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.