Friday, August 31, 2012

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 NameMother and daughter croton
CameraSamsung WB150F
Imaqe DataISO 800, F.no 3.2, Speed 1/15
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio


Thursday, August 30, 2012

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.


PlantStrelitzia Reginae
Common NameCrane flower, Bird of Paradise
LocationAustralia
CameraPanasonic Lumix S3
PhotographerSusan Estrope Dicker
ReferencesWikipedia
AcknowledgementSusan Estrope Dicker(Image)

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

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

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



FlowerOncidium atlissimum
Common nameDancing Lady
LocationManila Seedling Bank, Philcoa(2nd photo)
CameraOlympus VG-110, Fujifilm HS25EXR camera
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
ReferenceWikipedia



Monday, August 27, 2012

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.





PlantAiphanes horrida
Common name
LocationTeachers Village, Bgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City
CameraSamsung WB150F compact camera
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
ReferenceWikipedia




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.







PlantKingdom(Plantae),unranked(Angiosperms, Eudicots, Asterids), order(Lamiales), Family(Verbenaceae), Genus-Species(Duranta Erecta).
Common nameAlba, Aurea, Aussie Gold, Gold Mound, Geisha Girl, Sapphire Showers, Variegata
CameraPanasonic Lumix S3
PhotographerSusan Estrope Dicker
ReferenceWikipedia;
faceysnursery

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


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

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!


PlantFicus Nota
Common NameTambuyog, Tibig
LocationKaitulari Resort(first photo), Bocal bocal (second photo)
CameraCanon S2 IS (first photo), Olympus VG-110 (second photo)
PhotographerLarry Geronca (first photo), Dr. Ernesto Adorio (2nd photo)
AcknowledgmentPhilippine 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
Locationkaitulari Resort, Moises Padilla, Neg. Occidental
CameraCanon S2 IS
PhotographerLarry Geronca


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

Saturday, August 18, 2012

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.










PlantEichornia Crassipes
Commonn nameWater hyacinth
LocationThe Ruins, TalisayM/td>
CameraNikon
PhotographerRebecca Adorio
ReferenceWikipedia


Friday, August 17, 2012

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:





PlantMedinilla Magnifica
Common name
LocationQC Memorial Circle
Photographer 1Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Camera 3Samsung 110
Photographer 3Al Claud
Referencewikipedia
AlbumFacebook


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
PlantCassia Surratensis, Senna surratensis, cassia glauca
Common nameGolden Senna, Scrambled Egg Tree, Glossy Shower, Bush Senna
Camera
LocationUP Campus, Biology
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
AcknowledgmentID:Benigno Resurrecccion

Stunning matchstick bromeliad, Aechmea gamosepala




Here is a flaming red version.




PlantAechmea Gamosepala
Common nameMatchstick bromeliad
CameraPanasonic Lumix S3
PhotographerSusan Entropy Dicker
AcknowledgmentDinah Canada(common name)

Images owned by Susan Estrope Dicker, published with permission.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Ferns: Asparagus densiflorus 'myers', foxtail ferns



I saw these two fine specimens in Manila Seedling Bank.








PlantAsparagus densiflorus 'myers'
Common nameFoxtails fern
LocationManila Seedling Bank
CameraOlympus VG-110
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Referencesquiddo:foxtail fern

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Alenium cobra, cobra fern


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



PlantAlenium cobra
Common nameCobra fern
CameraOlympus VG-110
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
AcknowledgmentDr 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:



PlantPhilodendron Philodendron Martianum|Cannifolium
Common name von Martius' Philodendron, Flask Philodendron
LocationManila Seedling Bank, Quezon City
CameraOlympus VG-110
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
AcknowledgmentAl Claud(identification)
ReferenceWikipedia, exoticrainforest.com


Saturday, August 11, 2012

australian juneberries - Amelanchier


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


PlantAmelanchier
Common namejuneberry
Location Australia
CameraPanasonic 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,






PlantPedilanthus|Euphorbia thithymaloides 'variegatus'
Common namebuck-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
LocationPhilcoa
CameraOlypus VG-110
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
ReferenceWikipedia

Friday, August 10, 2012

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 lens26x, 40-104mm [f1.31-f5.39mm], 22.3mm
Power4-AA batteries
Sensor16 Megapixels
Movie720HD 30fps
Special featuresDual image stabilizer, 3D photo capture, live panorama
Image toolsSmart filter, Magic Frame, Split shot modes
Display size3"



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




Thursday, August 9, 2012

Schefflera arboricola, dwarf umbrella tree


This beautiful specimen is from my Australian based Facebook friend.




PlantSchefflera arboricola, dwarf umbrella tree
Common nameScheffler Jacquiline, Dwarf umbrella tree
LocationAustralia
CameraPanasonic Lumix S3
PhotographerSusan Estrope Dicker
AcknowledgmentSusan Estrope Dicker(variety name)

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

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.







PlantLuffa acutangula
Common NamesPatola
CameraOlympus VG-110
PhotograherDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
PlantLuffa acutangula
AcknowledgementElla Bernales Jacildo(Identification)
ReferenceStuart Xchange
AlbumFacebook(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.






PlantDietes bicolor
Common namePeacock flower, Butterfly iris
LocationAustralia
CameraPanasonic Lumix S3
PhotographerSusan 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:



PlantVriesea Splendens
Common namesFlaming sword, devil's toungue
LocationAustralia
Camera Panasonic Lumix S3
PhotographerSusan Estrope Dicker
AcknowledgmentElla Bernales Jacildo (devil's tounge common name), Prof. Hermie Siroy (Vriesea identification)
Referencehttp://www.aboutgardenplants.com/Vriesea_splendens.shtml

Image owned by Susan Estrope Dicker. Published with permission.



Monday, August 6, 2012

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.


PlantPlecanthrus coleoides (variegated)
Common name swedish ivy
CameraOlympus VG-110
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
AlbumFacebook(Ernesto P. Adorio




Saturday, August 4, 2012

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.




PlantAphelandra Squarrosa
Common namezebra plant
CameraNokia C3 phone camera
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
AcknowledgmentProf. Hermie Siroy (Identification)
ReferenceWikipedia
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.




PlantCodiaeum variegatum
Common names Sagilala, Joseph's Coat, San Francisco crotons
Camerafirst photo most probably a Samsung es30, second photo taken with the Fujifilm HS25EXR camera.
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
ReferenceStuart 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.

.





PlantsMussaenda philippica Doña Luz,Mussaenda philippica Doña Aurora
CameraOlympus VG-110
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio

AlbumFacebook:Flowers named for a first lady.(Ernesto Adorio)

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








PlantAnona squarmosa Linn.
common nameAtis, Sugarapple, sweetsop
CameraOlypus VG-110
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
ReferenceStuart 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
PlantAbelmoschus esculentus
Common nameokra
CameraOlympus VG-110
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okra
AlbumFacebook(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.


PlantAsclepias physocarpus/Gomphocarpus physocarpus
Common nameMilkweed, hairy ball flowers, devil's balls,balloon plant,family
jewels
LocationSalvador Benedicto
CameraOlympus Vg-110
PhotographerErnesto P. Adorio
ReferenceWikipedia


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)




PlantAlpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum.
Common Namered ginger, ginger lily, ostrich plume, pine cone ginger
CameraOlympus VG-110, Fujifilm HS25EXR(second photo)
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
ReferenceStuartXchange, 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.




PlantScheflerra odorata
Common nameLima-lima, five fingers
CameraOlympus VG-110
PhotographerDr. Ernesto P. Adorio
IdentificationFortune plant(Ella Bernales Jacildo), lima-lima(Al Claud)
ReferencesStuartXchange


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