In nature plants that truly affect their appearance even experienced botanist.These "wonders of the world" refers strongylodon macrobotrys (or, as it is called, jade flower).This plant of the family of legumes.In the wild it is found in the tropics: the forests of the Philippines and Hawaii.In terms of decorative jade flowers cultivated in different countries.They can be found in the botanical gardens and greenhouses.
Appearance
Jade flowers, above all, famous for their inflorescences, painted azure, emerald blue-green tones, similar in color with a jade stone.The plant is a fairly large vine with woody stems (length - up to 20 meters).The leaves of the plant are smooth, trifoliate.Themselves flowers the size of 12 centimeters.They are collected in long, almost meter, brushes of a few dozen, sometimes - up to a hundred pieces.
And jade color of light at night.This glow and attracts bats that pollinate the plant in exchange for honey nectar.The result is a small capsule containing the seeds of beans (up to 12 pieces in one).But rather sweet seeds quickly lose their germination.So rare amateur gardeners manage to grow a jade flowers without any special training.
Garlands of light hanging from the vines, impressive for its beauty, especially at night.Perhaps, this plant is one of the rarest colors in the world.
Homeland
All known types strongilodona hails from the southern latitudes of the Pacific Ocean and south-east Asia.In the wild, jade flowers are threatened with extinction due to the fact that the person systematically destroy their habitat.Despite this, botanical gardens worldwide are trying to preserve a vanishing populations.For example, Hawaii and Florida flower stems already in sufficiently large quantities and in a moderate climate.
Habitat
This plant does not have a dormant period.For flowering it needs a bright light (or at least the intensity of scattered).Jade flower loves moisture.The decorative environment requires heavy irrigation.Lack of moisture causes the darkening of the foliage and stunted.Thus, irrigation - natural or artificial - strongilodonu need throughout the year.Under the conditions of cultivation in the soil need to apply fertilizer during the growing season.And this flower needs soil with good drainage, rich in humus, with the addition of peat.
Reproduction strongilodona
flower can be propagated by cuttings or seeds.Plants quite prolific, but the seeds quickly "out of order", lose their germination.They are shown only fresh plant and the soil before planting them lightly nadpilivayut.Cuttings for best results must be cut in the spring.After that they need to be put in a very hot and humid place.Then, in a couple of weeks there will be new shoots.
If you want to transplant the young plants
recommend to repot every year.But when the flower matures and begins to "crawl on the walls," his transplant causes problems.The plant is difficult to even move.Therefore, jade flower with a certain age determined on a constant (in decorative terms).Let it be a large container, where the root system of plants is developing well and freely.Then, you just change the top layer of soil (5 cm) to the next.
pests
flower is not particularly susceptible to various pests.Sometimes it may be struck by aphids, mites, mealybugs.In this case, it is necessary to treat by conventional methods, as well as other ornamentals.
Jade Vine
- Flower strongilodona sometimes called exactly (or even a bunch of jade, jade grapes).Everything happens because of the unusual flowers of the plant.
- According to some of the flowers and nectar contained in them, you can prepare a very decent local Filipino or Hawaiian moonshine.
- In Hawaii, this flower is used for weaving traditional flower necklaces.
