New entry: velvet pink banana - Musa Velutina

Do you know that this "decorative" banana is actually edible? The striking pink color is the winning characteristic of this member of the banana family.
Our specimen shown grows in the cool Bgy. Alangilan of Bacolod City. I also saw it sold during an orchid show in QC Memorial circle.

Plant/flower Musa Velutina Common Name velvet pink banana Photographer Ernesto Adorio Location Alangilan,Bacolod City Camera Fujifilm HS25EXR Photo Date Post Date February 16, 2014 Reference Wikipedia EPA bog Links Facebook

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New entry: beehive ginger - Zingeber Spectabile

An amazing ginger species whose flowers are quite different from other species. The reak flowers are to be seen sprouting from the sides of the beehive structure.

Plant/flower Zingiber spectabile Common Name beehive ginger Photographer Ernesto Adorio Location Quezon City Camera Olympus VG-110 Photo Date Post Date February 16, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook

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New entry; haworthia fasciata

Haworthias are smaller than the similar looking aloe veras, specifically the Aloe aristata. This one is called the zebra cactus.

Plant/flower Haworthia fasciata Common Name zebra cactus Photographer Vivian B. Vivian Location Germany Camera Nikon D3000 Photo Date Post Date February 16, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook

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New entry: heart pea or ballon vine, Cardiospermum halicacabum

It looks like the tinotino weed growing in ricefields, but this plant is a climber. the seeds are covered by a heartshaped sac.

Plant/flower Cardiospermum halicacabum Common Name Heart pea, Balloon vine, parolparolan Photographer Ella Bernales Jacildo Location Pulupandan Camera Photo Date Post Date February 16, 2014 Reference Wikipedia StuartXchange Links Facebook

New Entry: white spotted lady, Helleborus orientalis

The species name is strong to suggest it, but I am not sure if this plant grows in the Philippines, so I am temporarily placing it here.

Plant/flower Helleborus Orientalis) Common Name White spotted lady Photographer Vivian B. Vivian Location Germany Camera Nikon D3000 Photo Date Post Date February 16, 2014 Reference Finegardening.com Wikipedia Links Facebook

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New entry: parrots beak, heliconia psittacorum

Our latest entry is the common parrots beak which looks like small bananas. In fact they were formerly put under the banana family but now put under their own family heliconiaceae. We have shown a previous all yellow variety. this one is the most common type.

Plant/flower Heliconia psittacorum Common Name Parrot's Beak, Parakeet Flower, Parrot's Flower, Parrot's Plantain, False Bird-Of-Paradise Photographer Ernesto Adorio Location Quezon City Camera Olympus VG-110 Photo Date Post Date February 15, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook

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Gallery: heliconia latisplatha

I did not have to go far in looking for this heliconia species. It grows in Philcoa and along University Avenue leading to the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines. The common name is still lobster claws, and thus we have shown three species of the heliconias: rostrata,bihai and now latiplatha. We will try to find more, I think I saw a hairy version of lobster claw.

Plant/flower Heliconia latispatha Common Name lobster claw Photographer Ernesto Adorio Location Quezon City Camera Olympus VG-110 Photo Date Post Date February 15, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook

New entry: Eucrosia bicolor

I first saw this plant at Philcoa, and am happy to know it also grows in Negros Occidental. the flowers are borne on a spike without leaves, making me wonder how it can bloom with separate small leaves.

Plant/flower Eucrosia bicolor Common Name Photographer Ernesto Adorio Location Philcoa, Quezon City Camera Canon SX50HS Photo Date Post Date February 15, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook

New entry: Vanda lamellata var. boxallii

This beautiful orchid was photographed in Los Banos, a location of great biodiversity. The orchid, according to the Wikipedia article is found in Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Plant/flower Vanda lamellata var. boxallii Common Name Photographer Agnes Adigue Talavera Location Los Banos, Laguna Camera Canon Powershot S95 Photo Date Post Date February 15, 2014 Reference Orchids Wikia Wikipedia Links Facebook

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New entry: Bilbergia pyramidalis

I first saw the flaming torch plant at the Institute of Biology grounds three or four years aglo. Only much later did I know the name. The plant can grows anywhere in the Philippines, in Metro Manila, Bohol, in Negros Occidental, etc. and is very popular. When it blooms, I love to see the tinge of bright blue at the tips.

Plant/flower Bilbergia pyramidalis Common Name Fool Proof Plant, Flaming Torch, Summer Torch Photographer Vivian B. Vivian Location Bohol Camera Photo Date Post Date February 15, 2014 Reference AAT album Stuart Exchange Wikipedia Links Facebook Acknowledgement ID: Agnes Adigue Talavera

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New entry: torch ginger, etlingera elatior

Vivian B. Vivian took this photo last year in the island province of Bohol. I have seen this red ginger lily plant growing and bloomin in Buenos Aires, Bago and Salvador Benedicto Negros Occidental.

Plant/flower Etlingera Elatior Common Name Torch ginger, Ginger Flower, Red Ginger Lily, Torch Lily, Philippine Wax Flower Photographer Vivian B. Vivian Location Bohol Camera Nikon D3000 Photo Date Post Date February 15, 2014 Reference Stuart Exchange Wikipedia Links Facebook

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Gallery: Ocha Serrulata

From Vivian B. Vivian

New entry: red powderpuff plant - Calliandra haematocephala

This is the reddest calliandra or powderpuff flower I saw posted in our Handbook group.
Al Claud who took the photo says it was taken in Bgy. Alijis, Bacolod City.

Plant/flower Calliandra Haemocephala Common Name Red powderpuff plant Photographer Al Claud Location Bgy. Alijis, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Camera Samsung ES15 Photo Date Post Date February 14, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook

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This is #248 in our list of Known Plants and Flowers 200-299

Gallery: pseuderanthenum reticulatum - yellow veined false eranthenum.

A recent photo from Vivian B. Vivian:

New entry: Dracaena Fragrans "Lindenii"

The beautiful nice white lined dracaena fragrans deserves a separate entry in our blog.
The specimen was photographed in Germany, but we know this plant grows in the Philippines.

Plant/flower Dracaena fragrans "Lindenii" Common Name Cornstalk plant, false palm Photographer Vivian B. Vivian Location Germany Camera Nikon D5000 Photo Date Post Date February 14, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook

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This is number 247 in our list of known plants and flowers.

New entry:firecracker plant, crossandra infundibuliformis

I have seen a lot of orange firecracker plant and this is the first time I saw a specimen photo by Judith Felix Santos Felizardo, Her plant comes with a tall spike,
And I still have to see this plant live up to its ff but I still have to see this plant live up to its common name "firecracker" plant, see wikipedia for details.

Plant/flower Crossandra Infundibuliformis Common Name firecracker plant Photographer Judith Felix Santos Felizardo Location Central Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija Camera Photo Date Post Date February 13, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook

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This is #246 in our index of Known plants and flowers-200-299

New entry : asparagus foxtail fern, asparagus densifluros "meyersii"

This plant will always make me remember the old Manila Seedling Bank, destroyed to make way for a commercial highrise development. I saw my first foxtail fern specimen and other plants new to me in this area selling seedlings, plants and orchids. We only have a photo to show of this more compact asparagus densiflorus fern variety.

Plant/flower Asparagus Densiflorus "Meyersii" Common Name Foxtail fern, plume asparagus Photographer Ernesto Adorio Location Old Manila Seedling Bank, Quezon City Camera Photo Date Post Date February 13, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook

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This will be number 245 in our growing list of Known plants and flowers.

New entry: natal plum, carissa grandiflora

We have a new addition:a photograph of the natal plum, provided by Nelyn Tiongson of Baguio city. Something remarkable about this plant are the leaves which has a thorn at each end. The scientific name was provided by Buner Bune who is a landscapist working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to Buner, the flower is sweet smelling and the fruit is edible! Click on the wikipedia link below for more information.

Plant/flower Carissa grandiflora Prostrata Common Name Natal plum, Large num-num, amatungulu,Noem-Noem. Photographer Nelyn Tiongson Location Baguio Camera Photo Date Post Date February 13, 2014 Reference Wikipedia Links Facebook Acknowledgement Buner Bune

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It is #244 in our growing List of Known Plants and Flowers.