Strelitzia nicolai Regel & K.Koch, Gartenflora 7: 265 1858. (Syn: Strelitziaalbasubsp.nicolai(Regel & K.Koch) Maire & Weiller; StrelitziaquensoniiLem.);
E. Zimbabwe to KwaZulu-Natal, E. Botswana as per WCSP;
Strelitzia nicolai, commonly known as the giant white bird of paradise or wild banana, is a species of banana-like plants with erect woody stems reaching a height of 6 m (20 ft) and the clumps formed can spread as far as 3.5 m (11 ft). The 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) long leaves are grey-green and arranged like a fan at the top of the stems, similar to Ravenala madagascariensis. The inflorescence is composed of a dark blue bract, white sepals and a bluish-purple “tongue”. The entire flower can be as much as 18 cm (7.1 in) high by 45 cm (18 in) long and is typically held just above the point where the leaf fan emerges from the stem. Flowers are followed by triangular seed capsules.[2][3]
S. nicolai is among the few plants which have been verified to contain the pigment bilirubin, which is usually found in animals.[4]
S. nicolai is one of three larger Strelitzia species, the other two being tree-like S. caudata and S. alba. S. nicolai is restricted to evergreen coastal forest and thicket of eastern South Africa from the Great Fish River northwards to Richards Bay. It is also considered native to Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe, and is reportedly naturalized in eastern Mexico (State of Veracruz).[5]
S. nicolai prefers rich, moist soils with good drainage in full sun to part shade. The plant tolerates light frost. Propagation is via division of clumps, offsets and from seed but note that plants require many years of growth before they begin blooming.[6] In favourable conditions they self-seed freely, and their invasive root systems are best kept away from buildings.[7]
(from Wikipedia on 24.12.16)
Strelitzia nicolai : Long Beach,California : 11Dec16 : AK-26 : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (2) Friends, we have seen the common Bird of Paradise a number of times. Adding a new Species of Strelitziafrom California.
A new addition to Eflora.
Commonly known as Giant White Bird of Paradise. Identification credit goes to Dr. John Dransfield, of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Recently saw the same at a lodge in Kenya.
Wonderful, …
Strelitzia nicolai : Kenya : 11DEC16 : AK-28 : 6 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (3)
Adding pictures of Strelitzia nicolai from Kenya taken in July. In the garden of a lodge.
Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn. : 5 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (3)
Location: Pakanajol, Kathmandu, Nepal
Date: 31 October 2017
Elevation : 4400 ft. Is Strelitzia nicolia right ID ? Yes to me also appear close to images at Strelitzia nicolai
Strelitzia nicolai from California-GS02112020-1 : 5 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (2)
Strelitzia nicolai
Photographed from Milpitas, California, 22-6-19
Pl. attach the images. Here are images
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