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Tropical Beach Flowers |
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Keeping Tropical Flowers |
Tropical beach flower – HeliconiaIn the genus Heliconia you can find a rich assortment of flowering plants, of which many likes to grow along tropical beaches. Heliconia is native to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands, and their range stretches all the way west to Indonesia. Examples of Heliconia species are Lobster Claw (Holy Spirit), Wild plantain and False bird-of-paradise. The flowers are found on tall panicles, which can be erect or drooping. The flowers consist of waxy bracts among which you can see the miniscule true flowers. The waxy bracts are often very colorful. If you keep this tropical beach flower, you may be visited by Hummingbirds since they love to feast on the nectar. The Rufous-breasted Hermit and other Hummingbirds of the subfamily Phaethornithinae will even use Heliconia for nesting. Tropical beach flower – Water hyacinthIf you have ever visited a sandy, tropical lake beach, chances are high that you have encountered the water hyacinth. This South American plant has today found its way to lakes in many other parts of the world, including Africa, Australia and tropical South East Asia. Unfortunately, this tropical beach flower can cause severe problems when introduced to new regions, since it has no natural enemies outside South America. If you want to keep water hyacinth outside its native range, it is therefore extremely important to avoid spreading it into the wild. There are different species of water hyacinth. All species produce an erect stalk with a single spike, from which 10-15 beautiful six-petaled flowers hang. Most water hyacinths have pale lavender or pinkish blooms. The leaves of a water hyacinth can grow up to 20 centimetres across and are thick and glossy. Tropical beach flower – MangroveMangrove trees grow in coastal environments, especially where there is a lot of fine sediment. The true mangrove species belong to the genus Rhizophora and produce five petal flowers. The flowers have a nectary disc and are pollinated by insects. Mangrove leaves are opposite or whorled. Among the most well known mangrove species you will for instance find the beautiful Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). Mangrove can live in areas where most flowers and trees would succumb, including many popular tropical beach flower variants. Mangrove has an extreme tolerance toward salinity, tidal inundation and anaerobe conditions. Tropical beach flower – CoconutWhen discussing tropical beach flowers, coconuts may not be the first flower to pop into our minds, but honestly – what would a tropical beach be without these charismatic palm trees? The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) produces flowers year round and both male and female flowers grown in the same inflorescence. Some varieties are capable of self-pollination, but cross-pollinations is the most common method of reproduction. The Coconut Palm can reach a height of 30 meters and produce pinnate leaves that exceed 5 meters in length. The Coconut Palm is ideal for beaches, since beaches is their natural habitat. Coconut palms love sandy soils and can tolerate high salinity. The plant easily spread along tropical beaches, since cocoanuts fall into the water and is carried to new beaches by the waves. A Coconut can stay in the water for months without being damaged and will eventually start to grow as it finally reaches a new suitable beach. Tropical beach flower – LotusAmong the most beautiful Lotus flowers is the Blue Lotus, Nelumbo nucifera. It is known by many different names, including Sacred Water Lily, Indian Lotus and Bean of India. It is an aquatic plant that is commonly seen along tropical lake beaches. From its native region between Afghanistan and Vietnam, this tropical beach flower has been carried by man to many different parts of the world, including Australia and Egypt. Blue Lotus is often grown in water gardens and has been proclaimed National Flower of India. The flowers are produced on thick stems rising several centimetres above the waters’ surface. You can today choose among a rich assortment of cultivars, from snow white blossoms to yellow or bright pink varieties. Lotus flowers are showy and can reach a diameter of 20 centimetres.
Tropical Beach Flowers |
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