Fine Art Discussions

Alfred Ng

I want to start this tread as to way to help other to learn the name of some uncommon flowers. Often in my travel, I came across plants or trees I haven’t seen before. Maybe with this we all can learn something. Do feel free to add your knowledge with us!

My first one is the city flower of Hong Kong” Bauhinia or also called “Chinese orchid tree”
This plant is thought to be an accidental hybrid between B. purpurea and B. variegata. It was discovered on the seashore of Hong Kong Island in Pok Fu Lam, near the ruins of a house in 1880 by Sir Henry Blake, a British Governor of Hong Kong from 1898 to 1903 and an enthusiastic botanist.
The genus name Bauhinia was given after the 16th century Herbalists Jan and Caspar Bauhin. After the handing back of Hong Kong to China, a special award was created to replace the British Imperial honors. The award is called the Grand Bauhinia Medal, or GBM for short.
The flower of Bauhinia was adopted by the Urban Council as the floral emblem of Hong Kong in 1965 and since 1997 has been part of the flag of Hong Kong and has become the floral emblem for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and appears on its coins.

Xueling Zou

Does any one know the flower I took? Thank you!

Warren Thompson

Al...I got this orchid in Lakeland Florida.

Rebecca Sherman

Xueling, Maybe Alfred can narrow it down, but I think it might be something in the grevillea family.

Xueling Zou

Thank you Rebecca,
I will search it for sure! Have a nice weekend:-)!

Alfred Ng

Xueling,
I haven't seen this one before, there are many flowers out west and we don't have here. looks like the Monarda and it does looks like from the succulents. How big is the plant?

Xueling Zou

Thank you, Alfred! The one I posted above is about a shrub size, about 4 feet tall.

I have another unknown tree, please help:

Alfred Ng

Very unusual blooms Xueling but I haven't seen this one before. Does it produce fruites? maybe someone else can name this one?

Xueling Zou

Thank you, Alfred! Maybe it doesn't have fruits, but I really have no idea! I have a lot plant photos I don't know the names. I hope someone will help!!

Alfred Ng

Xueling, I also with flickr ( www.flickr.com ) and belong to a group called " what plant is this?". if you post your photo to that group many can help you with the name.

Alfred Ng

I saw this flower at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It looks a lot like a poppy. It is called “gum rockrose/ Cistus ladanifer. It is a native of the western Mediterranean region. It is indigenous to Spain, Portugal and north-west Africa.

Deborah Smolinske

I think Xueling's first flower is a pixie bush

http://www.oznativeplants.com/plantdetail/Pixie-Bush/Eremophila/oldfieldii/ssp-oldfieldii.html

And the second one looks like very early lilac blossoms that haven't opened yet.

Xueling Zou

Hi Deborah,

Thank you so much for your link and your response! They may belong to the same family.

The 2nd one was a very tall tree, I think it was much bigger than the lilac.

Deborah Smolinske

Lilac trees can grow as tall as 30 feet, Xueling.

Xueling Zou

Yes, you are right, but the leaves looked very different. Very green and thicker, heart shaped, and the stems were red color and very strong . The flowers were blooming and looked like little berries, they were not buds. Just liked the way they were, some of them fell off the tree, didn't have any strong scent. The tree looked somewhat like a birch tree.

SAIGON De Manila

this is common but I simply dunno what flower is this...

Rebecca Sherman

@Saigon: That is Hymenocallis liriosme/Spider Lily.

http://www.onlineplantguide.com/PlantDetails.aspx?Plant_id=1166

SAIGON De Manila

Thank you Rebecca...now I know what's my new poetry or prose will be themed on this subjective piece of art.

-Saigon

Deborah Smolinske

Xueling, what you describe could still be a lilac tree. Some have heart-shaped leaves, birch-like bark, red stems, and little to no scent. However, what you describe could also be a redbud tree. Google "redbud tree" and see if the images look anything like what you saw.

Alfred Ng

I don't think it is a red bud or lilac, those looks like seeding to me. the flower of the red bud tree come out before the leaves. here is my photo of it.

Xueling Zou

Hi Deborah, Thanks for your great help! Maybe it was a different type of lilac, but not the red bud tree. Thank you:-)!

Xueling Zou

Does anyone know this plant? Thank you:-)!!

Deborah Smolinske

Looks like a Blue Lupin to me, Xueling.

Xueling Zou

Sorry Deborah, they are not Blue Lupin. This is more tropical plant with big leaves, which looked like the Calla lily's leaves

Alfred Ng

Xueling, it looks like a Bromeliad.

Xueling Zou

Thank you so much Alfred!! Amazing eye you have! I think you are right:-)! I've found the link after I searched "Bromeliad", http://www.flickriver.com/photos/jungle_mama/5209488020/

Alfred Ng

Thank you Warren! it will be so nice to meet you in person, the same offer to you if you ever come to Toronto for a visit.

Jennifer Vazquez

bump

Alfred Ng

Lewisia cotyledon is a species of flowering plant in the purslane family known by the common names Siskiyou lewisia and cliff maids. It is native to southern Oregon and northern California, where it grows in rocky subalpine mountain habitat. It is an evergreen perennial growing from a thick taproot and caudex unit. It produces a basal rosette of many thick, fleshy oval- or spoon-shaped leaves up to 9 cm (4 in) long. The latin cotyledon ("small cup") refers to the shape of the leaves.[1] Flowering from spring to summer,[2] the inflorescence arises on one or more stems 10-30 cm (4-12 in) tall, each stem bearing an array of up to 50 flowers. Near the flowers are small, pointed bracts tipped with resin glands. The flower has 7 to 13 petals, each about 1.5 centimeters long. The petals may be pale pink with darker veining, whitish with pinkish orange striping, or solid orange to yellow.

Jennifer Vazquez

Ok, I have three, the orange I think is a primrose, If I'm wrong pleas let me know.


This one grows on a tree and always shows up in spring before a lot of other flowers.....

And this is a bush in my neighbors yard...shhh don't tell her:-)

Thanks in advance!

Alfred Ng

The first one is pansy, second is cherry blossom and last is Azalea all spring flowers.

Jennifer Vazquez

Thank you Alfred, I'm so glad you know your flowers. Your the best!!

Warren Thompson

I am guessing on mandeviila. It was a huge shrub or tree maybe 20 foot tall.

And one more... anyone know the yellow flower?

Rich Franco

Warren,

I'd put my money on the red flowers as Jatropha, which I have in my backyard here in Central Florida:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatropha

and the other is a purple Agave and I can get the real name if you need it,

Rich

Warren Thompson

Thanks Rich. Wonder if Coral Bush and Jatropha are the same.

I am still searching for the yellow flower.

The agave...I was calling a Spanish bayonette.

Rich Franco

Warren,

Coral Bush is a different plant all together, but can't help with the yellow stalky flower,

Rich

Phyllis Wolf

I would like to know the name of this wildflower. I took the photo in the Plains region of Texas.

Alfred Ng

Phillis, that could be a Cistus.

Phyllis Wolf

Thank you, Alfred!

Rebecca Sherman

@Warren - The yellow flowers may be eremurus robustus, also called desert candle and foxtail lily. Here is the google image search for "eremurus robustus". Although, now I'm scrutinizing it, the blossoms look different... sorry...

Warren Thompson

I have a houseplant I set up for a shot...and don't have a clue?

Here is the whole plant:

Alfred Ng

very pretty! I think it is a flower of a cacti or succulent..

Warren Thompson

Thanks Al. I checked Google Images for both and cannot find anything close.

Rich Franco

Warren,

It's a type of Purslane,Portulaca and edible!

http://search.aol.com/aol/imageDetails?s_it=imageDetails&q=purslane%2Cportulaca&v_t=wscreen50-bb&b=image%3Fenabled_terms%3D%26s_it%3Dwscreen50-bb%26q%3Dpurslane%252Cportulaca%26oreq%3D9f53345ba9524df8bf9560c85891e398&img=http%3A%2F%2Faggie-horticulture.tamu.edu%2Farchives%2Fparsons%2F98promotions%2Fapril%2Fpurslane12.jpeg&host=http%3A%2F%2Faggie-horticulture.tamu.edu%2Farchives%2Fparsons%2F98promotions%2Fapril%2Fapril.html&width=112&height=75&thumbUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fimages-partners-tbn.google.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcQxeOrzdZ3dFiv3bfPOod-lLYnYgg4Zom102ejXTTOOlpDHULht3MpWSw&imgWidth=800&imgHeight=539&imgSize=198384&imgTitle=purslane%2Cportulaca

Rich

Warren Thompson

Thanks Rich...may have to try it!

Purslane is a succulent low-growing plant which is very tasty and crunchy. The entire plant can be used, the stems being most succulent. Purslane grows all over the world, often in disturbed soil. Purslane can be used as the main salad ingredient, lightly seasoned with diced onion, vinegar, and oil. The plant is good cooked with soups, steamed, sauteed, or pickled. Add it to omelets.

Thoreau used and enjoyed purslane, and he wrote of the plant, "I have made a satisfactory dinner off a dish of purslane which I gathered and boiled. Yet men have come to such a pass that they frequently starve, not from want of necessaries, but for want of luxuries."

Paul Cowan

But this is ornamental purslane, which is quite different in appearance and leaf structure from wild purslane.

I have my own plant problem, this is a plant with huge leaves, several feet wide that die back annually. I am told it has no flowers but it does have a knobbly spike a bit like the depictions of a caveman's club. It was planted in an ornamental garden, so I don't know its native habitat. When I took this the shoots were already about two or three feet high.

Jane McIlroy

Gunnera, maybe?

Rich Franco

Paul,

Stay away from it, haven't you seen "Little Shop of Horrors"!!! That plant was in it!!!! RUUNNNNNNN,

Rich

did you ever recheck your scanner/film issue? Download SilverFast and re-scan?

Rich

JD Grimes

Phyllis's white flower is White Prickly-poppy (Argemone albiflora).

Paul Cowan

Yes. it is Gunnera - elephant rhubarb. Thanks. I'd never heard of the stuff.
Rich, I've been busy in the darkroom for the last couple of days, so I haven't got round to downloading it yet, but I will when I am ready to scan again. I've got several rolls in the queue and a heap of sheets making their way back from the processor.

Warren Thompson

Around Fl rivers and lakes. Not real sure of the name?

Rich Franco

Warren,

Looks like a Wild Petunia to me, http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2011/12/wild-petunia-ruellia-caroliniensis.html

Nice shot too!

Rich

Warren Thompson

Thanks Rich. Think you nailed it.