Common Name: Shell ginger Alpinia genus belongs to the ginger family and has more than representative 200 species. These plants are more often found in tropical and sub-tropical areas around South East Asia. They lack true stem and have psedostems and are rhizomatous perennials. They typically have long sheet like leafs which overlap and flowers … Read More “Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M.Sm” »
Common Name: Gardenia, Cape Jasmine. Cape jasmine is native to the South East Asian region and is shrub that grows to around 10 feet in height. The glossy elliptic shaped leaves are arranged in an opposite manner. The flowers are large and white in color which fade into cream on maturing. The shrub has a … Read More “Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis (Rubiaceae- Coffee family)” »
Tamil Name: Malaivagei. I found this unarmed plant in Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (above 2000 MSL)in Kerala around Jan 2024. I initially thought it was a Albizia species, it was later proved wrong. This is a large shrub or somewhat a small tree. The leaves are bipinnate and the leaflets arranged in an opposite manner. The … Read More “Archidendron clypearia (Jack) I.C.Nielsen (Fabaceae)” »
Common Name: Angle’s trumpet. Tamil Name: Madulam Angle’s trumpet is a shrub native to Tropical America naturalized in many parts of the world for its large ornamental flowers. The plant grows to around 3 meters in height, the young branches are green in color and lenticulate. The simple leaves are arranged in an alternate manner; … Read More “Brugmansia suaveolens (Solanaceae- Potato family)” »
Burgundy leea, Hawaiian Holy. Leea guineensis is native to the Australian tropical forest. The variety ‘Burgundy’ is popular in Tamilnadu as a house plant. The main attraction being that the entire plant is bronze colored. This ornamental plant is often kept in pots in households gardens. The plant grows to around 3 feet in height. … Read More “Leea guineensis ‘Burgundy’ (Vitaceae-grape family)” »
