FLOWER DOME - AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AMERICA

After the Baobab Village are the Australian and South American gardens stops, although most of the plant photos shown here are from the former:

• Anigozanthos cultivar (Common Name: Kangaroo Paw; Family: Haemodoraceae)
• Callistemon (Common Name: Crimson Bottlebrush; Family: Myrtaceae)
• Xanthorrhoea australis (Common Name: Grass Tree; Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae)
• Jacobaea maritima (Synonym: Senecio cineraria, Senecio maritimus; Common Name: Silver Ragwort, Dusty Miller; Family: Asteraceae / Compositae)
• Nicotiana cultivar (Family: Solanaceae)
• Araucaria araucana (Common Name: Monkey Puzzle Tree; Family: Araucariaceae)
• Grevillea brevifolia graft (Common Name: Cobberas Grevillea; Family: Proteaceae) 

MYRCIARIA CAULIFLORA

This unknown tree with interesting flaking bark recently produced lots of green to black fruits along the length of its branches. I was so mesmerized by the shiny black orbs although I kept wondering why I never noticed the flowers? They must be kind of inconspicuous but I will start looking out for them from now on.

NB on 11 Jan 13: The black fruits of this tree known as Myrciaria cauliflora (Common Name: Brazilian Grape Tree, Jaboticaba, Jabuticaba; Family: Myrtaceae) is used to make jam, tart, wine and liqeur. I don't remember seeing the white flowers but I definitely saw the fruits. Since it is edible, I will taste one of the fruits when I see it again.

MARINA BAY MRT

The sky was turning dark and it started to drizzle lightly. Fortunately, I made an effort to walk faster and managed to catch the van back to the office in one piece. Thank goodness!!

RHODOMYRTUS TOMENTOSA

A native plant of Singapore, this is one of the taller specimens of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (common name: Downy Rose Myrtle; Family: Myrtaceae) that I come across. The fruits are apparently edible, as evident from the blurry photo of the half-eaten purplish fruit.

2 links on this interesting plant with silvery leaf undersides are attached here:

1. http://floraofsingapore.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/rhodomyrtus-tomentosa/
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodomyrtus_tomentosa

METROSIDEROS EXCELSA (VARIEGATED)

This is a variegated form of the Metrosideros excelsa (synonym: M. excelsus, M. tomentosa; common name: Ironwood, New Zealand Christmas Tree; Family: Myrtaceae) from Australia. The silverish leaves are really interesting but the variegation does not seemed too strong or stable though. Nevertheless, I like the new tomentose leaves and its texture.

A few links on the M. excelsa are shown here for reference:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosideros_excelsa
2. http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1058
3. http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s788278.htm