Common name:     Old Man Palm Botanical name:     Coccothrinax crinita Family name:           Arecaceae The Old Man Palm is endangered in its native land, Cuba.  It is slow growing to 15 feet and needs protection from frost.  The trunk is covered with thickly matted, tangled straw-colored fibers giving it the  hairy appearance responsible for its nickname.  Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 100.

Oncidium 'Twinkle' (Previously described in JungleGarden1)

Cattleytonia Why Not (Previously described in Courtyard1)

Common name: Botanical name:    Begonia 'Encanto Bronze' Family name:          Begoniaceae This begonia hybrid has striking pink flowers and dark green leaves.

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Common name:     Weeping Clerodendrum, Bridal Veil Botanical name:     Clerodendrum wallichii Family name:           Verbenaceae Originating from India (Assam to the Himalayas), this dense evergreen shrub has bronze-green, leathery leaves.  The flowers occur in pendant clusters of white with red calyces in the fall. – Darrin Duling. Internet reference

Please walk back toward the Formal Lawn to locate Uncarina decaryi and continue from there to view the remaining Jungle Garden plants

Screw Pine grows to over 25 feet tall in a pyramidal habit with its branches held in horizontal tiers. Springtime clusters of white flowers held between large white bracts bring forth fruit that resembles a large green hand grenade. In parts of Africa and Asia these fruits are used to produce “pandan”, a flavoring, green food color, and dye.  – Darrin Duling

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Mounted on Uncarina decaryi are these two favorite orchids.

Common name:     Mouse trap Plant Botanical name:     Uncarina decaryi Family name:           Pedaliaceae Our unusually beautiful tree from Madagascar has a stocky, gnarled, gray trunk that produces soft, velvety green leaves with a rich violet edge. From the branch tips emerge clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers that are brilliant yellow with a dark burgundy-purple throat. Due to this distinctive color combination the tree is sometimes called “Black-eyed Susan Tree”. The name “Mousetrap” refers to its curious clawed seedpods that reputedly snarl small birds and mammals. Although this plant is from arid regions and normally experiences a dormant period, it grows continuously and rapidly in moist, well-drained soils and is evergreen and ever blooming in our garden.  Most species of the genus Uncarina are pollinated by pollen eating beetles. – Darrin Duling.  S. Oliphant donated this specimen from Ernestos Good Earth.

Common name:    Screw Pine Botanical name:    Pandanus utilis Family name:          Pandanaceae  Native to Madagascar, the Screw Pine grows in thick stands along the coast and has developed aerial prop roots at its base to keep it from blowing over in storms. The name “screw pine” aptly comes from the spiral growth pattern of its long, leathery leaves but it is not a pine; in actuality it is a woody relative of lilies!

Common name: Botanical name:     Encephalartos ferox Family name:           Zamiaceae Native to South Africa, this cycad rarely makes an above ground trunk.  The leaves are stiff, erect, and a glossy bright green.  The leaflets are widely spaced.  The cones vary in color but are usually scarlet.  This species does not tolerate dry conditions but is salt tolerant. Donated by James B. Watson, Editor, AOS Orchids Magazine. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 159.  Internet reference

Common name:     Chalice Vine, Golden Chalice Botanical name:     Solandra longiflora Family Name:          Solanaceae Native to Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica is this tropical looking shrub that has large goblet-shaped flowers.  Full sun brings out flowering in cooler months, the color going from pale yellow to gold as the flowers age.  This evergreen woody climber may grow to 40 feet. Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 352.

Common name:     Jaboticaba Botanical name:      Myrciaria cauliflora Family name:           Myrtaceae This curious South American tree is considered to be one of the finest tropical fruit trees grown in south Florida. At various times of the year, tiny white flowers are produced in clusters directly on the trunk and larger branches. About a month later, 1 ½” purplish-black fruits ripen and the entire tree appears to be sprouting huge grapes. These may be eaten raw or made into a delicious jam. Jaboticaba is a shrubby evergreen that reaches a height of 20’ with an equal spread. It is very slow growing (our 15 year-old specimen was transplanted here in the summer of 2000) and hates to have its roots disturbed, so take care to not cultivate under established trees. - Darrin Duling.

Common name:     Popsicle Bush Botanical name:    Odontonema callistachyum Family name:          Acanthaceae From Mexico and Central America comes this delightful shrub with spires of tubular lavender flowers in the winter and spring.  In our mild temperature region it is a root-hardy perennial and prefers full to part sun. Boca Raton Resort & Club donated this specimen. Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 35.

Common name:     Tricolor Ti Tree, Palm-Lily Botanical name:     Cordyline fruticosa Family name:           Agavaceae Widely distributed in SE Asia and Australia, this variety has small white flowers.  The newer leaves have red, pink and green streaking. Commonly placed in the Agave family, Agavaceae, new information has placed  the Cordyline genus in the Lomandraceae family.  To complicate matters the family name has recently been corrected to Laxmanniaceae. Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 246.

Common name:     Funeral Tree Botanical name:    Quararibea funebris Family name:          Malvaceae  (Bombacaceae) From Central America, flowers of this tree have an aromatic fragrance.  The dried flowers are used as a flavoring for chocolate drinks.  The fragrance stays in dry flowers for decades: thus they were used for funeral ceremonies and were found in crypts still fragrant after many years.The wood of this tree was used for fishing. Pieces of the scented wood placed in water attract fish.

This concludes the virtual tour of the Jungle Garden. Click on NEXT for a tour of the Florida Native Garden.

Common name:      Lava Flower Botanical name:     Ruttya fruticosa Family name:           Acanthaceae This evergreen spreading shrub from tropical Africa has unusual flowers in warm months.  Note the blister-like black spots on the lower of the two orange lips.    Pruning can keep this plant a compact shrub. Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 38. Internet reference