Strelitzia reginae

2009-08-05T10:49:39Z

90.193.194.117:

{{Inc|
Strelitzia reginae, Banks. Bird-of-Paradise Flower. Fig. 3733. About 3 ft. high: roots large, strong-growing: lvs. oblong, about 1 ft. long, stiff, concave: lf .-stalks all radical, 2-3 times as long as the lvs.: scape higher than the lvs.: spathe about 6 in. long, nearly horizontal, purplish at the base, about 6-fld., the fls. orange and blue-purple. Winter. B.M. 119, 120. G.C. III. 54:86. Gn. 60 p. 412; 76, p. 168. Gn.W. 23:185. R.H. 1909: 308. Var. citrina, Hort., is cult. abroad. Gn. 78, p. 30.
}}

{{Taxobox
| name = Bird of Paradise flower
| image = Bird_of_Paradise_flower.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Zingiberidae]]
| ordo = [[Zingiberales]]
| familia = [[Strelitziaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Strelitzia]]''
| species = '''''S. reginae'''''
| binomial = ''Strelitzia reginae''
| binomial_authority = [[Aiton]]<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?35769
|title=Strelitzia reginae information from NPGS/GRIN
|publisher=www.ars-grin.gov
|accessdate=2008-03-10
|last=
|first=
}}
</ref>
}}

'''''Strelitzia reginae''''' is a [[monocotyledon]]ous [[flowering plant]] indigenous to [[South Africa]]. Common names include '''Strelitzia''', '''Crane Flower''' or '''Bird of Paradise''', though these names are also collectively applied to other species in the genus ''[[Strelitzia]]''. Its scientific name commemorates [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]], wife of [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]].

The plant grows to 2 m (6½ ft) tall, with large, strong [[leaf|leaves]] 25-70 cm (10-28 in) long and 10-30 cm (4-12 in) broad, produced on [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]]s up to 1 m (about 40 in) long. The leaves are [[evergreen]] and arranged in two ranks, making a fan-shaped crown. The [[flower]]s stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower emerges is termed the ''[[Spadix|spathe]]''. This is placed perpendicular to the stem, which gives it the appearance of a bird's head and beak; it makes a durable perch for holding the [[sunbird]]s which [[pollination|pollinate]] the flowers. The flowers, which emerge one at a time from the spathe, consist of three brilliant orange [[sepal]]s and three purplish-blue [[petal]]s. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. When the sunbirds sit to drink the nectar, the petals open to cover their feet in [[pollen]].

==Meaning==
Freedom, Magnificence, Good perspective

<gallery>
Image:StrelitziaReginaePlant.jpg|''Strelitzia reginae'' plant
Image:StrelitziaReginaeFlower.jpg|''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
Image:A wasp in flower.jpg|A wasp in ''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
Image:Strelitzia_larger.jpg|''Strelitzia reginae'' flower

</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons|Strelitzia reginae|Strelitzia reginae}}
*[http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/strelitziareginae.htm ''Strelitzia reginae'']
*http://www.floridata.com/ref/s/stre_reg.cfm
*http://www.redlandsnursery.com.au/infonotes/sterlitziaregenae.htm

Strelitzia

2009-08-05T10:48:02Z

90.193.194.117:

{{Inc|
Strelitzia (for the wife of King George III, Charlotte Sophia, of the family Mecklinburgh-Strelitz, a patron of botany). Musaceae. Bird-of-paradise Flower. Perennial herbs, adapted to the warmhouse, grown for the banana-like foliage and the very odd showy flowers.

Rhizome sometimes subterranean, sometimes an erect woody st.: lvs. large, long-petioled: scape terminal or in the upper axils, short-exserted from the sheaths of the lvs.: bracts large, spathe-like, boat-shaped, acuminate, solitary at the end of the scape or 2 slightly distant: perianth long-exserted; sepals free, long, carinate; petals very dissimilar; stamens 5; ovary 3-celled, many-seeded.—About 5 species, S. Afr. The genus has been monographed by K. Schumann in Engler's Pflanzenreich, hft. 1 (IV. 45) 1900.

The Strelitzia Reginae requires a strong soil, a copious supply of water, and considerable sunlight. It is a serviceable plant for house decoration or for the porch or lawn in summer. It will endure much neglect, but unless well cared for it may fail to bloom regularly and well. A night temperature of 50° is sufficient. This plant may be induced to set seed if the flowers are hand-fertilized. The usual method of propagation, however, is by suckers and division.
}}

{{Taxobox
| name = ''Strelitzia''
| image = Strelitzia_larger.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Zingiberidae]]
| ordo = [[Zingiberales]]
| familia = [[Strelitziaceae]]
| genus = '''''Strelitzia'''''
| genus_authority = Ait.
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}

'''''Strelitzia''''' is a genus of five species of [[perennial plant]]s, native to [[South Africa]]. The genus is named after the [[duchy]] of [[Mecklenburg-Strelitz]], birthplace of [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Queen Charlotte]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. The common name of the genus is '''bird of paradise flower''', because of a supposed resemblance of its flowers to the [[bird of paradise]]. In South Africa it is commonly known as a "crane" flower.

The species ''S. nicolai'' is the largest in the genus, reaching 10 m tall; the other species typically reach 2-6 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are large, 30-200 cm long and 10-80 cm broad, similar to a [[banana]] leaf in appearance but with a longer [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]], and arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of [[evergreen]] foliage. The [[flower]]s are produced in a horizontal [[inflorescence]] emerging from a stout spathe. They are [[pollination|pollinated]] by [[sunbird]]s, which use the spathe as a perch when visiting the flowers; the weight of the bird on the spathe opens it to release the [[pollen]] onto the bird's feet, which is then deposited on the next flower it visits.

;Species
*''[[Strelitzia alba]]'' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''S. augusta'') - White bird of paradise
*''[[Strelitzia caudata]]'' - Swaziland Strelitzia, African desert banana
*''[[Strelitzia nicolai]]'' - White, or Giant bird of paradise; Wild banana
*''[[Strelitzia reginae]]'' (syn. ''S. parvifolia'') - Strelitzia, Bird of paradise, or Crane lily
*''[[Strelitzia juncea]]'' (Ker Gawl.) - Greatly reduced or non-existent leaves. [http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=267251&repSynonym_id=267256&name_id=267251&status=true&checklist=monocots Cite].

;Hybrids
*''S × kewensis'' ([[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] between ''S. reginae'' and ''S. augusta'')

;Links
*[[List of Southern African indigenous trees]]

==In The Media==

Strelitzia is seen in the TV Series [[Farscape]], it eaten by the Scarrens to enhance their intelligence. (420: "Hot To Katratzi")

==References & notes==
;References
<div class="references-small">
* [http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxic_birdofparadise/ Toxic Information]

<gallery>
Image:StrelitziaReginaePlant.jpg|''Strelitzia reginae'' plant
Image:StrelitziaReginaeFlower.jpg|''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
Image:A wasp in flower.jpg|A wasp in ''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
Image:Bird of Paradise flower.JPG|''Strelitzia reginae'' flower

</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening wiki - User contributions [en]

Strelitzia reginae

Strelitzia