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

EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIMA

Who would have guessed that this shrub with beautiful foliage is the Christmas Poinsettia with the usual colourful bracts? These were leftover plants from the last Christmas.

ACANTHACEAE

The Acanthaceae plants, which I fondly refer to as Acans, is a Family that I love because of their colourful bracts which are often more showy than their flowers. Two of the representatives here are Justicia brandegeeana and Ruellia colorata.

The characteristics of plants from this Family are:

• opposite leaves
• inflorescence with zygomorphic (bilateral symmetry) flowers and showy bracts
• 4 stamens
• seed pod with hooks
• estipulate