Cool smile ....

Scientific name: Monochoria hastifolia

These are aquatic perennial plants growing from 30 to 60 cm. Stems are long and robust. Radical leaves with sheath broadened at base, leaf blade triangular or triangular-ovate. Small blue flowers are at the tip of flowering stems, which are erect. Inflorescences erect or suberect, remaining so after anthesis, subumbellate to shortly racemose. I took this while i was in my native place on 23rd December 2011, from a damp pit, where clear water was seeping and overflowing the ditch in my own piece of land where coconut are planted. This plant is extensively used in Ayurvedic medicinal preparations and has found a significant place in the poetic imaginations.

Again and again ...

Scientific name: Merremia tuberosa

Merremia tuberosa is a climbing vine that is native to Mexico and parts of central America that has become invasive on various Pacific islands and parts of the United States. The vine overgrows tall hardwood forest canopies and smothers native trees and shrubs. It is a long, climbing vine. Its leaves are simple and the blades are circular in outline, 6-16 cm long and wide, the base is cordate, and margins are palmately 5-7 lobed almost to the base. Its stems are basally woody, perennial, twining, and glabrous. Flowers usually occur in clusters and fully bloom in sunlight and close under cloudy conditions and in the dark. The corolla is yellow, glabrous, funnelform, contortiplicate, enclosed by the sepals in bud. When in full bloom, it is a delightful sight. It is very aggressive invader and crawls over the surrounding plants or structures. I had noticed this plant while going to my native place during Ocober 2011 near the Mysore airport, opposite to a pond. On my return, i reached one day evening to have look at it but all the flowers have folded. Then i went after two days about 7.30 am, when it has not opened its eyes at all. Then i went there around 1.30, but the flowers have started wilting. Finally i could get beautiful blooming photographs on 27th November, 2011 at around 11.30 am, on my 4th attempt!

Holding high ...

Scientific name: Combretum constrictum

Sweetly for you ...

Scientific name: Lathyrus odoratus

The sweat peas are wonderful plants suited for a good healthy garden which needs a little attention and support. Quite common and favourite with old timers, who cherish the fine scent and simple beauty of this flower. This is an annual plant easy to start from seed. When trained up the supports of a porch or the railings of a deck, where their perfume will be best appreciated. The sweet-smelling flowers come in a wide range of colors and are the main feature of this climbing plant. The vine grows 6 to 9 feet tall, with dwarf types reaching 8-20 inches. Sweet peas are also suitable for baskets, tubs and spillover plantings, and make excellent cut flowers. They produce an abundance of flowers that can be used as cut flowers while leaving enough on the vine to keep it highly decorative. A lot of cultivars are selected for the beauty of their flowers. I took this photograph on 24th January 2012 from Lalbagh, Bangalore during the annual Republic day flower show!

Enthralling your moods ...

Scientific name: Calliandra haematocephala

A rembling shrub or small tree with branched pinnate silky leaves and powder puff like balls of conspicuous stamens. It is a fast growing shrub that can grow tall but also spreads wide. The leaves close at night. There are red, pin and white varieties. When i was working at Palakkad during 1992-1997, i was so enthralled with this flower that i bought a sapling and planted in the P2 Basic Seed Farm campus of Central Silk Board. Recently i came to know from my friend that the plant is growing well and flowering wonderfully. This photograph was taken on 24th January 2012 from Lalbagh, Bangalore.

Bright and beautiful ...

Scientific name: Turnera ulmifolia

Yellow alder, yellow buttercup, Sage rose or Cuban buttercup is native to the West Indies and Mexico. It is a perennial, dense, compact shrub, reaching to a height of two and half feet tall. The dark green leaves are clustered towards the branch tips, lanceolate to oblong lanceolate or narrowly elliptic. Leaf margin are doubly serrate. Flowers are bright yellow buttercups, slightly brownish towards the center. This plant is found to grow wild in my native place and this photograph was taken on 23rd December 2011.

Leaning towards you ...

Scientific name:  Coccinia grandis

Ivy gourd is an aggressive vine that can spread quickly over trees, shrubs, fences and other supports. Being a perennial plant, it can spread vegetatively or by seed. The long tendrils are elastic with coil like springs, that can wrap around the host. The leaves are palmately simple with five lobes. The flowers are large and white, about 4 cm across with five long tubular petals. The creamish coloured stamen is triangular in shape. I took this photograph on 23rd December 2011 from just in front of my home in my native place, which was leaning over a bush!