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Do you know the name of this flower? Just like there is the Christmas tree, there is also a tree to celebrate the Chinese New Year – the plum tree. This is because the Chinese New Year actually celebrates the advent of spring. The plum tree cannot be found in hot and humid Malaysia so we have to do the next best thing; we create one. Every year we would strip a small tree of all its leaves and then decorate it with plastic pink and white plum blossoms. As the Chinese New year is just around the corner, I was chopping down a branchy "catapult" tree at the edge of a forest the other day when I spotted this flower.  I had not noticed it at first because it resembles the purple flower of the "catapult" tree, although slightly bigger, until I saw the two green hairy elongated globes behind it. This is the first time that I have come across this flower and I was intrigued. Upon further examination, I found a darkened and split mature globule with tiny seeds further down the branch and realized that the hairy globules are actually the fruits. I have now planted the seeds and hopefully, they will germinate. Now, maybe someone can tell me its name. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past |
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I have taken a photo of that flower in Bergamo, Italy but I don't remember the name. Happy New Year. "The only way to have a friend is to be one."
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Hi Lee - Those fruit and the flower look a lot like the Rambutan. I recall back in the 50s when I was on jungle patrol over there we used to eat them. Google for images of Rambutan flowers. Alfie...
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Hi Roxy, I am sure you must have seen the plum blossoms since it is a temperate plant but I am sorry you would not be able to find the "catapult" tree. I have just found out that the "catapult" tree's Malaysian name is Buah Senduduk and it's scientific name is Melastoma malabathricum. It is a shrub with pretty purple flowers and bunches of berry-like fruits which can be eaten, and has lots of branches which makes it ideal for making catapults (known as slingshots in America). That's why from young, my friends and I have always referred to it as the "catapult" tree.  Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi mrsjoe, There were three fruits (or seed pods) on the branch I saw so I guess there were at least four flowers on that branch. It is more a shrub than a tree as the branch seem to come from the ground. However, it is definitely not rambutan; I have climbed many a rambutan tree before.  As for "Wildfather", when I first started learning to use the computer, I stumbled upon one of my daughter's username which was "Wildflower" and the rest, as they say, is history.  Lee p.s. I wish there is a Wildmother but no such luck. Well, you can't have everything. Sigh ........ Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi spot, After googling, I don't think it's the clematis either. Thanks for the visit. Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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I have taken a photo of that flower in Bergamo, Italy but I don't remember the name. Happy New Year. Thank you. Perhaps you could show your photo here at sometime. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi Lee - Those fruit and the flower look a lot like the Rambutan. I recall back in the 50s when I was on jungle patrol over there we used to eat them. Google for images of Rambutan flowers. Alfie... Yes,the fruits do look like rambutans but are much smaller. In fact, though not seen in the photograph, there is a tinge of red on the fruits. However, it is not the rambutan. During my younger days, I like to eat rambutans while up the tree; somehow, the fruits at the very top where they get a lot of sunshine always seem to be sweeter. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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it looks like a clematis to me as well. The Clematis must be a very popular flower. Thank you. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi 1750, It looks like a rambutan but is much smaller. The rambutan is about 3 to 4 times its size and yes, it's very yummy. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi txlady, I have googled and I don't think it is the passion vine. The passion fruit is bald. Thanks for the suggestion because I had photographed the passion vine flower in Singapore in 2009 but did not know the name until now.Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi ET, No, from the foliage, I don't think it is an orchid. Thanks for the suggestion. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi AneMac, Thank you. Hawk thinks it's the rambutan but it's not. I have just collected a few other seed pods to germinate. There is a Chinese proverb which advises us "not to gather wild flowers that grow by the roadside" but I just cannot follow that advice. This is the fourth wild flower that I have collected. The other plants are thriving much to the chagrin of the neighbouring gardeners who regard them as weeds.  They don't know that these plants are disappearing as development comes marching in.Lee p.s. Oh, about the proverb, I guess the English equivalent would be "Do not sow wild oats." Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi mrsjoe, p.s. I have thought of other alternatives such as wild seed, wild fruit, wild plant, wild nut, wild palm, wild boar, etc but .............. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi glorieux, I have googled and I think that you may be right. Since the plant that I found is wild, it should be native to Malaysia. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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glorieux ... i've never heard of this ... just googl*d and i think you're right. i found this on foodbuzz: Anatto or achiotte, (bixa orellana L.) is a plant is grown mostly in South America and Brazil is the main producer and exporter. Known here as urucum or colorau the seeds are used as a natural red food coloring in the food industry, comestics (lipsticks) and also in the Brazilian cuisine. The color result is similar to paprika, although it does not alter the flavor of the food. Also, Brazilian indians and other Latin-American indians use the seeds to make body paint. I agree. I have seen the annatto plant with a bunch of hairy red fruits in one of the gardens in my housing estate. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi Meems, Clematis seems to be a popular choice but the two hairy globes exclude it. Hmm, I wonder if I could submit the photo this Friday under the heading "Clematis on wheels". Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi EliBeth, Thank you but I do not think it is an orchid. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi Leoviolet, I think you are right. It does look like it's Achuete or Annatto. Thank you. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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Hi Poet Dancer, No, I do not think so. It does not have a stem with the branches arising from the ground like a fern and the fruit has rows of small seeds instead of a single seed covered with flesh. Lee Live today as if it is your last For tomorrow will soon be in the past
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