Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
Strelitzia is a genus of four species, which occurs in South Africa. The name Strelitzia honours Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III of the United Kingdom.
Strelitzia nicolai can grow up to 10 m high, making it the largest species of the genus. The other species are usually 2-6 m high.
The leaves are 30-200 cm long and 10-80 cm wide, resembling a banana leaf, but with a longer petiole. They are arranged in two rows and form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage.
The flowers form a horizontal inflorescence and emerge from a sturdy bract. The flowers are pollinated by honey suckers, who use the bract as a seat when they visit the flowers. The weight of the birds causes the flower to open and pollen to end up on the bird's legs, which can transfer the birds to other flowers.
Hey, hello there! Welcome to my Work on the Wall page. I'm a freelance photographer from California, but I've been living in the Netherlands since 2010. I live centrally in the country in Loosdrecht, so I am able to work in much of the country. I work.. Read more…