CLINACANTHUS NUTANS

This is the first time I saw this shrub in flower. Commonly referred to as Snake Plant (Family: Acanthaceae), it looks inconspicuously boring with long narrow leaves that hardly attract anyone's attention when it is not in bloom. The brick red flowers remind me remotely of another Acanthaceae shrub Ruttya fruticosa.

MEGASKEPASMA ERYTHROCHLAMYS & DENDROBIUM

This is one of my pride and joys. A bed of beautiful shrubs, with red bracts (technically they are not part of the flower), known commonly as Brazilian Red Cloak (Family: Acanthaceae). I have no idea how it looks like a cloak, but it is a name I managed to remember till this day.

Even the pink flower Dendrobium orchid was finally in bloom. What a beautiful sight!

the pink Dendrobium

PHLOGACANTHUS TURGIDUS & CRINUM

Phlogacanthus turgidus

Known as Lavender Bells, the Phlogacanthus turgidus (Family: Acanthaceae) is a rare but beautiful tropical shrub from Africa. I am not sure how big this plant would grow but we shall see.

The green-leaved and purple flower Crinum lily was also blooming recently. 

flowers of the Phlogacanthus

Crinum cultivar with purple flowers

HOUSEPLANTS

I started to grow the Ruellia repens weed too, with the same intention of one day trying it out as a terrarium plant. Unfortunately, I don't think it is a good choice because the flowers last a day only. In a container, it would probably shed the flowers which would rot in the soil.

I also recently bought the white and pink leaved Hypoestes phyllostachya (Common Name: Polka Dot Plant, Freckle Face; Family: Acanthaceae) and I am stil considering whether to grow it as a terrarium plant.

Finally, the last 2 photos were taken of the Brugmansia cutting that I successfully propagated. Well, one of the cuttings didn't make it after I transplanted it out, presumably because the cutting was newly rooted. The remaining one is still growing well but I agreed to give it to a friend.

SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

These are some interesting flora and fauna at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. 

It's not often that I get to see a white spider. This spider is only at most 1 cm in length but it is so strangely white. I wonder if it bites?

How about a Draco, which is a flying lizard with winged membranes along their ribs. This one camouflaged so well against the trunk of the Midnight Horror (Scientific Name: Oroxylum indicum; Family: Bignoniaceae) tree. The body markings look just like the bark of the tree and I thought I saw a skeleton.

Then there were some white swans and a goose sculpture. The swans were so regal looking and are such beautiful birds. Too bad their wings are clipped. 

Along the pond edge was a fascinating unknown plant from the Malvaceae Family with interesting flowers and dried seed pods. I wonder what plant this is?

On some other forest plants nearby was an entire population of ladybird larvae, which look like mealy bugs except that they move fast. 

There was also a caterpillar on the flower of the Melastoma malabathricum.

The aggressive weeds Mikania and Dioscorea were also sprawling on the forest plants until they are removed someday. The post ends with a common garden snail on a Ruttyruspolia cultivar (Family: Acanthaceae).

NB on 18 Apr 13: The unknown plant is Abroma augustum (Common Name: Devil's Cotton)

draco

Oroxylon indicum (Midnight Horror)

a pair of white swans and a swan sculpture

Abroma augustum

fruit of Abroma

Abroma flowers

seeds in the dried capsule

ladybird larvae that look like mealy bugs

Mikania

Dioscorea

caterpillar on Melastoma

snail on Ruttyruspolia