OLIVE-BACKED SUNBIRD

This female Olive-Backed Sunbird was playing around with the pink-flowered Ruspolia near my office. I suppose it was looking for nectar?

PINK RUSPOLIA

This pink Ruspolia hypocrateriformis from the Acanthaceae Family was a recently new addition to HortPark. It was planted barely 6 months ago at the children's playground area and they were performing much better than the red flowered variety.

This photo was taken on 8 Feb 10, and thus far I have always seen them in bloom. Since they are closely related to the Pseuderanthemum, they should be very easily propagated and I shall plant some nearer the Visitor's Centre in the near future.

NB on 7 Dec 10: I think this plant is known as Ruttyruspolia 'Phyllis Van Heerden', an intergeneric hybrid between Ruttya ovata and Ruspolia hypocrateriformis. 2 links are shown here:

1. http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=x_ruttyruspolia
2. http://plants.newplant.co.za/view/size/4/page/246