Thriving on support ...

Botanical name: Elytranthe albida

Pale Bark Mistletoe is a parasitic shrubs 2-3 m tall. Branches are cylindrical, with pale bark. Leaf stalks are 2-3 cm long, carrying elliptic to narrowly ovate leaves, 8-16 cm long, 4.5-6 cm wide. Leaves are leathery, with somewhat prominent veins, and have a pointed tip. Flower spikes are solitary or fascicled in leaf axils, 2-4-flowered. Spikes are carried on stout stalks 5-10 mm long. Bract are ovate, 6-10 × 4-6 mm, bracteoles oblong-ovate, 8-12 mm. Sepal cup is ellipsoid, about 2 mm. Mature buds are 6-7 cm long. Flowers are red, with the tube slightly curved, inflated. Petals are lanceolate, about 2 cm, turned back. Filaments are 8-10 mm, with the anthers 4.5-6 mm. Berry is ellipsoid, about 5 mm. Pale Bark Mistletoe is found forests, mountain slopes, in NE India, at altitudes of 800-2300 m. This photograph was taken in my native place on 31st December, 2011.

Tailing your imagination ...

Botanical name: Acalypha hispida

Cat's tail, red hot cat tail or chrenille plant is a bushy shrub with bright green oblong leaves is striking because of its prominent display of hanging inflorescences, each up to 50 cm long and carrying numerous small flowers. They are dense and fluffy, like a cat's tail, and they appear intermittently throughout the whole year as long as conditions are favorable. The plant may grow as high as 2 m and flowers all year round but requires considerable pruning to keep it from becoming too tall. Those usually seen in gardens have dark flowers. During my college days, we had a plant in my home. This was photographed on 5th May 2012 in my institute campus.

Smile from the wild ...

Botanical name: Hibiscus radiatus

The red-velvet flowers of Hibiscus radiatus make this species a must-have among the fall and winter blooming varieties of Hibiscus. Like some other short-day bloomers in the genus, this one has long stems that arch over and grow horizontally as the season progresses. Left on its own, this plant will form a wide mound of flowers four foot tall and eight foot or more wide. It's not unattractive, but takes up a lot of space in the garden. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. This photographs was taken on 8th September, 2011 from a wild growth just outside my institute.

With striking features ...

Botanical name: Lavatera arborea

The Tree Mallow, is a species of mallow native to the coasts of western Europe and the Mediterranean region. It is a shrubby annual, biennial or perennial plant growing to 0.5–2 m tall. The leaves are orbicular, 8–18 cm diameter, palmately lobed with five to nine lobes, and a coarsely serrated margin. The flowers are 3–4 cm diameter, dark pink to purple and grow in fasciculate axillary clusters of two to seven. This plant can be seen in many home gardens and plant nurseries. This flower was photographed on 3rd October, 2011 during Dussehra flower show in Mysore.

Blue from the ....

Botanical name: Ruellia tuberosa

Waterkanon, Watrakanu, Minnie Root, Iron root, Feverroot or Popping pod is a West Indian herb with curiously shaped blue flowers and fusiform tuberous roots. A tropical perennial growing up to a height of 6½" with a hairy stem. The simple leaves are opposite and elliptic; the plant only flowers after the start of the rainy season. It has thick finger-like roots. The big bisexual flowers are violet. The ripe fruits, in a pod with 7-8 seeds each, burst open, when they get wet and the black seeds are hurdled away.  This photograph was taken on 29th April, 2012 in Mysore, from way side, where i stay presently.

Surprising you ...

Botanical name: Rhynchospora colorata

White star sedge is also known as White-topped sedge and star rush whitetop, is a perennial sedge with white bracts, giving it the appearance of white petals with long, green points. It is native to southeastern North America, from Virginia west to New Mexico in the United States, and south into the Caribbean islands. The inflorescence is a dense cluster of small spikes, each containing several tiny flowers. It sits on top of 3–10 green and white bracts that grow to 10–15 cm long. They look much like leaves, but the real leaves arise from the base of the plant. This photograph was taken in my native place, in Parassala, Kerala while on a visit on 12th October, 2011.

Curiously staring ....

Botanical name: Tecoma capensis

Cape honeysuckle is a fast growing, scrambling shrub which may grow up to 2-3m high and spread more than 2.5m. Tecomaria capensis is an evergreen plant in warm climate areas but loses its leaves in colder areas. It has pinnately compound leaves that have oval leaflets with blunt teeth. Flowering time for this shrub is very erratic and often it flowers all year round. Flowers vary from red, deep orange, yellow to salmon. Flowers are tubular and bird pollinated, attracting nectar-feeding birds, especially sun birds. Tecomaria capensis is an ornamental garden plant commonly used for screening and decorative purposes. It can also be trimmed to form a hedge. It is often planted specifically to attract birds and butterflies. The powdered bark of this attractive garden plant is used as a traditional medicine to relieve pain and sleeplessness. I took this photo on 24th April, 2012 from my colleagues house in Mysore.