Medinilla Magnifica
by J McCombie
Title
Medinilla Magnifica
Artist
J McCombie
Medium
Photograph - Untouched
Description
This piece has been featured in the FAA Group, "Flora".
The flower on the Medinilla Magnifica is made up of many small flowers cupped in bracts (large petal-like leaves) and can grow to about 50 cm (20 inches) long. If you look carefully you can see the delicate purple anthers sticking out of the trumpet-shaped flowers. This small detail is the finishing touch of the flower and is its hallmark.
A stunning combination of thick, richly textured foliage and large umbels of draping pink flowers that droop on 4-angled arched stems in a way that the whole effect resembles a lantern. The blooms are actually small, born in tiered clusters; it is the flower bracts that steal all the attention. A truly elegant display for any room.
There are approximately 400 species of Medinilla, of which until now only the magnifica is supplied as a houseplant. The family name of the Medinilla is Melastomataceae. Medinilla magnifica finds its origin in the mountains of the Philippines. It is an epiphyte, which is a plant that grows on other trees but does not withdraw its food from those trees as parasites do. Medinilla magnifica (the showy medinilla, rose grape, Pink Lantern plant or Chandelier Tree) is the only Medinilla with splendid pink flyleaves and such a large flower. Late king Boudewijn of Belgium was a big devotee of Medinilla. He grew them in the royal conservatories and they flaunted on the bank note of 10,000 Belgian francs.
The plant grows up to 3 m (8 feet) tall, with opposite, firm, leathery leaves, which grow to 20–30 cm (10-12 inches) long in an ovate shape with a short point. In late spring to early summer, the flowers grow in panicles up to 50 cm (20 inches) long, with ovid pink bracts. The plant is covered by drooping clusters of delicate pink flowers that look somewhat like grapes or wisteria flowers. These flowers are what gives the plant all its folk names. The individual flowers are up to 25 mm (1 inch) in size, and are pink, red or violet. The fruits are violet, fleshy berries, about 1 cm wide.
In the tropics, it is grown as a perennial. It is also a common house plant in cooler climes. In temperate zones this plant must be grown under protection all year round, as it does not tolerate temperatures below 15 °C (59 °F). It requires high humidity levels, and bright sunlight with shade at the hottest time of the day. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Uploaded
September 28th, 2018
Embed
Share
Comments
There are no comments for Medinilla Magnifica. Click here to post the first comment.