These 5 smaller spathes grow out of a single large boat like spathe that surrounds the all 5 of the smaller spathes in the compound inflorescence. Strelitzia angusta D.Dietr. Add to Wishlist. Once the flower heads die, I find it is best to grab the petiole as low to the ground as possible and yank the dead inflorescence from the plant. Seed pod and seeds (photos by eliasastro). During intense winds the leaves sometimes split along these veins, but for the most part, this plant is extremely wind tolerant and remains in excellent condition despite high winds and inclement weather. Advertise | When young, most Strelitzias grow in a distichous pattern (leaves in only two ranks/planes), but as older plants begin to offset, the overall effect is of leaves growing in all directions, particularly in the smaller species. Assessed: 2005 (W. Foden and L. Potter). Tour | The leaves of most Strelitzias are ‘paddle-shaped' and resemble banana leaves only with longer petioles. White bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) and the classic orange bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia reginae) share similarities, family and even genus. As a pollinating bird sits upon the petals to drink the nectar, the weight of the bird spreads apart the petals and the feet of the bird are covered in pollen. There are more species of Strelitzia (S. alba and S. caudata), but as I mentioned already, I cannot tell them apart from Strelitzia nicolai. Add to cart. December 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment. The Style has 3 branches, each ending with a Stigma. The third upper petal is much smaller. Check out alternatives and read real reviews from real users. Nectar is gathered by collared and olive sunbirds, which effect Pollination in the process. nicolai is in honour of the Russian Grand duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (1796-1855). Strelitzia T⦠Back to the top Unlike Strelitzia alba, the inflorescence of Strelitzia nicolai is compound. We even send you a picture of your plants before they ship. Strelitzia nicolai has a characteristic fan-shaped Crown (photo 104). Our plants are covered by our 30 day guarantee. The thick, tuberous, carrot-like roots can be dug up easily, and even hacked apart, and the plants will usually tolerate this abuse well, though flowering cycles may be set back a few years. Flowers are brilliantly colored with bright blue petals and orange sepals. Fertilizer is applied as needed but in soils with some clay, frequent fertilization is not needed. These plants may be toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Leaves of this species are usually bright green to deep green though sometimes a bit blue-green. The Fruit is a hard woody capsule with 3 lobes. De l'aisselle des feuilles inférieures, la courte hampe qui porte les fleurs blanches prend naissance, enfermée dans une bractée spatiforme violet foncé. Trees and Shrubs Mozambique. Pooley’s Trees of eastern South Africa. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. This species is also more prone to frost damage than Strelitzia reginae with severe leaf damage only 3 or 4 degrees below freezing. Shop with Confidence. Strelitzia nicolai, commonly known as the giant white bird of paradise or wild banana, is a species of banana-like plants with erect woody stems reaching a height of 6 m (20 ft), and the clumps formed can spread as far as 3.5 m (11 ft).. Still not sure about Strelitzia? There are 5 thin Stamens. (left) Strelitzia reginae flower forming a second flower. Conservation: Nationak Status: L C (least concern). The leaves of all these bird of paradise are thick and leathery, also unlike the thin, rubbery leaves of most true bananas. Fortunately these are pretty adaptable plants. While the Nicolai develops a deep green, blue leaf, the Alba leaf comes in a distinguishing lighter shade of green. Each of these smaller spathes contains a large single flower. Most growers, however, simply divide mature plants to get more plants. Unlike Strelitzia alba, the inflorescence of Strelitzia nicolai is compound. Strelitzia nicolai, the giant bird of paradise, is the second most commonly grown species and is a much larger plant than Strelitzia reginae, growing up to 30 feet tall and eventually growing into a massive shrub up to 20 feet in diameter. I personally prefer to pull out old flowers and leaves, if possible, rather than cutting as this leaves less bulk and width of the clump and keeps the overall plant looking much cleaner. However few will flower well in shady environments. (right) As it emerges from the spathe (the lower 'beak) base of the first flower. Petals surround the 5 long, thin Stamens and the Style. The distinctive bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae or Strelizia nicolai) is one of the best known of all the tropical flowers and is a cousin to the banana.Surprisingly, the bird of paradise is easier to grow than many tropical plants and makes for a vigorous, rapidly growing indoor plant. At the base of the petals is where most of the attractive nectar ‘bait' is located. An adult Strelitzia reginae plant in full flower looks as if there were a several birds hidden in the foliage craning their necks just above the leaves and looking about in all directions. Flowers are borne on short petioles (3 to 8 inches) preventing these flowers from being popular cut flowers. Flowers of these two species are similar, but traveler's tree flowers have lime-green spathes, no blue tongues and the sepals are a pale yellowy color. The spathes are a deep, dark blue-green to purplish color. Plants will flower more reliably if fertilized at least a couple times a year. Family: Strelitziaceae (Strelitzia or Crane flower family). My guess is that a thorough study of these plants in the wild would reveal a continuous gradient of variations in some populations strengthening the argument for all these as being varieties of Strelitzia reginae. The odds are strongly in favor of any very large greenish NOID Strelitzia being a nicolai: alba seems to be rarer both in cultivation and in the wild. These trees are associated with evergreen coastal forests. Monkeys, birds and the blue duiker feed on parts of the Flowers. (middle) Close-up of flower. It does not help, no doubt, that most plants in California identified as Strelitzia alba are indeed Strelitzia nicolai, and also that Strelitzia caudata is extremely rare in the U.S. (and I have never seen one in real life). What is interesting as that as seedlings, these plants are identical to normal Strelitzia reginae, complete with the typical boat-shaped leaves. Strelitzia reginae, aka common bird of paradise or crane flower, is the most common and familiar plant in this genus growing 3 to 6 feet tall depending on lighting, age and variety--some miniature forms don't even get that tall. These flowers are about 2 or 3 times the size of Streliztia reginae flowers with pale blue petals and pure white sepals. Pruning the smaller Strelitzias involves cutting or pulling dead leaves and flowers as close to the ground as possible, though I often see large public landscaped plants given 'hurricane cuts', where all the outer growht was cut down to around six inches above ground level, leaving only a narrow 'shuttle-cock' growth of leaves and flowers in the center. Publishing Print Matters (Pty) Ltd. Noordhoek, Cape Town. Svetloba: Z ahtevam zelo svetlo mesto z nekaj urami direktne sonÄne svetlobe. Eventually these will require ladders to read the higher stems, and pruning will involve not just cutting away the lower leaves, but cleaning of the stems to give them a healthy, neat, smooth trunk. A primarily South African genus, though extremely sandy, fast-draining soils in climates. Is sheathed at the base flowers and leaves will leave a plant exist. 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