Nicolaia Elatior - Torch Ginger

The plant
Nicolaia Elatior or the torch ginger flower is used in Singapore (and Southeast Asia) for its unique spicy flavour - where it is also an ingredient known as the rojak flower.

The photos were taken on a recent visit to the farm. I was just taking a leisure walk around and noticed that the torch gingers were in bloom. I should have taken some pictures of the plant growth so that you could have better imagined how the entire plant look like with the flower spikes - how marvellous it is that such delicate looking flowers should grow out of that messy cluster of leaves (much like heliconias but sparser and bigger leaves stalks).

The personal-take
I first saw the blooming torch ginger when it was brought to me by one of the workers at my parents' farm. We didn't export this, he was showing it to me because he knew I didn't see it before. When informed that it was the rojak flower, I couldn't believe it - that such a beautiful delicate flower was used to flavor the blackish-messy-saladish-dish.

I think it's like the lotus of the land - because of how the inflorescence unfurls and how it grows from the dirty muddy soil.

In the end, we tried to export some of these flowers - but because we were not propogating them commercially, we only shipped a few boxes of 5 stems. Most of them were deliberately harvested when they were only slightly in bloom (like the picture on left) because they would otherwise be difficult to pack and bruise too easily.

Filicium decipiens - Fern-leaf tree

The plant
The fern-leaf tree is commonly known as so for its fern-like symmetrical leaves/leaflets. It is welcomed as a shade-provider for its dense crown.

The picture was taken on one of the evenings when everything is tinged with the orange like that of a 40-watt, warm light-bulb that you're guilty of not being eco-friendly enough.

I like how a yellow-green hue of the leaves were brought out. This colour is under-observed and not often appreciated - because it is usually too hot to think of anything when the sunlight is shining so orangely.

The personal-take
When I first noticed the tree, I didn't like it very much for being too bushy on a too-thin, flimsy trunk - it gave me the impression that it was too eager.

This tree was on the hot-planting-list about 2 years ago, I think, as I thought I saw it being planted rather commonly.

Nowadays, I appreciate its symmetry - that the crown is very naturally round (requiring little trimming), and the colour is very even because the leaves are so dense... but still wonder if it's too bushy to deserve its popularity. Perhaps I'm just not very used to bushy trees yet.

Of course, the "fern-leaf" reminds me of the milk powder/formula brand - totally unrelated.

Sky

Go forth under the open sky, and list To Nature's teachings.
- William C. Bryant (American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.)

Zamia furfuracea - Cardboard palm/plant

The plant
The Cardboard palm is a "living fossil" having been around for since the dinosaurs' time. It is probably named after cardboards for the stiff quality of the leaves. It is technically not a palm tree, however, actually belonging to the cycad family.

The photo
I am pretty pleased with how the photos turned out, as the colour (at least from my computer) looks nicely green. I realise that I like to take pictures of plants from the top view - a seldom seen perspective of how they spread their young leaves.

The personal-take
I do appreciate the quality of the leaves - having the beautiful symmetry of palm leaves, and yet, a different character from "modern palms" with its distinctive texture. The shape of the leaves also reminds me of certain bamboos.

I suppose the plant should be easy to keep alive, having lived to survive since the prehistoric days. I do wonder if it would be difficult to groom it though, seems like the leaves shoot into difficult directions. In this aspect, it lacks the neatness of the true palms.

Ruellia simplex 'Chi Chi' - Hardy pink petunia

The plant is also known as 'Chi Chi' Petunia and I like the way that sounds. Known as wild petunias, the Ruellia is a fairly established family of free flowering plants. The flowers are trumpet shaped.

The photo is dark and doesn't capture the delicate pink of the 'Chi Chi' well. There are other colours and names for the Ruellia simplex, for example, the purple type is known as Ruellia simplex 'Katie'.

The personal-take
Though it looks easy to maintain, I have yet to notice many of these plants being featured in landscape design. I suspect that it might be a messy grower. One that grows in twists and offshoots that betray the planned silhouette, but it's still just a suspicion.

I do like the leaves, though, I think it's rather refined.

Sky

...the sky is the most accessible piece of nature for most of us, city dwellers...

Celosia argentea var plumosa - Pheonix's tail

The Plant is known as the "pheonix tail chicken crown flower" in Mandarin. Quite a crude name, actually. A potted plant grown for its inflorescence that is popular for its vibrant colours during the Lunar New Year festivities. Also, known as 'Plume Celosia'.

The Photo features the plants from a weird perspective? Well, it was taken from an overhead bridge. The plants were lined up outside a nursery or flora/landscaping shop. I wonder why they weren't afraid of people just taking them away. Maybe because Singapore's a safe country, or that they have too much stock.

The Personal-take
I appreciate the plants for their vibrancy and beauty. I can't help, however, feeling that they are somewhat overrated. Perhaps, I've gotten too used to them, and haven't grown to appreciate their form and beauty.

I do remember, from my childhood, that I liked to feel the flowers, stroke them. They have a waxy feathery texture. My grandma would tell me to stop plucking at them.

I think I should miss the Plume Celosia if one day, we all decide that it's time to get new Chinese New Year plants.

Davallia denticulata - Johor/Rabbit's foot fern

The Plant
The Johor fern is often taken for granted in tropical Singapore - or rather, by me - as it's rather widely available, especially in floral arrangements and corsages.

I've come to pay more attention to it, recently, and appreciate it for its elegant and intricate form. The stem has an good strong arc about it. It's my subjective opinion, but I think it complements orchids especially well.

Also, known as the Rabbit's foot, for the way the root/stem looks. It's brown and furry. Either that or the pinate leaves make it look like a rabbit's foot print. Either that or it originated when some goddess planted an amputated rabbit's foot. :S

The Photo was taken in a garden corner at suntec. The fern was growing on a Phoenix roebelenii if I don't recall wrongly. In Johor, the fern would be growing on the oil palm trees.

If I'm not mistaken, they welcome the fern as it prevents insects from entering the palm and so on.

The personal-take
When I was working for my parents, I once took on an order for 10,000 pieces of johor ferns. It was quite scary to see the entire packing house turned green with the ferns. Quite a traumatic experience, that led to the loss of some money and an invaluable lesson learnt by me, and that hit a nerve-still-too-raw to broadcast across the internet.

Sky

Sky

When the evening is still, or when the morning is merely showing...
Take a good look at a tree... you can listen to it growing...

Jatropha integerrima - Shanghai Beauty

The plant & photos
The Jatropha seems to be better known as the Spicy Jatropha but I prefer the name "Shanghai Beauty" because the flowers give me an "oriental feel", in that they look very chinese and won't be out of place in a Chinese painting. I was happy to find the reference as I thought it was pretty apt, even though the plant originated from the West Indies.

From my observation, it's pretty fast growing and does well in full sun - which also brings out the vivid colour of the red flowers, which is great as it's pretty free-flowering. The photo on the left was taken on a sunny day, and shows how lively the blooms can be. The buds remind me of holly berries.

As a shrub, I suppose it should be pruned regularly to keep it growing densely.

The Personal-take
As mentioned, I think the flowers give off a very oriental vibe. They are very attractive and I like the way they grows in bunches. Although I like how it's very generous in its flowering... that it doesn't play hard to get... it might be more exquisite if it were less free flowering, and if its leaves were smaller, and if it grew a little slower.

How contradicting! Everything has its personality and it's almost as if, I am wishing for it to be something else. I must apologize~ and correct my attitude to appreciate it for what it is.

Sky

Archontophoenix alexandra - Alexander Palm

The Plant
The Archontophoenix alexandra or Alexander Palm is quite common in landscapes. It used to be one of plants featured in "primary school textbook" - I feel it's like the yellow flame tree of palms because it's just as common. I think its popularity is perhaps partially due to how they are easy to maintain. It seems that landscapers like this palm so much that they even introduced similar ones - the Betel nut palm, the fox tail palm, and especially the carpentaria palm, from which it is difficult to distinguish the Alexander palm from. After comparing the photos, I think the one-distinguishing feature is the string-like flowers/inflorescence and vivid red fruits. The leaves are pinnate, arranged in a v-shaped formation.

The Pictures
I found it challenging to capturing the images of the tall palm trees - it was difficult to get the distinguishing features, and yet balance the composition of the frame - so that it was neither too sparse nor contained other clutter.

For the first time, I edited the pictures a bit (i'm usually too lazy) to adjust the colour, as it was taken with a strange white balance, thus the 2 pictures (taken at the same occasion) have different-coloured-sky. I hope my efforts helped to bring out the vivid red of the berries.

The Personal-take
Along the way from my home to the nearest bus-stop, I would have to walk pass a row of Alexander palm - the strings of jewel-like red beads of fruits are really cheerful.

I like the name, 'Alexander palm', after Princess Alexandra of Denmark. It reminds me, however, of the people named 'Alex' that I used to hang out, but have since drifted apart from then... A tinge of nostalgia, perhaps.

Phoenix roebelenii - Miniature date palm

The Plant & The Pictures
The Phoenix roebelenii seems to be enjoying some popularity recently, being featured in quite many new landscapes.

With a simple shape - a slender trunk and attractive bushy leaves - they should be quite easy to use in an arrangement.

I wonder though, if the feature on the left is an effective landscaping design. As the date plants grow higher, the height of the plants are bound vary, and the proportion of crown (the upper part of the tree, i.e. the part above the trunk) to the trunk and the proportion of the arrangement would be, well, out of proportion. Although I know that, by that time, the plants would most probaby be replaced (it's probably cheaper to replace than properly maintain), I wonder if it's being fair to the plants themselves, for not being...able to live out their full potential/ lifespan.

The Personal-take
I didn't think much of the plant when I took the pictures, but after researching on them and staring at them for sometime. I feel that they have a very classic outline and elegant form. It must be difficult to shape the trunk though.

Plumeria Rubra - The frangipani or chempaka or egg flower

The plant
Some time ago, the Plumeria Rubra was probably better known as the Frangipani. However, since the frangipani has quite bad press (for being associated with death, being usually planted at graveyards), I suspect, the local landscapers began to promulgate the name "plumeria". My mother calls it the egg flower, which I suspect is another name for the frangipani.

Very popular for its variety of colourful flowers, and its low maintenance need, the plumeria seems ideal for planting at the traffic islands at cross road junction, which are landscapes understandably difficult to maintain. Perhaps, it is ideal for planting at traffic islands also because it is not bushy (I suspect, when it is exposed to the sun, as seen from the bare tree on the left), thus, it doesn't obscure road signs.

The picture
The picture above was taken at Ang Moh Kio park from an overhead bridge. The silver skeleton of the plumeria gives off a cool feeling to the hot afternoon from after.

The picture (right) featuring a more typical popular plumeria plant, was taken along the road, somewhere in Eastern Singapore, if I remember correctly. The showy flowers were really very attractive and beckoning, especially how they were hanging down from above.

The personal-take
Personally, I have mixed feelings about the plumeria. Although I concede that it is very attractive and functional (with the low maintenance required), I can't help but feel that they're rather superficial. Perhaps, it's gotta do with how they have brittle branches which cannot withstand strong wind, and I like wind.

Maybe they don't mind getting their branches a little chipped, and the wind don't mind breaking it a little, and nobody minds anything, and I'm should just mind my own business and let everybody be happy.

Calathea Veitchiana

The plant
Calathea Veitchiana (growing behind the granite rock) is a species of plant in the Marantaceae family.

The picture was again taken at the national library. I think the granite rock feature intended to break up the monotony of the arrangement. Although it was more effective than it looks in the picture, perhaps a sculpture would have made it look more visually interesting.

After all, the planter was filled with so much short foliages, that even the dull brownish-purple patterns of the calathea is a welcomed treat for the eyes.

The personal take
I think the calatheas are a plant that requires... acquired taste. If it had a taste, i think it'd taste like brinjal or yam. It has a peculiar look that makes the plant look exotic and difficult to place but is rather pleasing after some observation.

Sky

A certain recluse, I know not who, once said that no bonds attached him to this life, and the only thing he would regret leaving was the sky. - Kenko Yoshida (Japanese Buddhist Monk)

Philodendron bipinnatifidum - Giant tree lover

The plant
I shall henceforth refer to this as the giant philodendron. I think that's how common plant names come about. Random arbitrary easier to remember names that catches on. In greek, "philo" refers to love, and dendron refers to tree. Featured here is the big Philodendron bipinnatifidum. Try saying it three times over. This philodendron plant is big, grows up to above an above average human height.

The picture was also taken at the national library at Bugis. It was interesting to find it in the same landscape, being contrasted with the petite philodendron xanadu. It was a windy day, and I like how the leaves in the picture are a bit blur from the swaying.

The personal-take
I thought i was lucky to also find a philodendron leaf unfurling for the 2nd time on the same day at the same place (see picture on right). It reminds me of a lettuce. It gives me a strange feeling to compare the giant unfurling leaf with the xanadu's unfurling leaf. I suppose everything grows at its own pace, though some are just destined to become a lot bigger than others.

Araucaria heterophylla - Norfolk pine

The Plant
The Norfolk pine, or Araucaria heterophylla, came from Norfolk island, a small island in the Pacific ocean. It has a distinctive shape and makes a great silhouette.

The picture and personal take

I'm not sure if I'm featuring the Norfolk pine here, or Cook's pine (Araucaria Columnaris or New Caledonian Pine), but after comparing the silhouette/ description, i think i'm closer to Norfolk pine.

The pictures were taken somewhere near city hall. I like how the colour of the tree contrasts with the church.

Sky

Happy Chinese New Year!

Sky picture depicts Carps swimming upstream! 年年有余！
(余 means "having more than enough to use" and sounds the same as "fish" in Mandarin.)
HUAT AH!

Peltophorum pterocarpum - The Yellow Flame Tree

The Plant
The Yellow Flame tree, or Peltophorum pterocarpum is a common wayside tree that has been around for ages, steadily growing to provide shade around our nation. It used to be the 'every-other-tree', but I seem to notice that in recent years, there are increasingly diverse trees being planted and the yellow flame is not exactly everywhere anymore. I suppose the road-sweepers may welcome the change, as they must be quite lot of work when they shed their tiny leaflets, often after dry weather. It came from the coastal areas of Peninsula Malaysia.

The Picture
Rather than featuring the Yellow Flame tree with an obvious picture of it blooming with its bright yellow inflorescence, I thought this was a nice take of the tree with its purple seedpods. These seed pods may remain on the tree for several months. Taken one evening at Dhoby Ghaut while watching the Thaipusam festival.

The personal-take
I remember that from a kitchen's window from my grandma's house, which was at the 4th floor of a HDB block, I would see 4 yellow flame trees. I used to imagine that these 4 trees were crazy and at odds with each other, because neither of them would ever bloom, shed, bear new fruit, or sprout new leaves at the same time. Still, it was nice to observe the four different seasons at one time.

My grandma has since moved. Perhaps I should visit back one day to see how the trees are doing.

I don't think just one post is enough to do the Yellow flame tree justice.

Caryota No - Giant Fishtail Palm

The Plant & Picture
Also known as the Caryota No, the trunks contain a starch that can be used to make sago. Sometimes I don't know how I can miss noticing the Giant Fishtail palms around me. It's a giant as seen in the picture on top, it easily grows to be as tall as a 5-storey carpark, dwarfing the other trees around it.

The picture (right most) also features the inflorescence, which can reach up to 2 metres in length. I think it looks like dread locks. Very pretty.

The Personal-take
Taken from the top level of the carpark at Ang Moh Kio central (it's really crowded on Sundays), I got a close up shot of the sprouting new leaf. I really like the different patterns and texture of the leaves when looked at from different perspective.

Sky

When we think of the sky, we tend to look up, but the sky actually begins at the earth.
- Diane Ackerman.

Philodendron Xanadu

The Plant
Philodendron Xanadu's name reminds me of a happy place or Citizen Kane.

The Photo was taken outside of the National Library at Bugis. Nice arrangement of varied plants there. Will show more of the photos next week. The photo right shows the close-up a young leaflet unfurling.

I think the leaves and the way they hold themselves up from the stem have a really nice neat shape. I mean, despite being jagged and all.

The Personal-take
Handling the cut leaves would leave a smell on your hands. My mother thinks it smells pleasant. From my experience, I think it's foul. So I would refer to them, to the Malays at the farm, as "Daun Bau" (pronounced Dah-wun Bah-Wu) meaning something like "leaf with a funky smell".

Heliconia Rostrata or Lobster Claw - Inflorescences, bracts, and flowers

The Plant
Heliconias are so oftenly mistaken as the bird of paradise plant (which is originally the Strelitzia) that they've come to be known as the false bird of paradise. Heliconias are also close to the banana family (Musaceae). It's easy to make the connection from the way the plant grows, or the shape of the leaves.

The Lobster Claw has an easy-to-remember name, having inflorescence (which is the "part of a plant that consists of the flower-bearing stalks") looking like cooked lobster's, well, claw.

Plant parts

Inflorescence: part of a plant that consists of the flower-bearing stalks (i.e. the string of lobster claws)

Bract: leaflike or scalelike plant part, usually small, sometimes showy or brightly colored, and located just below a flower, a flower stalk (i.e. 1 lobster claw = 1 bract)

Flower: The reproductive structure of some seed-bearing plants (i.e. The little banana look-alike things in the lobster claw, we can think of it as lobster food or something.)

The Photo

The photo was taken at a glass fence. The plant is often used for landscaping. Actually it was pretty popular about 2-3 years ago, one could find heliconias growing in almost every garden landscaped during that period. I suspect it was due to its bright coloured easy blooms.

As time goes by, though, it proved rather difficult to tame the plant. As they reproduce at the root (as in rhizomes like the ginger), if left to over-grow, heliconias would just get more and more crowded, and the shoots would grow taller and taller trying to reach for the sun. The leaves can become big and bulky, so trimming is difficult as one has to literally crawl underneath and chop it near the ground.

Nevertheless, while it lasts, it's quite pretty and exotic looking. Besides, they could be grown in containers that contain their growth (bearing in mind the containers should be wide and heavy).

The Personal-take

Apparently, heliconias and orchids are the definitive exotic tropical plants. The heliconias stand in a special place in my heart as my parents export these things. One of the things I helped out with was to wrap up the inflorescences in bubble wrap.

If left alone, the lobster claws would continue to grow longer and longer. By the time, it reaches the 10th lobster claw, however, the top-most claw tends to be bruised and imperfect. This is not welcomed for flower used for arrangements or display, which would then not be long-lasting. So, the lobster claws skewers at the florists are usually rather short. It also reduces the time it takes for each harvest and increases the yield.

A Pair of Trees Full of Ferns

Oncosperma tigillaria - Nibong

The Plant
The Nibong palm has a nice name, no? Very catchy.
This palm originated from the mangrove swamps.
Researching about it in the older guidebooks, i suspect it was grown as an ornamental feature in parks and gardens - they're attractive in clumps. The newer guidebooks have excluded it. Perhaps their sharp spikes made them too hazardous?

The Pictures
Taken at Macritchie nature reserve.

The Personal-take
I most like how the sun shines from behind the spikes and make them look so quiet, exquisite and... fragile, ironically.
Whilst most plants with thorny parts are "defensive on the outside" but "soft on the inside", the Nibong is reported to have hard wood - used to support kelongs as it can withstand salt water.

Sky

...clouds are like the flora of the sky...

Dracaena Marginata

The Photo
In the photo, two varieties of the Dracaena, the red and green, are featured in the centre-piece of the landscape display. They complement each other's silhouette, while providing contrast in colour.

For the purpose of introducing colour, I find red-leafed plants a convenient substitute for flowering plants. While flowers do more than add colour to a garden design (for example, they also break up the monotony of foliage), red-leafed/variegated foliages may be more reliable for purposes of colour.

The Personal-take

I've always found the red-version's leaves fascinating and pretty, with its red, yellow, and green. It reminds me of a Hawaiian pizza... with some green capsicum.

The Plant

Dracaena marginata is a common landscape plant. It is also good for container gardens. I have seldom noticed them indoors, even though, like the other Dracaena varieties, they are supposedly good for cleaning the air. It is from Madagascar.

Bird's-Nest Fern

The Plant
The "Bird's-Nest Fern" is actually a common name to refer to several species of the plant group, Asplenium genus, such as the "crow's-nest fern" and the "wild-bird's-nest fern".

The Photos
Usually growing high in the trees (above), the bird's nest makes an interesting silhouette. The particular fern below, though, was at a nice (low) height for a top down photo.

The Personal-take

If you don't remember anything from our primary-school science text-book (i'm referring to those who were born in the 1970s-80s)... you must at least remember the bird's nest fern right... When I was young, I really thought birds made nests out of these things. Something like a pelican would need such big nests. Come to think about it, I don't know why birds don't make nests out of these convenient looking homes.

These days, I observed that bird's nest ferns can grow to quite big... While this makes them look more majestic and grand by themselves, I do wonder if they kind of steal the limelight away from the trees, instead of playing a more "complementary" role.

Although, really, who said that they were supposed to be complementary anyway.

Sky

I really, really like looking at the sky.

I've been thinking of how the layers of the clouds are like layers of leaves on trees or plants... or the layers of plant leaves are like the layers of clouds. Think about how the shape and details of clouds and plants changes when one passes them - as in, when one's perspectives change.

I ever came across the idea of how the sky is the last accessible nature to many of us city-dwellers. Working in the office... windowed or not, we're indoors most of the time... there's really not much chance to look at the sky... If you're lucky, you chance a glimpse in the morning, before you rush into work, or at lunch, or knock off early enough to see it for a while before going on a bus or train, before night falls...

I thought to include this "sky segment", where will try to publish a picture of a sky every Sunday, before the work week starts, to share my delight and humble appreciation. Hope you will enjoy it.

Sterculia Parviflora - Kelumpang Burong

The Picture... of a strange red thing

Came across this strange looking thing in a park in an estate.


The Plant & Personal-take

The plant is native to Singapore (from here to Northeast India). It was in the 2006 IUCN Red List for endangered species, so I guess it's good that they're planting it around. (Picture above shows a young plant, I think.)

Sterculia is taken from "Sterculius" (the god of manure) of Roman mythology. This is referring to the unpleasant aroma of the flowers of this genus.

This tree is a member of the mallow family (malvaceae) along with the hibiscus and durian. Staring at the red thing, which is actually a fruit (and not a flower as I first thought), I feel it does bear a strange resemblance to the hibiscus flower (in colour and contours?) and the durian fruit (as it too, splits up with weird seeds inside).

Oncidium Golden Wish - An introduction to this blog...

The Personal-take: An introduction to this blog...

Since I was little, my parents have been farming orchids. I naturally feel an affinity with orchids having practically grew up with them - befitting that I begin the blog with a post on this plant.

Being so close to nature since young, I never thought much about plants. As a kid, I dreaded the hours spent waiting for my father to finish his meetings at the botanical gardens. There were mosquitos and soggy grassfields... I'd rather spend the afternoons in the air-conditioned shopping-centres of Orchard Road. My home usually have a vase or two of flowers - those that were left-over from the sales - and they were no big deal to me.

Since I've entered the workforce a couple of years ago, farming white hair under the flourescent office light, learning the value of money and hard work, etc, etc, I understand now that I had been taking all that nature for granted.

To "pace" the monotony of office life, I bought a jade plant recently, and it lends me great joy to watch the little buds shoot... Really pretty high ROI (return of investments). I sometimes wish for some flowers in the office to look at when I'm tired of staring at the computer screens or lifeless exchange of administrative emails.

Plants and flowers do lend cheer... not just on valentine's or mother's day, but if we could just be aware of them, and appreciate how they just grow - they take in the water, the sunlight, and the nutrients in the soil - and just try their best to grow.

With these admirations in mind, I'm starting this blog. Hopefully, it will remind me to be more appreciative of the little things in life, and to try my best to grow. Also, I hope that it will remind you too.


The Plant

The Oncidium Golden Wish is a pretty typical oncidium orchid - golden yellow flowers with their delicate upper petals and a dominant lower lip - which catches the slightest breeze, causing the flowers to sway... the image of the dancing flower gives the oncidium its other name - the "dancing lady orchid" - imagine ladies with a large skirt sashaying her hips. Ladies of that size? (Each flower is about the size of a finger joint.) They must be fairies.


The Picture

The picture were taken at my parents' orchid nursery. (The picture above shows a young plant.) The golden wish is commercially grown for sale as a fresh-cut flower. It is also similar to the one-time commercially successful, Oncidium Golden Shower, but the Wish tends to be larger. The flower sprays also tends to be more three dimensional (branches in different directions), compared to the more neatly arranged golden shower that is more flat (like...a palm leave).