PASSIFLORA FOETIDA AND COCCINEA

Passiflora foetida

Sometimes I can't help but wonder why some of these weeds never made it as ornamental plants. This Passiflora foetida (Common Name: Stinking Passionflower, Love-in-a-Mist, Wild Water Melon) wild weed is in fact a host plant of some native butterflies including the Tawny Coster and Leopard Lacewing.

The second is the more attractive looking ornamental Passiflora coccinea (Common Name: Scarlet Passion Flower, Red Passion Flower) planted in the Chinese Garden.

Passiflora coccinea

OF PLANTS AND FLIGHTS OF FANCY

It was a beautiful weekend morning when we went hunting for butterflies and I ended up taking photos of plants, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies too.

Some species of butterflies captured in the photos include:

• Peacock Pansy
• Leopard
• Tawny Coster
• one of the Lycaenidae butterflies

It was amazing to see at least 6 Leopard butterflies flitting from the flowers of the flowering Leea indica beside the substation area.  

BUTTERFLIES

There are 3 species of native butterflies highlighted in this post. I have not talked or posted about them for a long time now.

The first is the Plain Tiger on the flower of the Tabernaemontana. The second is the interesting Tawny Coster that is often found in wastelands. We do have the weedy climber host plant Passiflora foetida found in certain parts of the garden and the Bidens alba provides the nectar for its butterflies. Finally, the caterpillars of the Mottled Emigrant are abundantly found on the host plant Senna alata planted at several spots in the garden.

PERESKIA, ALOYSIA & TAWNY COSTER

I posted on this unique Pereskia in the past and I am really glad that I managed to establish this strip of planting. 


I have said this before and I am saying it again that I was ecstatic when I saw it in a Malaysian nursery a few years ago, climbing  at least 4 m up a tree. Without any support structure, this plant seems to be content to grow in the ground and put out lots of small leaves. There is so much potential to popularize this fabulous sprawling shrub.


The Aloysia virgata with extremely fragrant flowers is also a butterfly nectar plant, as evident by the Tawny Coster sipping nectar from the flowers in this series of photos. How endearing!

BAY EAST

These Cape Honeysuckle (scientific name: Tecoma capensis; synonym: Tecomaria capensis) shrubs really love the dry spell followed by rain. Just months ago, it was looking stunning and now it has put up another spectacular display.


This is also the site where there is a population of Tawny Coster butterflies. It is just amazing!

BAY EAST

These are evidences of more interesting flora and fauna at the park.

The Little Heron (scientific name: Butorides striatus) is a common resident here, especially along the rock bund of the rip rap wall. Its plumage coloration helps it to blend into the concrete and water. Only when one hears its call or when it takes flight that its presence is noticed.


I spotted some Passiflora foetida weeds growing amongst the thick ground cover of Ipomoea pes-caprae on the rip rap wall. This explains why I occasionally observe the Tawny Coster butterfly flying around in the park and amongst the dense undergrowth.


By chance, I saw a Black-Headed Munia taking a bath in a ground puddle of muddy water. There is no way this is the same bird I saw earlier right? It has to be another individual.