Rush-leaved strelitzia (Strelitzia juncea)
Description
“Pet poisonous” – Toxic parts: pods Strelitzia juncea, the rush-leaved strelitzia or narrow-leaved bird of paradise, is a monocotyledonous flowering plant that is indigenous to South Africa. This drought resistant Strelitzia occurs sparingly near Uitenhage, Patensie and just north of Port Elizabeth. It is threatened in part by illegal removal for horticultural purposes. This species is thought to be one of the most frost resistant of the genus Strelitzia. Other common names include strelitzia, bird of paradise, or crane flower though these names are also collectively applied to other species in the genus Strelitzia. The species S. nicolai is the largest in the genus, reaching 10 m tall, with stately white and blue flowers; the other species typically reach 2 to 3.5 m tall, except S. caudata which is a tree of a typically smaller size than S. nicolai. The leaves are large, 30-200 cm long and 10-80 cm broad, similar to a banana leaf in appearance but with a longer petiole, and arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage. The flowers are produced in a horizontal inflorescence emerging from a stout spathe.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Zingiberales
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Family: Strelitziaceae
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Genus: Strelitzia
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