Strelitzia

Bird of paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae )

The plant genus Strelitzia belongs to the family of Strelitziaceae ( Strelitziaceae ). In 1773 the director of the Botanical Garden of London Joseph Banks received copies of a kind She then was named in honor of Queen Charlotte, née Princess of Mecklenburg -Strelitz and wife King George III, named. . This genus includes about five species that occur in southern Africa.

In the village of Neustrelitz since 2011 represents the only Strelitzienkönigin Germany at various events. The town council voted for the former Miss Mecklenburg- Vorpommern, Romy Wibelitz out, because she was born there and lives.

Description

Strelitzia species are large, perennial herbaceous plants. All species form with branched rhizomes nests, three species grow like a tree (Strelitzia nicolai Strelitzia Strelitzia alba and caudata ) and two species do not form a trunk. Rarely they branch dichotomously. The alternate and distichous arranged leaves are divided into leaf sheath, petiole and leaf blade. The large and simple leaf blades are entire.

The pendant standing on a more or less long inflorescence stem inflorescence is partially enclosed by a boat- shaped bract. The hermaphrodite, zygomorphic flowers are triple. In two districts are each three bloom. Of the three Blütenhüllbättern of the outer circle is the median smaller than the lateral ones. Of the three inner bloom cladding are two large, bright colored and grown like an arrow; envelop style and stamens. The third Blütenhüllblatt is small. There are five fertile stamens present, the missing original sixth. Three carpels are fused into one inferior ovary. In each of the three ovary chambers there are two rows of ovules.

Are formed woody fruit capsules. The seeds have an orange woolly aril.

System

The genus Strelitzia are about five ways:

• Birds of Paradise (Strelitzia Ait. ): With five species along the eastern coast of South Africa (main distribution area) to Mozambique and the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe: White Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia alba ( L. f ) Skeels, Syn: Strelitzia angusta Thunb. )
• Mountain Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia caudata R.A.Dyer )
• Rushes Strelitzia (Strelitzia juncea ( Ker Gawl. ) Link )
• Natal Strelitzia or Bird of Paradise tree (Strelitzia nicolai Regel & K. Koch )
• Bird of paradise flower Strelitzia or royal (Strelitzia reginae Banks ex Aiton, Syn: Strelitzia parvifolia WTAiton ): It is a popular ornamental plant in tropical gardens, as a container plant in non-tropical countries, and as a long lasting cut flower.

Swell

• The genus Strelitzia at the National Museum of Natural History ( NMNH ) of the Smithsonian Institution.
• Walter Erhardt et al: The big walleye. Encyclopedia of plant names. Volume 2 Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart, 2008. ISBN 978-3-8001-5406-7