Strelitzia juncea

Strelitzia juncea

The Strelitzia juncea, rarely called rushes Bird of Paradise, is a species of the genus Strelitzia (Strelitzia ) in the family of Strelitziaceae ( Strelitziaceae ). This South African species is rarely used as an ornamental plant in tropical parks and gardens or cut flower.

Description

Strelitzia juncea growing evergreen, perennial, herbaceous plant that reaches the stature heights of 1 to 2 meters. It forms horst -like stands and thick, fleshy roots. The basal leaves and are 1-2 feet long. In contrast to the other Strelitzia species no spreading can be seen. Thus, the leaves ( hence the name) act like bins. Strelitzia juncea grows slowly and the first inflorescences are formed only after three to four years.

The inflorescences and flowers resemble those of Strelitzia reginae very. The main flowering period extends from May to October. The leaf axillary, erect inflorescence stem is usually slightly shorter than the leaves and has only a few reduced to the leaf sheath leaves. The clearly stalked inflorescence forms of inflorescence stem at an angle of about 45 ° upwards and is partially supported by a barge -shaped, about 12 to 20 centimeters long bract ( the so-called spathe ), which has mostly red edges, covered. The three bracts are very different in the two circuits in shape and color. Of the three most bright orange bloom cladding of the outer circle is the median smaller than the lateral ones. Of the inner three intense blue bloom cladding is the upper short, nearly circular and covers the entrance to the " nectar chamber "; the two large side have grown like an arrow and envelope the stylus and the five fertile stamens. They are pollinated in their natural habitat mainly on nectar birds ( Nectariniidae ) or Promeropidae.

Are formed woody, dreifächerige capsule fruits. The seeds have a woolly aril and are spread by birds.

Occurrence

Strelitzia juncea occurs naturally only near Uitenhage, Patensie and just north of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. These natural populations of Strelitzia juncea thrive between drought- resistant plants such as Euphorbia, cotyledon, Pelargonium species and Encephalartos horridus, this shows that they survive with little water. This type can withstand light frost.

System

Strelitzia juncea was first described in 1821 by Heinrich Friedrich Link valid in Enumeratio Plantarum Horti Regii Berolinensis Altera, 1, p 150. The specific epithet refers to the juncea bins like appearance - Rushes ( Juncus ).

Even at Moore & Hyypio 1970 was discussed whether Strelitzia reginae var juncea ( Ker Gawl. ) HEMoore a variety of Strelitzia reginae or a stand-alone type. This was a short time later, in 1975 by RA Dyer and now confirmed on several occasions ruled in favor of the kind of Strelitzia juncea link. Other synonyms for Strelitzia juncea Link are: Strelitzia parvifolia juncea var WTAiton Ker Gawl, Strelitzia principis Andrews ex Spreng, Strelitzia teretifolia Barrow ex Steud. .. nom. inval. and Strelitzia reginae subsp. juncea ( Ker Gawl. ) Sm.

Swell

• John Winter: www.plantzafrica.com / plantqrs / strelitzjun.htm Strelitzia juncea plantzafrica.com at the Botanical Garden of Kirstenbosh. (Section Description and occurrence)
• Harold E. Moore, Jr. & Peter A. Hyypio: Some comments on Strelitzia ( Strelitziaceae ) in Baileya, 17, 1970, pp. 65-75.
• Cheers Gordon (ed.): Botanica, Random House Australia, 2003 German edition. Tandem Verlag GmbH, 2003, ISBN 3-8331-1600-5.