American Orchid Society Delray Beach, Florida WHAT'S IN BLOOM in the Tropical Garden November 2011
Pictures taken by Virginia M. Salus, Ed.D, AOS Volunteer Website and text by Alan L. Kaitz, MD, AOS Volunteer
Please e-mail comments to alan.kaitz@gmail.com
Prolific flowering occurs in the summer. The species name greenii comes from David Green, an amateur botanist who discovered this wonderful plant. An appropriate common name is “Wild Bush Petunia”. Internet reference
Common name: Purple Lace, Wild Bush Petunia, Green's Baleria Botanical name: Barleria greenii Family name: Acanthaceae
Barleria greenii was officially named in 1984. It is endemic to KwaZulu Natal in South Africa where it is found in a small area of open rocks. The flowers are large and striking and produce a lot of nectar that attracts bumblebees. Fragrance at night attracts hawk moths that are the pollinators.
Click on Internet reference to view the online reference.
Common name: Raspberry Bells "Botanical name: Strobilanthes flaccidifolius Family name: Acanthaceae
Spectacular shows of dainty rose-pink blooms arise from this fast-growing species from midsummer to early fall. The small 1" bell-shaped flowers dangle in clusters from wispy stems. It is a hardy but uncommon species from tropical Asia.
A striking Vanda hybrid (?Aranda) adjacent to the pond in the Vaughn Garden
Along the greenhouse wall on the east side of the lawn is a special gift from the Malasian Orchid Society in the fall of 2002, a display of Aranda and Mokara orchids. These are mounted on lattices on each end of the greenhouse where they will get ample sunshine. With our similar climates, these beautiful plants are very much at home here.
Common name: Terra Cotta Shrimp Plant Botanical name: Beloperone guttata, Justica brandegeana Family name: Acanthaceae
From Mexico, this colorful shrub has white flowers beneath showy, overlapping, reddish brown bracts in terminal spikes. It flowers continuously in frost-free areas. Internet reference
Common name: Brazilian red Cloak Botanical name: Megaskepasma erythrochlamys Family name: Acanthaceae
Megaskepasma - from the Greek mega (large) and skepasma (covering), referring to the conspicuous bracts; pronounced me-gas-kee-pas-muh. Erythrochlamys - from the Greek erythro (red) and chlamys (mantle or cloak); pronounced er-ith-roh-KLAM-is. Only one species from Venezuela is in this genus with a terrible botanical name. To make up for it, this magnificent shrub grows up to 12 feet and has striking leaves and breathtaking 12-inch inflorescences with bright red bracts. Flowering occurs mainly from fall through spring. Its large glossy leaves wilt easily and are pale green in full sun but thrive in moist shade. Internet reference
Common name: Elderberry Botanical name: Sambucus canadensis Family name: Caprifoliaceae
Common Elderberry is an attractive native perennial shrub, but often ignored because of its ubiquitous occurrence. In fact, people often destroy this shrub along fences or waterways in residential areas, notwithstanding its outstanding value to wildlife, particularly to songbirds. Internet reference
