Amherstia voor Palmtree-001Amherstia nobilis, alias Pride of Burma

Dumped by a neighbor. An unsightly, crooked scrap of a plant. It got a place in the backyard, behind a wall, out of sight. Only to suffer further neglect.
But, honoring its generic name, it appeared very forgiving. One January morning, greenish ‘tails’ appeared, drooping from the end of its branches. In a few days the unfolding buds turned red. Not much later the Amherstia looked stunning with a spray of dangling crimson flowers.
It deserved a better place, although being dug up is not the favorite trick of a tree. Still forgiving, it now shines as a solitary in full sight.

February 2015, by Karolien Bais

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Flora

Plants can be equally striking for their smell or stench, their stubbornness or benevolence, their secrecy or exuberance. Whatever their features, they can make my day.
Here are some of my doozies.


Couroupita guianensis, alias cannonball tree


Amherstia nobilis, alias Pride of Burma


Dendrobium crumenatum, alias pigeon orchid


Gloriosa superba, alias juju lily


Eucharis grandiflora, alias Amazon lily


Murraya koenigii, alias curry leaf


Scadoxus multiflorus, alias blood lily


Rothmannia longiflora, alias ivory trumpet


Furcraea selloa, alias false agave


Tacca chantrieri, alias bat flower


Bauhinia pottsii, alias orchid tree