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...