Mimosa pudica
“Touch-me-not” is a low growing prickly shrub with very sensitive compound leaves that close together and droop down when touched. The genus name is derived from Greek mimos, which means mimic and pudica, which means shy, referring to the sensitive leaves. Continue reading
Lantana
Lantana is native to the American tropics but is now naturalized throughout India. A widespread invader, this plant has taken over large tracts of land. Lantana is an evergreen, strong smelling perenial with stout recurved prickles. It is commonly used in home and public gardens as the flowers and subsequent fruit attract butterflies, moths and birds. The leaves and stems are also used in traditional medicines. Continue reading
Hill Clerodendrum
Hill Clerodendrum is an aggressive colonizer commonly found on hills and forest clearings. The pink-centred and white flowers are sweet scented in the evening but oderless during the day. Long-tonged Hawkmoths are the primary pollinators. Continue reading
From my recent trip to Switzerland in early June, I took numerous photos of flowers. As my family and I hiked up the Alpine mountains, I was completely taken in by these flowers covered and surrounded by icy snow. This is a story of Alpine flowers.
p.s. Because I am not a flower expert, identifying the names of flowers was a challenging task for me. Thus, I welcome any feedback and hope everybody can help me finish identifying flower names! 🙂
Burnet Rose / Rosa spinosissima
The Pagoda flower is a tropical garden plant with large, heart shaped evergreen leaves found in the Western Ghats of India. The small, orange-red flowers are funnel shaped with long tubes. It is the main food plant of the Southern Bird Wing– the largest butterfly of Southern India. Continue reading
Railway Glory is a tropical, perennial climbing vine with tuberous roots, spreading extensively in the hills of India’s Western Ghats up to 1000m. The plant blooms throughout the year, growing aggressively over fences, shrubs and trees. The attractive flowers are purple, pink or rarely pinkish white. In Kerala it is commonly planted in gardens and around houses for insulation against the summer heat. It is also known by the names Cairo Morning Glory and Coastal Morning Glory. Continue reading
Marsh Glory is a semi aquatic plant found commonly in marshy, water logged places of the India’s Western Ghats and hence the name ‘Marsh Glory’. The plant grows in water as well as in moist soil with hollow stems and branching, bulbous roots. Continue reading
Milk weed is a herbaceous, perennial, nectar-rich plant growing up to 3-5 m tall. These can be found in old fields, roadsides, meadows and thorn forests. The oval leaves are velvety on their upper surface and downy underneath. Continue reading
The Queen flower is a small to medium sized tropical flowering tree growing to a height of 20mts, native to southern India and the Philippines. It has smooth rounded leaves and beautiful lavender flowers which will add beauty to any landscape.
Hill Turmeric (Curcuma pseudomontana) is a tall 60 to 70cm perennial native to the Western Ghats which is commonly found in forested slopes. The attractive bright yellow flowers are borne among mauve-purple bracts.
The Blood Flower (Asclepias curassavica) is one of the food plants for the many butterflies which can be seen in and around the Western Ghats. In our butterfly garden it attracts the Plain Tiger butterfly and bees, among other nectar feeding insects. Continue reading
East Indian Rosebay (Tabernaemontana divaricata) is an evergreen, much branched shrub which is cultivated as a garden plant.
Like its name, the Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae) flower is so romantic with crimson petals emerging from a white base.
One of my favourite flowers is the cute Shankupushpam, known worldwide as Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea). The luminescent blue flower with the yellow core is the most striking feature. Continue reading
Mexican Sunflower is a member of sunflower family native of mexico, introduced in India.
Mysore Thunbergia is a climber mostly found in Evergreen and semi-evergreen forest foothills of the Western Ghats. It is popularly known as Lady Shoe Flower due to the flower shape and large size. Sunbirds are the frequent visitor for these flowers which are rich in nectors. Flowering season is between October to January.
Organikos 