CLOUD FOREST PART 2

This is the well-known Mulan (木兰) or Magnolia flower. Although the trees look straggly, the fragrant flowers particularly the pink ones, which resemble the lotus, completely overshadow the entire tree.

From inside the mountain, some of the arches were planted with numerous pendulous Lycopodium to soften the hard edges and frame the openings.

MAGNOLIA 'TEDDY BEAR'

We bought these few Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' from Australia and it is now producing new leaf flushes that are velvety white.

CATHAY

On 29th Aug 10, I watched the movie 'Grown Ups' at Cathay and saw Minister Lim and his wife seated right at the back.

Outside, on the lower floors were pots of pinkish-brown flowers. I showed the pots of white flowers previously and this was different. The fake flowers reminded me of the Magnolia flowers but these ones had double petals.

Hanging from the ceiling were the colourful circular banners celebrating 75 years of cinema history with Cathay.

So what was the common thing linking all the above? A love for Cathay, I say.

MICHELIA X ALBA

From the Magnoliaceae Family, this is actually a beautiful tree that was hybridized between Michelia champaca and Magnolia montana. Hence, the other accepted name is Magnolia x alba. The common names include White Champak and Banana Shrub.

When in bloom, the white flowers are highly fragrant. In fact, this tree is the host plant for one of the native butterflies Tailed Jay (scientific name: Graphium agamemnon agamemnon). Check out the links and ButterflyCircle website below to learn more about the plant and butterfly.

1. http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/michelia_alba.htm
2. http://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/articles/trees/tropical_magnolia.htm
3. http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist2/index.php?page=butt_details&butt_id=172