WHITE FLOWERS

It is not easy to grow coffee plants here and these are saplings of Coffea arabica (Common Name: Mountain Coffee, Arabica Coffee; Family: Rubiaceae) from the Ixora family.

The second is a white flower Thunbergia grandiflora (Common Name: White Trumpet Vine; Family: Bignoniaceae).

They are both found in the Colonial Garden.

POSOQUERIA LONGIFLORA

I was shown a sprig of the inflorescence recently and was amazed by its size. The white, fragrant and arrow-shaped flowers are so exotic and has a certain pure elegant beauty about it.


From the Family Rubiaceae which includes the common Ixora, this plant from Brazil has a common name Needle Flower Tree. It is known that such deep throated flowers are often pollinated by moths, or hawkmoths in this case.


It is such a delight to see and plant this rare plant in a garden worthy of its beauty. A link on this plant is attached here:


http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/11/19/3070087.htm

SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS - PART 1

The Licuala grandis (common name: Ruffled Fan Palm, Palas Palm; Family: Arecaceae / Palmae) is a very common big-leaved fan palm used in the landscape due to its large fan like fronds. When the reddish-orange bunch of berries are produced, it would attract lots of attention.

Then, there was the interesting prostrate creeping groundcover Geophila repens (common name: Snake Pennywort; Family: Rubiaceae) with roundish or reniform-shaped leaves, white flowers and orange berries. Do you know it is another native plant found in Singapore?

http://plants.jstor.org/upwta/4_888

IXORA FINLAYSONIA (VARIEGATED)

I planted this variegated Ixora finlaysonia (common name: Siamese White Ixora, Western Indian Jasmine; Family: Rubiaceae) for a long time now but it is very slow growing. All the plants in this area were removed recently. Thank goodness they left this plant behind.

The variegation is rather strong and stable and I love the reddish petioles too. I guess it is time to propagate this shrub before it disappears someday.

GARDENIA JASMINOIDES (VARIEGATED)

This is the flower of the variegated Gardenia jaminoides (synonym: Gardenia augusta; common name: Bush Gardenia, Cape Jasmine; Family: Rubiaceae). 2 links are attached below:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardenia_jasminoides
2. http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Gardenia_Augusta.htm

PAVETTA SPECIES

This is a Pavetta species from the Rubiaceae Family, bearing small white Ixora-like flowers. Compared to other Ixoras, the ornamental appeal is less.

PSEUDOMUSSAENDA FLAVA

I took this photo in a hurry and it was not as clear as I would have wanted it to be. But anyway, I managed to capture this Common Mormon Butterfly visiting the flowers of the Pseudomussaenda flava (synonym: Mussaenda lutea, Mussaenda luteola, Mussaenda glabra, Mussaenda incana; common name: Dwarf Yellow Mussaenda, White Wings; Family: Rubiaceae) for nectar.

2 links on the plant is shown below:

1. http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/PSEUDOMUSSAENDA_FLAVA.htm
2. http://berniesgarden.blogspot.com/2010/04/pseudomussaenda-flava-or-mussaenda.html

GARDENIA VIETNAMENSIS

From the Rubiaceae Family and commonly known as the Vietnamese Gardenia, they suddenly flowered en masse in the nursery. The flower buds and opened flowers were everywhere in every single bagged plant.

The fragrant flowers opened white and as it aged, the 6 petals gradually turned a beige colour and curled inwards like a small trumpet. In fact, when I looked at the white flowers, it reminded me of a small garden windmill that spins with the wind. How interesting!

2 links are attached below:

1. http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/GARDENIA_VIETNAMENSIS.htm
2. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/125417/

BEAUTY

The Bridelia ovata (variegated) from the Euphorbiaceae Family has grown so tall now. The pink flower Nerium oleander (Family: Apocynaceae) is so saccharine sweet while the white flower one with a yellow throat from Thailand's Chatuchak Market is just simple yet faintly fragrant. The maroon leaved Adenium obesum (common name: Desert Rose) from the same Apocynaceae Family is also interesting. Finally, the Ixora 'Crimson Star' from the Rubiaceae Family is still in flower after all these while.

This is just pure, simple beauty.