Bird of Paradise

This native of South Africa produces unusual looking flowers that resemble the beak and crest of a bird of paradise. The spathe is perpendicular to the flower spike and looks like the beak. As the orange flower sepals open sequentially, they tilt up from the spathe, looking like the crest. The petals are bluish purple.

Both the flowers and the bold leaves are often used in flower arrangements, both lasting a long time when cut. The flowers appear from winter through spring, but can also appear later in the season if the old flowers are cut off.

In South Africa, it is known there as "crane lily". In the wild, this plant is bird pollinated (sunbird). Two of the blue petals are joined together and forms a nectary. When a bird lands to feed on the nectar, its weight triggers the petals to part and pollen is deposited onto the bird's feet.

Click on any picture to enlarge.

Pictures:

		Strelitzia reginae
		Strelitzia nicolaia

See also:  Ornamentals, Culture / Germination

Flower