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Strelitzia nicolai
| Family Name: | Strelitziaceae |
| Common Name: | White Bird-of-paradise, Wild Banana, Giant Bird of Paradise, 大鹤望兰 |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Botswana, KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique, Zimbabwe |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Fan-shaped crown, can reach between 6-8m in height, erect woody stem up to 0.5m wide. The herbaceous plant forms large clumps from the base where new shoots are produced. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves simple, elliptic, up to 2m long. Leaves are banana-like, long petioles tightly packed. Single main vein with multiple perpendicular lateral veins |
| Flowers | Axillary inflorescences protrude between petioles. The flower consists of white and blue tepals, dark blue to reddish-brown boat-shaped bract. Flowers year-round. Each flower opens sequentially, lasting for 3 days. The next flower will then emerge from the bract within 2 days. |
| Fruit | Woody capsules. Seeds large, black with orange aril. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Propagation Method | Division, Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Blue |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1854 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3147 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
