Croton flower

Lets admit it. Crotons already are beatiful to look at with their rich fiolage. But here is one photo, taken at Philcoa by this blog author on a late afternoon.

Image data: ISO 800, F.No. 3.2, Sjutter 1/15, Camera Samsung WB150F.




Here is an interesting collage from Google on Eburneum crotons

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=eburneum+croton&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=2iJBUMD7D8f1mAXpooFI&sqi=2&ved=0CBsQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=502

Freaky croton plant: appendiculatum variety

A stunning croton with extra leaf appendages! This specimen was being sold in Philcoa sidewalk.

Plant	: Codiaeum variegatum var. pictum f. appendiculatum
Common Name	Mother and daughter croton
Camera	Samsung WB150F
Imaqe Data	ISO 800, F.no 3.2, Speed 1/15
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio

Strelitzia Reginae, Bird of Paradise

My Australian gardener/photographer friend does it again! Here is a stunning photo of a bird of paradise, botanical name: strelitzia reginae.

Plant	Strelitzia Reginae
Common Name	Crane flower, Bird of Paradise
Location	Australia
Camera	Panasonic Lumix S3
Photographer	Susan Estrope Dicker
References	Wikipedia
Acknowledgement	Susan Estrope Dicker(Image)

Image owned by Susan Estrope Dicker and published with permission in this blog.

Oncidium altissimum, dancing lady flower

This enchanting flower makes the viewer imagine a lady dancing in a hall. I can even see dancing young girls if the photo is viewed a further distance!

New photo, August 7, 2013

Flower	Oncidium atlissimum
Common name	Dancing Lady
Location	Manila Seedling Bank, Philcoa(2nd photo)
Camera	Olympus VG-110, Fujifilm HS25EXR camera
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Reference	Wikipedia

Aiphanes horrida, a thorny palm!

Here are photos of aiphanes, a thorny palm plant. It originates from central to South America. Its fruits are eaten and the seeds dispersed by the
oil birds called guachros.

See wikipedia for more! Spine palm.

Plant	Aiphanes horrida
Common name
Location	Teachers Village, Bgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City
Camera	Samsung WB150F compact camera
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Reference	Wikipedia

Duranta Erecta, Geisha girl flowers

My australian friend in Facebook posts amazing photos of plants I have not personally seen before. Here is one, called Geisha flowers by my Australian friend. Smaller versions of this plant are called Duranta Repens.

I was surprised that the wiki reference mentioned this attractive plant with beautiful flowers as an invasive species! Moreover, the berries are toxic to dogs but not to birds and butterflies.

More surprises, this past few months, I saw durantas in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Here is a photo I snapped, I think with my Samsung WB150F camera.

Plant	Kingdom(Plantae),unranked(Angiosperms, Eudicots, Asterids), order(Lamiales), Family(Verbenaceae), Genus-Species(Duranta Erecta).
Common name	Alba, Aurea, Aussie Gold, Gold Mound, Geisha Girl, Sapphire Showers, Variegata
Camera	Panasonic Lumix S3
Photographer	Susan Estrope Dicker
Reference	Wikipedia; faceysnursery

First image owned by, and published with permission from Susan Estrope Dicker of Australia.

Tree: Tambuyog, Ficus Nota, a tree in swampy area.

Here is a tree I first found in Bocal-Bocal Springs in upper Alangilan, Bacolod City with unusual berries growing in its trunk (not on branches! Somebody tasted it when he was young and it is tasteless and odorous.

When you see this plant, you can see it is near a source of water, thus it is found in swamps, riverbanks, etc.

I am still looking for its scientific name or even the English common name.
Good News[September 22, 2012]! it is ficus nota or "tibig" and is a native tree of the Philippines. Hooray!

Plant	Ficus Nota
Common Name	Tambuyog, Tibig
Location	Kaitulari Resort(first photo), Bocal bocal (second photo)
Camera	Canon S2 IS (first photo), Olympus VG-110 (second photo)
Photographer	Larry Geronca (first photo), Dr. Ernesto Adorio (2nd photo)
Acknowledgment	Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, Inc.(Identification as Ficus Nota)
References	http://herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.com/2012/05/ficus-nota-tibig-uses-and-health.html

First Image owned by Larry Geronca, published in this blog with permission.

A photo taken from a Canon S2 IS

I am lucky to have a Facebook friend in Larry Geronca, the man behind the Kaitulari Resort in Guinpanan, Moises Padilla. His resort is in an eco-tourism zone in the foothills of the majestic Canlaon Volcano in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

Here is a photo of torch gingers[ Etlingera elatior (also known as Torch Ginger, Ginger Flower, Red Ginger Lily, Torch Lily, Wild Ginger, Combrang, Bunga Siantan, Philippine Wax Flower, Xiang Bao Jiaing, Indonesian Tall Ginger, Boca de Dragón, Rose de Porcelain] and mickey mouse eggplants[Solanum mammosum-Mickey Mouse eggplant, Nipple Fruit, Titty Fruit, Cow's Udder, Apple of Sodom] illustrating the vivid color rendition of his camera.

Plant(s)	Etlingera elatior, Solanum mammosum
Common name(s)	Torch ginger, Mickey Mouse eggplant
Location	kaitulari Resort, Moises Padilla, Neg. Occidental
Camera	Canon S2 IS
Photographer	Larry Geronca

Image owned by Larry Geronca and published in this blog with his permission.

Common Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) , beautiful but can be an environmental pest.

You can view this plant as a good indicator of environmental pollution. Fertilizer run-off from farms feed into waterways, causing massive blooms of water hyacinths, thereby clogging lake and rivers, choking fish, and providing a host for unhealthy worms! Dried hyacinths make good weaving materials but alas, they left alone the hyacinths to create a future environmental disaster in inland water bodies!



The flowers can be beautiful. Here is one photo by my sister Rebecca taken at the Ruins in Talisay.

Plant	Eichornia Crassipes
Commonn name	Water hyacinth
Location	The Ruins, TalisayM/td>
Camera	Nikon
Photographer	Rebecca Adorio
Reference	Wikipedia

Medinilla Magnifica

Here is a stunning Phillipine native plant, the medinilla magnifica, which is endemic to Luzun and Mindoro.

Here is another photographed from Quezon Memorial Circle:

And here is one from our good Facebook friend Al Claud:

Plant	Medinilla Magnifica
Common name
Location	QC Memorial Circle
Photographer 1	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Camera 3	Samsung 110
Photographer 3	Al Claud
Reference	wikipedia
Album	Facebook

December 25, 2012. Added a photo by Al Claud.


Image 3 courtesy of Al Claud. Published with permission.

Cassia Surratensis, Golden Senna, Scrambled Egg Tree, Glossy Shower, Bush Senna

The tree looks like cherry blossoms from a distance but they are actually related to acacias. Most are actualy white/pinkish but our specimen have yellow flowers. They are endemic in Palawan, but specimens can be found in Manila Seedling Bank and UP Diliman Campus.

Olympus VG-110

Plant	Cassia Surratensis, Senna surratensis, cassia glauca
Common name	Golden Senna, Scrambled Egg Tree, Glossy Shower, Bush Senna
Camera
Location	UP Campus, Biology
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Acknowledgment	ID:Benigno Resurrecccion

Stunning matchstick bromeliad, Aechmea gamosepala

Here is a flaming red version.

Plant	Aechmea Gamosepala
Common name	Matchstick bromeliad
Camera	Panasonic Lumix S3
Photographer	Susan Entropy Dicker
Acknowledgment	Dinah Canada(common name)

Images owned by Susan Estrope Dicker, published with permission.

Ferns: Asparagus densiflorus 'myers', foxtail ferns

I saw these two fine specimens in Manila Seedling Bank.

Plant	Asparagus densiflorus 'myers'
Common name	Foxtails fern
Location	Manila Seedling Bank
Camera	Olympus VG-110
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Reference	squiddo:foxtail fern

Alenium cobra, cobra fern

It is similar looking to bird's nest fern but has more curls.

Plant	Alenium cobra
Common name	Cobra fern
Camera	Olympus VG-110
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Acknowledgment	Dr Lynette Adorio-Arce(identification

A beautiful philodendron martianum|cannifolium

Here is one beautiful philodendron, photographed in Manila Seedling Bank.

To appreciate it more here is a close up view:

Plant	Philodendron Philodendron Martianum|Cannifolium
Common name	von Martius' Philodendron, Flask Philodendron
Location	Manila Seedling Bank, Quezon City
Camera	Olympus VG-110
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Acknowledgment	Al Claud(identification)
Reference	Wikipedia, exoticrainforest.com

australian juneberries - Amelanchier

My Australian based Facebook friend Susan Estrope Dicker has shared this photo of luscious looking edible juneberries, most probably Amelanchier Ovalis.

Plant	Amelanchier
Common name	juneberry
Location	Australia
Camera	Panasonic Lumix S3
Photographer	Susan Estrope Dicker
Reference	Wikipedia

Image owned and published with permission by Susan Estrope Dicker.

Bryan Engay and friend Atop Mt. Apo

Here is a most dramatic shot of two mountain climbers, with Prof. Bryan Engay at the left, atop the highest mountain of the Philippines! Taken with a Nikon DSLR by his friend Rodelio Reyes.

Image link published with permission by Prof. Bryan Engay.

Plants: Pedilanthus|Euphorbia thithymaloides 'variegatus', Christmas Candle, Devil's Backbone, Jacob's Ladder, Japanese Poinsettia,Jew's Slipper,

Plant	Pedilanthus|Euphorbia thithymaloides 'variegatus'
Common name	buck-thorn,cimora misha, Christmas Candle, Devil's Backbone, Fiddle Flower, ipecacuahana, Jacob's Ladder, Japanese Poinsettia,Jew's Slipper
	Jewbush, Milk-Hedge, Myrtle-Leaved Spurge,Padus-Leaved Clipper Plant, Red Slipper Spurge, Redbird Cactus, Redbird Flower, Slipper Flower, Slipper Plant, Slipper Spurge, timora misha, and Zig-Zag Plant
Location	Philcoa
Camera	Olypus VG-110
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Reference	Wikipedia

Cameras: Samsung WB100 superzoom 26X camera. A bargain at 9,990 pesos!

I went to visit SM North or SM City in Quezon City,today August 11, 2012, and was surprised with the new cameras on display/sale. One particular camera caught my attention: the newest member of the wide body series for Samsung (my brother bought the WB150F for 12,9999 pesos) selling for an incredible price of Phil. 9,990 pesos!

The 26x zooming range is a real comeon, imagine competing to shoot nature photos, like faraway birds with professionals with their bulky and heavy dslr and extra heavy zoom lens. The WB100 user may be able to shoot more respectable photos than professionals in a day!

here is a photo of the Samsung WB100 with a red body.

Here are some public specs from published sources.

Zoom lens	26x, 40-104mm [f1.31-f5.39mm], 22.3mm
Power	4-AA batteries
Sensor	16 Megapixels
Movie	720HD 30fps
Special features	Dual image stabilizer, 3D photo capture, live panorama
Image tools	Smart filter, Magic Frame, Split shot modes
Display size	3"

Specs to be continued....


The suggested retail price in the US is about 200 dollars. Converting roughly to pesos using 41.7 pesos/dollar, this amounts to 8340 pesos, which is not bad if you buy it here. Shipping charges and customs may shoot up the price to more than 10K pesos.

I still do not have the urgent need to buy this immediately, but the WB100 is NOT pocketable. It has no EVF (Eyelevel View Finder), not unusual since this is an entry level superzoom camera.



My first experience with Samsung camera products was not good. My first ST-30 which I bought for less than 5,000 gave up less than a year after its teflon seals unraveled, perhaps to intrusion of moisture. Yet I made a lot of photos with it and it had some advanced features! I had to buy my current Olympus VG-110 which is much sturdy and is still functioning now.


Further reading: Samsung.com WB100 official page

Schefflera arboricola, dwarf umbrella tree

This beautiful specimen is from my Australian based Facebook friend.

Plant	Schefflera arboricola, dwarf umbrella tree
Common name	Scheffler Jacquiline, Dwarf umbrella tree
Location	Australia
Camera	Panasonic Lumix S3
Photographer	Susan Estrope Dicker
Acknowledgment	Susan Estrope Dicker(variety name)

Luffa Acutangula, Patola flower: glassy when wet!

I was surprised this plant has broad leaves yet with a tiny flower.More surprising the flower looked glassy with transparent petal when wet! Yet this is a a common vegetable , the humble patola.

Plant	Luffa acutangula
Common Names	Patola
Camera	Olympus VG-110
Photograher	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Plant	Luffa acutangula
Acknowledgement	Ella Bernales Jacildo(Identification)
Reference	Stuart Xchange
Album	Facebook(Ernesto P. Adorio

Dietes bicolor, butterfly iris

This photo of an iris was supplied by my friend Susan Estrope Dicker. After weeks of searching, I finally managed to identify this as dietes bicolor or butterfly iris.

Plant	Dietes bicolor
Common name	Peacock flower, Butterfly iris
Location	Australia
Camera	Panasonic Lumix S3
Photographer	Susan Estrope Dicker

Image owned by susan Estrope Dicker and published with permission.

Vriesea splendens, flaming sword bromeliad

Here is a fantastic specimen of an attractive bromeliad with a colorful flat spike may easily be confused with tillandsia or air plant. This is from the garden of Susan Estrope Dicker, based in Australia:

Plant	Vriesea Splendens
Common names	Flaming sword, devil's toungue
Location	Australia
Camera	Panasonic Lumix S3
Photographer	Susan Estrope Dicker
Acknowledgment	Ella Bernales Jacildo (devil's tounge common name), Prof. Hermie Siroy (Vriesea identification)
Reference	http://www.aboutgardenplants.com/Vriesea_splendens.shtml

Image owned by Susan Estrope Dicker. Published with permission.

Plants: Plectranthus coleoides variegated, swedish ivy

I formerly identified this as a pisonia, but further investigation made me revise the name to swedish ivy.

More photos, including for non-variegated variety, in our Facebook album.

Plant	Plecanthrus coleoides (variegated)
Common name	swedish ivy
Camera	Olympus VG-110
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Album	Facebook(Ernesto P. Adorio

Plants: Aphelandra Squarrosa, zebra plant

I saw this in UP Diliman and took a photo with my Nokia C3. The most striking feature are the bright green leaves and the decorative prominent veins. I formerly thought this was a fittonia, but a friend corrected me that this is aphelandria and is already widespread in Bacolod City! I still need to see the flowers, ..., someday we will be successful!

Here is another non-flowering aphelandra found in Bacolod City. Oops this is an iresine herbstii from Brazil. Will repost this in another post.

Plant	Aphelandra Squarrosa
Common name	zebra plant
Camera	Nokia C3 phone camera
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Acknowledgment	Prof. Hermie Siroy (Identification)
Reference	Wikipedia

Revisions.

• August 5, 2012 Earlier Fittonia verschaffeltii label changed to Aphelandria.
  

Sky photos: NLEX

I always try to bring my compact camera, and I am happy whenever I get the chance to sit in the front seat of the van going back and forth to UP Clarkfield, Pampanga. The 88 km first class highway seems to have surprises in store always for those who decides NOT to sleep in the almost 1 hour drive.

Here is a photo, taken by my lowly NOKIA C3 camera phone. It illustrates that even a 2 Megapixel camera can capture the beauty of the wide expanse of the sky.

Nokia really makes excellent photographic components for its cellphones. The high quality beats the ordinary imaging outputs of some 5 Megapixel cameras!

Plants: Codiaeum variegatum, San Francisco crotons, Joseph's coat sagilala

This is a variety of crotons whose leaves can be elongated and crumpled. Here is one specimen found in University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Here is a more recent photo, taken at Sum-ag, Bacolod City, specimen planted by our sister Rebecca Adorio.

Plant	Codiaeum variegatum
Common names	Sagilala, Joseph's Coat, San Francisco crotons
Camera	first photo most probably a Samsung es30, second photo taken with the Fujifilm HS25EXR camera.
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Reference	Stuart Exchange

Flowers: Mussaenda philippica first lady flowers

These are native Philippine flowers, developed at Los Banos and named to honor the first ladies of the county. We will show only two. The flowers of these plants are actually the the small yellow stars!


Here is a pink leaved Mussaenda philippica Doña Luz:

here is a white leaved Mussaenda philippica Doña Aurora flower:

More photos in the facebook album.

.

Plants	Mussaenda philippica Doña Luz,Mussaenda philippica Doña Aurora
Camera	Olympus VG-110
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Album	Facebook:Flowers named for a first lady.(Ernesto Adorio)

Fruit Plants: Atis, Sugar Apple, sweetsop, Anona squamosa Linn.

Plant	Anona squarmosa Linn.
common name	Atis, Sugarapple, sweetsop
Camera	Olypus VG-110
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Reference	Stuart Xchange

Plants: Abelmoschus esculentus, okra

I only developed a taste for this slimy vegetable when I was in secondary school. I find the flowers beautiful!

Reference

Plant	Abelmoschus esculentus
Common name	okra
Camera	Olympus VG-110
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okra
Album	Facebook(Ernesto P. Adorio)

Flowers: swan plant,balloon, milkweed or hairy ball flowers,family jewels, Asclepias fruticosusphysocarpus/Gomphocarpus fruticosusphysocarpus

If nature has flowers mimicking the female organ, clittoria ternateathese flowers have scrotum-like balls!

We shall finalize the identification of this fascinating plant, but we notice that the balls are globular (not ovate). It is so easy to confuse this with species with Asclepias physocarpa or Gomphocarpus physocarpus but we should be warned that it is poisonous to
both man and beast.

Plant	Asclepias physocarpus/Gomphocarpus physocarpus
Common name	Milkweed, hairy ball flowers, devil's balls,balloon plant,family jewels
Location	Salvador Benedicto
Camera	Olympus Vg-110
Photographer	Ernesto P. Adorio
Reference	Wikipedia

Note: According to the wikipedia article, both species fruticosa and physocarpus can be distinguished by the following:

• balloon cotton bush (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) has rounded (i.e. globose or sub-globose) fruit that come to an abrupt point and often have a sunken (i.e. indented) tip with a tiny beak.
• narrow-leaved cotton bush (Gomphocarpus fruticosus ) has narrowly egg-shaped (i.e. ovoid) and slightly curved (i.e. falcate) fruit that gradually taper to a short, curved beak.

Flowers: Red ginger, pine cone ginger, ostrich plume, Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.)

The ginger family is full of surprising forms! Beehives, torches and now this colorful(red ginger)

Plant	Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum.
Common Name	red ginger, ginger lily, ostrich plume, pine cone ginger
Camera	Olympus VG-110, Fujifilm HS25EXR(second photo)
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Reference	StuartXchange, Wikipedia

Plants: schefflera odorata, lima-lima, five fingers

I found this plant at UP BLISS, Philcoa. I guess they grow this for its medicinal properties. I like the smooth almost reflective leaves. This plant is named lima-lima or fortune plant as it may have 5,6,7, 8 or 9 leaves.

Here is SED photo with nine leaves.

Plant	Scheflerra odorata
Common name	Lima-lima, five fingers
Camera	Olympus VG-110
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Identification	Fortune plant(Ella Bernales Jacildo), lima-lima(Al Claud)
References	StuartXchange

Second photo owned and copyrighted by SED(Susan Estrope Dicker) of Australia. Linked with permission.