The Lost World is the highest part of the Cloud Forest and up here, there are a number of fascinating plants that never cease to amaze me, such as the following:
- Phragmipedium (Family: Orchidaceae)
- Medinilla (Family: Melastomataceae)
- Paphiopedilum (Common Name: Slipper Orchid; Family: Orchidaceae)
- carnivorous plants Sarracenia (Common Name: North American Pitcher Plant; Family: Sarraceniaceae), Pinguicula (Common Name: Butterwort; Family: Lentibulariaceae), Drosera (Common Name: Sundew; Family: Droseraceae)
- Calanthe cultivars (Family: Orchidaceae)
These are more recent photos of the Calanthe orchid and Gloriosa (common name: Flame Lily) fruit.
When is the former going to flower? And should I pick the mini-cucumber looking fruit of the Gloriosa before it splits? Growing the Flame Lily is a first for me, so I am still learning about it. It has been in this state for a while already.
The Calanthe has grown much since the last time I took photos of it. The leaves have outgrown the entire plant considerably.
I wonder when it would start to flower?
Today's weather - sunny
I may not have a garden on the ground but I still have lots to say about the plants I grow at home.
The Justicia brandegeeana is really a slow growing shrub. It took this shrub quite some time to grow to this size and produce these inflorescences.
I cannot recall when I bought this sundew plant (scientific name: Drosera cultivar) but perhaps I should try planting this sun-loving carnivorous plant in a terrarium?
The Calanthe orchid has also grew much since a week or two ago.
The variegated Hamelia patens has recently produced some fruits. This photo only showed two black fruits but the actual plant has put out two whole bunches of fruits now.
On the other hand, the fruits of the Gloriosa superba are getting bigger with each day and I am still waiting to see when it would ripen and "explode".
By the way, I have always been intrigued at the leaf branching pattern of the Plumbago species. The branching is just different from most typical opposite or alternate arrangements. The whorled leaf arrangement gives rise to a new stalk of leaves or flowers. Is there a certain advantage or benefit for this type of leaf arrangement, I wonder?
I bought this interesting Begonia from Ang Mo Kio Flora recently and it has been kind to me just yet. A few leaves were damaged by the collection of water on them but other than that, the plant appears to be perfectly happy in the pot.
I guess this is so much for now.
Today's weather - sunny
I mentioned that I would provide an update on the developing fruit of the Glory Lily, so here they are. I will wait and see how big the fruit will develop and what happens to it.
I also bought the Afgekia sericea (common name: Silky Afgekia) climber recently and along with it came a red stink bug. Just take a look at that cute face with big eyes and Elvis Presley hairstyle. Anyway, I hope the bug will survive although I doubt so since it is not in a garden environment.
The Calanthe leafy shoot is growing slowly but surely.
