This incredible and endangered vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys), native to the Philippines, has been an obsession of mine. The neon aquamarine flowers the size and shape of parrot beaks have been a challenge to photograph to faithfully reproduce the color. Interestingly the vine likes Florida and grows pretty well. Its pretty shocking to see giant 3-4 feet long flower clusters hanging by someone's drive-way, but quiet a joy. The photos below are from Fairchild Tropical Garden, where the vine has been blooming on and off for over a decade (maybe even longer).
The shape of the flower is an echo chamber, shaping bats' sonar to attract them to the flower, which produces nectar at night for them. It is a relative of another spectacular vine, the Red Jade, but I only saw it in bloom once. Its flower is about same size and shape as of the Green Jade, but colored scarlet.
That color is incredible. What a cool flower, reminds me of really neat blown glass chandelier
I think you did a fine job on the set, the wide angle is fun and I like it
Thanks for sharing the images and the interesting facts, the Red Jade sure sounds interesting too.
Thanks Karl! Yea I saw the Red Jade once ... I walked by the Rainforest area and there was a sign - Look Up - I did - and I saw the flowers hanging high at the canopy of the forest. It mas a pretty amazing sight - it's too bad I haven't been able to catch the plant in bloom in years, or I'd use my 50-500mm to try and photograph it. I do have a very old photo of it which I need to dig out ...
Karl Witt wrote:
Red Jade sure sounds interesting too.
