Calling you back ...

Scientific name: Cordia sebestena

Also known as Scarlet cordia has originated from West Indies. It is a small tree, grows upto 25 feet. This is one of the most beautiful trees on account of its attractive flowers. The leaves are ever green and heart shaped. The dark orange, two inches wide flowers appear in clusters at branch tips. It attracts butterflies and bees. Before opening up, the flower buds themselves are a beauty to watch. A few days before while passing through the road leading to District Magistrate Office of Mysore, i just noticed a bunch of attractive orange flowers. But for want of time i could not stop. I returned a week later, in the morning of 11th September, 2011 and took the photograph of this flower.

Trumpeting your way ...

Scientific name: Allamanda blanchetii

Allamandas come from South America. This purple allamanda is a beautiful shrubby climber profusely flowering, which easily attracts the attention of every one! The trumpet shaped flowers have radially symmetrical lobes. On first September 2011 i went to the home of former Director of my institute, where i took this photograph. It was a challenging experience, as the cool breeze was continuously blowing around me and the allamanda, i found it so difficult to capture the image.

Gracefully and purely ...

Scientific name: Zantedeschia aethiopica

The Lily of the Nile or Calla lily is native to Southern Africa. If Afrikaans name gives the name that it is pig's ear. This is an elegant and prominent garden plant, a clump forming herbaceous plant arising from tubers with large arrow shaped leaves. The flower consists of orange-yellow finger like spathe surrounding a white spadix. This flower is considered a symbol of purity. These are used as cut flowers for floral arrangement and bridal bouquet. During many of my trips to Sims Park, Coonoor, i have noticed this plant near the glass house. This photograph was taken during my family trip with my sister-in-law, her hubby and kids on 26th April, 2011. As the kids were playing in the lawn, i quetly moved near this plant and took the snap.

After the evening shower ...

Scientific name: Adenium obesum

Desert rose or Japanese Frangipani is an ever green succulent shrub, native of East Africa. It grows 1-3 m. Leaves are spirally arranged, clustered towards the tips of the shoots. Flowers are beautiful, tubular 2 inches long, pink open trumpet shaped. It is a gardeners delight, because when potted, it tend to become a bonsai, which can be kept as an indoor plant. The sap of its roots and stems are poisonous and have been used as an arrow poison for hunting. I took this photograph on 5th September, 2011 at Mysore, in the home garden of the Uncle and Aunt after a shower, in the beautiful evening.

Imagination high …

Scientific name: Agave sisalana

A succulent, native to Mexico. Cultivated for its fibres that are extracted from the leaves. The plant has large lancolate leaves with thick points and sharp tips. The long spike bears many urceolate yellow-green flowers. It was plenty in my native place and i has seen people cutting the leaves for its fibres. When we travel south Tamil Nadu, it is a common sight that people are harvesting the leaf for its fibre. This photograph i took just outside the chamber of Director, CSRTI, Mysore, on 11th Sept. 2011.

In need ...?

Scientific name: Hyptis suaveolens 

American mint, the aggressive rigid annual herb is native to the American continent. Stem is quadrate and bears hairs. The copious blue flowers are small and two lipped. A large number of pollinators help in the production of large number of seeds. The plant is used in the treatment for diarrhea and also it is found that the plant is effective as insecticide. I have observed this plant all along the road sides of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. I used this plant extract for my research work in the field of sericulture. Along with my friend i collected this plant for herbarium. Now it is available in plenty all along Mysore and i took this photograph in the CSRTI, Mysore campus on 3rd September, 2011.

Rain or shine …!

Scientific name: Cyperus alternifolius 

The Umbrella Palm or Umbrella Plant or Umbrella papyrus is a wonderful plant with thin blades arranged like an umbrella. This fabulous marginal water plant, native of the swamps of Madagascar. This is a close relative of the Nile papyrus. The umbelliform inflorescence is composed of 10-20 small clusters of green-white tiny flowers. It appears at the end of the stems, on top of the leaf shaped bracts. I had this plant during 1988 while pursuing my computer course, staying with my aunt in Nagercoil. This photo i took on 3rd Sept. 2011 near the institute gate, where i am presently working.