Strelitzia reginae is a monocotyledonous flowering plant
indigenous to South Africa. Common names include Strelitzia, Crane Flower or
Bird of Paradise, though these names are also collectively applied to other
species in the genus Strelitzia. Its scientific name commemorates Charlotte of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, queen consort of the United Kingdom, wife of H.M. King
George III. The species is native to South Africa but naturalized in Mexico,
Belize, Bangladesh, Madeira Islands and Juan Fernández Islands off the coast of
Chile.
The plant grows to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall, with large, strong
leaves 25–70 cm (9.8–27.6 in) long and 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) broad, produced
on petioles up to 1 m (39 in) long. The leaves are evergreen and arranged in
two ranks, making a fan-shaped crown. The flowers stand above the foliage at
the tips of long stalks. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower
emerges is termed the spathe. This is placed perpendicular to the stem, which
gives it the appearance of a bird's head and beak; it makes a durable perch for
holding the sunbirds which pollinate the flowers. The flowers, which emerge one
at a time from the spathe, consist of three brilliant orange sepals and three
purplish-bluepetals. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an
arrow-like nectary. When the sunbirds sit to drink the nectar, the petals open
to cover their feet in pollen.
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