fish, beef, pork and vegetable dishes.  The leaves are likewise added to a chicken and vegetable soup called Tinola.

The capsicum flowers are very tiny--the fruit is about an inch long, so you can image how small the flowers are.  No wonder I didn't notice them before.:p

 “He who controls the spice controls the universe.”  

~ Frank Herbert, Dune

 

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Queen of the Night

Epiphyllum oxypetalum, Night-blooming Cereus, Queen of the Night

I noticed this flowering vine in the yard of my friend's neighbor a couple of weeks ago.   It was already dark but there was a street lamp just outside the garden.  My friend was laughing at me while I was clinging at the wrought iron fence to get a better shot.  I have forgotten this flower until my brother saw the images while browsing through the same folder for photos of his youngest son. Turned out, my sis-in-law cultivated this flowering vine for years but it only bloomed once and the flower wilted by morning.  I quickly googled and found the name on line!

Night-blooming cereus is the common name referring to a large number of flowering Cereus cacti that bloom at night. The flowers are short lived, and some of these species bloom only once a year, for a single night^.  The night-blooming cereus is also referred to as princess of the night, Honolulu queen and queen of the night.

This amazing flowering vine is native to Central America and Northern South America, the flower blooms rarely and only at night---mysteriously, the flower wilts before dawn.  The Chinese chengyu (four character idiom) 曇花一現 (tan hua yi xian) uses this flower (tan-hua; 曇花) to describe someone who has an impressive but very brief moment of glory, like a "flash in a pan", since the flower can take a year to bloom and only blooms over a single night. Therefore someone described as "曇花一現" is generally understood to be a person who shows off or unexpectedly gains some achievement and is thought to be an exception or only lucky. The flower also has a rich history in Japan, where it is known as the 月下美人 (Gekka Bijin) or "Beauty under the Moon".  Wiki source

Regardless of genus or species, night-blooming cereus flowers are almost always white, often large, and frequently fragrant.  The plants that bear such flowers can be tall, columnar, and sometimes extremely large and tree-like, but more frequently are thin-stemmed climbers. While some night-blooming cereus are grown indoors in homes or greenhouses in colder climates, most of these plants are too large or ungainly for this treatment, and are only found outdoors in tropical areas.

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Today's Flowers

White Kalachuchi

 Kalachuchi, Frangipani,Plumeria Alba Blanco

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.”~ from Mulan

“I won't regret, because you can grow flowers where dirt used to be.” ~ Kate Nash

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Petunias

I was buying fruits at the Market! Market! when these beautiful blooms caught my eye.  I wonder how these petunias can bloom here so vigorously when the petunias I bought from this same flower shop died soon after I brought it home.  Is it the heat, or my black thumb?

So I stood there, admiring them for a little while, took some photos and left the market with spring in my steps and a smile.  Flowers have that effect on me.:p

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. ~ Karl Barth

 

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White & Yellow Hibiscus

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. 

~ Marcel Proust

Hibiscus, Gumamela, Tapolanga

Beautiful flowers at Floral Friday Fotos and Today's Flowers

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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

 

 

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White Frangipani

White Frangipani, Plumeria obtusa, Plumeria pudica, Kalachuchi, Everlasting Love

Frangipanis originate from South America and  there are some 300 species.  There is a theory that Catholic missionary priests spread frangipanis around the world as they traveled.  The reason why different species are popular and common throughout the Philippines and Thailand, and rare in Vietnam and China.   Locally known as kalachuchi, the flowers give off a strong perfume at night to attract hawk moths that pollinate the flowers.  This flowering tree loves warm climates and can survive months of hot weather without water.  I associate the heady scent of frangipani with death as the flowers were popularly used as sympathy flowers and  wreaths at funerals when I was growing up.

We do not remember days, we remember moments.


~ Cesare Pavese

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Estrella/Today's Flowers #31

@ mirandablue

 Estrella, Star of Bethlehem, Lagrimas de San Diego, Isotoma longiflora Mill.

Found it in a pot at the back of an old church in Ilocos Sur last year.

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden. -- Claudia Ghandi

Posted for Today's Flowers

Spider Lily/Today's Flowers #20

@ mirandablue

The flower is the poetry of reproduction.  It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life.  

~Jean Giraudoux

@ mirandablue

Spider Lily---an exquisitely-designed star.

Posted for Today's Flowers

Trumpet Vine/Today's Flowers #12

@ mirandablue

Trumpet Vine [Thunbergia grandiflora Alba]

Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature.

- Gerard de Nerval

Posted for http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com

Peace Lily/Today's Flowers #3

Peace Lily

Faith sees a beautiful blossom in a bulb, a lovely garden in a seed, and a giant oak in an acorn.  - William Arthur Ward

Posted for http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com