lily flowers images

Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere. They comprise a genus of about 110 species in the lily family (Liliaceae).
They are important as large showy flowering garden plants.Additionally, they are important culturally and in literature in much of the world. Some species are sometimes grown or harvested for the edible bulbs.

The species in this genus are the true lilies. Many other plants exist with "lily" in the common English name, some of which are quite unrelated to the true lilies.
The range of lilies in the Old World extends across much of Europe, across most of Asia to Japan, south to the Nilgiri mountains in India, and to the Philippines. In the New World they extend from southern Canada through much of the United States.

They are commonly adapted to either woodland habitats, often montane, or sometimes to grassland habitats. A few can survive in marshland and epiphytes are known in southeast Asia (including L. arboricola). In general they prefer moderately acidic or lime-free soils.
Lilies are leafy stemmed herbs. They form naked or tunic-less scaly underground bulbs which are their overwintering organs. In some North American species the base of the bulb develops into rhizomes, on which numerous small bulbs are found. Some species develop stolons. Most bulbs are deeply buried, but a few species form bulbs near the soil surface. Many species form stem-roots. With these, the bulb grows naturally at some depth in the soil, and each year the new stem puts out adventitious roots above the bulb as it emerges from the soil. These roots are in addition to the basal roots that develop at the base of the bulb.
Most cool temperate species are dormant in winter, while some are dormant in dry summer and sprout with the autumun rain and need winter chilling to induce flowering the following year.

Most species are deciduous, but a few species (Lilium candidum, Lilium catesbaei) bear a basal rosette of leaves during dormancy.

Seeds ripen in late summer. They exhibit varying and sometimes complex germination patterns, many adapted to cool temperate climates.
The large flowers have six tepals. They are often fragrant, and come in a range of colours ranging through whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples. Markings include spots and brush strokes. The plants are late spring or summer flowering.

Some species formerly included within this genus have now been placed in other genera. These genera include Cardiocrinum, Notholirion, Nomocharis and Fritillaria.
Taxonomical division in sections follows the classical division of Comber, species acceptance follows World Checklist of Liliaceae,[3] the taxonomy of section Pseudolirium is from the Flora of North America, the taxonomy of Section Liriotypus is given in consideration of Resetnik et al. 2007, the taxonomy of Chinese species (various sections) follows the Flora of China [6] and the taxonomy of Section Archelirion follows Nishikawa et al. as does the taxonomy of Section Archelirion.
lily flowers
lily flowers

Baby's breath Flowers

Baby's-breath in the United States and Canada, "soap wort"in the United Kingdom, elsewhere Gypsophila—is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe, Asia and north Africa. Many species are found on calcium-rich soils, including gypsum, hence the name of the genus. Some species are also sometimes called "baby's breath" or simply, "Gyp", among the floral industry. Its botanical name means "lover of chalk", which is accurate in describing the type of soil in which this plant grows.

They are herbaceous annual and perennial plants growing to 5–120 cm tall. The leaves are opposite, linear to narrow triangular, often falcate (sickle-shaped), 1–7 cm long and 2–8 mm broad. The flowers are produced in large inflorescences, which may be either dense or open and lax; each flower is small, 3–10 mm diameter, with five white or pink petals.

Baby's breath Flowers
Baby's breath Flowers
Baby's breath Flowers
Baby's breath Flowers
Baby's breath Flowers
Baby's breath Flowers
Baby's breath Flowers
Baby's breath Flowers

Peruvian lily Flowers

Peruvian lily
Peruvian lily
Peruvian lily
Peruvian lily
Peruvian lily
Peruvian lily
Peruvian lily

Peruvian Lilies (Alstroemeria pelegrina) are members of the Amaryllis (Amaryllidaceae) family and occur naturally in cool mountainous regions of Chile, Brazil and Peru. The genus is named after Claus Alstroemer, a pupil of the great botanical classifier Linnaeus who went to South America and sent back Alstroemeria seeds. These late spring blooming perennial flowers are like miniature lilies, with spotted or striped markings, shaded colour, or contrasting patches and attract bees, butterflies, and birds. The smooth light green leaves twist at their base so that the upper and lower surfaces are reversed and internally the anatomy has adapted to this reversed position; interestingly, Alstroemeria stems move rhythmically from side to side in a spiral motion as the plant produces new cells in a spiral sequence — you can sometimes see a spiral growth pattern on the stem. These hermaphroditic plants typically grow from two to three feet high and are frost tolerant.

Alstroemeria are sensitive to soil temperature and will put effort into producing more tuberous roots at the expense of flowering shoots when soil temperatures rise; because of this, Peruvian Lilies should be planted in partial or bright shade to ensure good flower production — container grown plants will heat up much more quickly than plants in open ground. Alstroemeria are fairly easy to cultivate in rich, well-drained soil in our local climate and, with few pests or diseases to inhibit growth, can quickly become invasive if not controlled by deep borders. Its tubers spread rapidly about one to two feet below the surface in finger-length roots. Propagation is by division, and the plant sap can cause contact dermatitis in some individuals.

Alstroemeria produce beautiful cut flowers that last about two weeks in water; because the leaves yellow long before the flower, it's recommended that leaves be removed before arranging.

Salmon Reagan Flowers

Salmon Reagan Flower
Salmon Reagan Flower
Salmon Reagan Flower
Salmon Reagan Flower

Misty blue Limonium Flowers

Misty blue Limonium Flowers
Misty blue Limonium Flowers
Misty blue Limonium Flowers
Misty blue Limonium Flowers
Misty blue Limonium Flowers

curcuma flower images & info

Curcumas are sometimes referred to as the `hidden ginger lily` primarily because of the lush, dense foliage that surrounds the blooms. The blooms come in a wide array of color and sizes and make for excellent cut flowers as they can last as long as two weeks. The most common variety is Curcuma Alismatifolia ‘Siam Tulip’ which is a wonderful pinky mauve that blooms all summer long.
Curcumas bloom spring, summer or fall depending on variety. This beautiful attractive dwarf species is a native of Thailand. It has long narrow pale green/blue stiff leaves and produces a pale purple/pink inflorescence on terminal spike, which can be used as cut flower. Curcumas are herbaceous perennials from Indochina, South East Asia, the Pacific Islands and northern Australia. They have broad, veined leaves, and small, brightly coloured flowers which emerge from large bracts. The flowers range in colour from white to pink, orange and shades of violet. The flower spikes last for several weeks. Curcumas die down in winter and re-emerge in spring, much like bulbs do.

Curcuma varieties

Curcuma `Tropical Snow` - white flower
Curcuma `Thai Magic` - pink flower
Curcuma `Thai Beauty` - dark pink flower
Curcuma gracillimum `Candy Stripe` - pink flower with dark striped edges
Curcuma alismatifolia `Siam Tulip` - pink/mauve flower
Curcuma cordata `Jewel of Thailand` - pink flower

curcuma flower
curcuma flower
curcuma flower
curcuma flower
curcuma flower

Artichoke thistle Flowers

Common and Scientific Names

Artichoke thistle
Cynara cardunculus L.

Origin and Distribution

Artichoke thistle is a native of the Mediterranean regions and was first reported in Victoria at Williamstown in 1884. Infestations are present throughout central Victoria, extending from the Murray river at Echuca to Melbourne and westerly.

Description

Artichoke thistle is a stout, erect, greyish perennial which forms a rosette of very large leaves and usually grows to a height of 60 to 150 cm, although occasional plants are found over 2 metres high. Seeds germinate mainly in autumn and the plant usually flowers in its second summer. It grows mainly on medium to heavy soils in pastures, on roadsides and creeklands, waste lands and vacant industrial areas.

Stems - of mature plants are branched, strongly-ribbed and covered with cottony down. There is usually only one stem per plant, but may be as many as eight. The stems are produced in spring and bear flower heads at the end of each branch in summer.

Leaves - vary considerably in length; the basal leaves can be up to 1 m long and 30 cm wide, whereas the stem leaves are often only 15 cm long. The upper surface of the leaves is a greyish-green colour, while the under surface appears almost white because of a dense mat of white hairs. The leaves are much divided, each lobe ending in a sharp, yellow spine.

Flowers - blue to purple in colour, 5 to 13 cm in diameter, and surrounded by a series of stout bracts each ending with a spiny tip. Flowering occurs from December to February.

Seeds - 6 to 8mm long, brown or black in colour, and topped by a loosely attached pappus (parachute) of feathery bristles, up to 40 mm long.

Roots - large fleshy taproot, somewhat like an oversized parsnip, which may grow to a depth of 2 metres. New growth develops from the crown each year.

The Problem

Artichoke thistle has the ability to dominate the vegetation of an area once it becomes established. The large plants smother most pasture growth as well as drawing much moisture and nutrient from the soil. It may also compete with crops and impede harvesting operations. The prickly nature of the leaves deters sheep and cattle from areas of heavy infestation.

Heads from the heavy infestations around Melbourne have been collected and treated in the same way as globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus) for eating. Globe artichoke has fleshier flowers with fewer spines and has not become a weed. Hybrids of the two species have been identified in Victoria. Artichoke thistle has also been used as a cut flower for decoration.

Artichoke thistle is thought to cause contact dermatitis with some people.

Dispersal

The pappus aids the dispersal of the seed by wind, but it is not very effective because of the weight of the seed. Most seeds drop within a few metres of the parent plant as they separate from the loosely attached pappus, whilst others may blow as far as about 20 metres.

Seed is also spread by animals and birds, and by flood waters. The careless disposal of cut flowers also contributes to dispersal. Fragments of cut root will generate new plants in favorable conditions.
Artichoke thistle
Artichoke thistle
Artichoke thistle
Artichoke thistle
Artichoke thistle

Larkspur pink flowers info & pics

Delphinium is a genus of about 300 species of perennial flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native throughout the Northern Hemisphere and also on the high mountains of tropical Africa.The common name, Larkspur, is shared with the closely related genus Consolida.

The leaves are deeply lobed with 3-7 toothed, pointed lobes in a palmate shape. The main flowering stem is erect, and varies greatly in size between the species, from 10 centimeters in some alpine species, up to 2 meters tall in the larger meadowland species; it is topped with a raceme of many flowers, varying in color from purple and blue to red, yellow or white. The flower has five petal-like sepals which grow together to form a hollow pocket with a spur at the end, which gives the plant its name. Within the sepals are four true petals. The seeds are small and often shiny black. The plants flower from late spring to late summer, and are pollinated by butterflies and bumble bees. Most species are toxic. Despite the toxicity, Delphinium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Dot Moth and Small Angle Shades.

Other names are, lark's heel (Shakespeare), lark's claw and knight's spur. The scientific name comes from the Latin for dolphin, alluding to the shape of the opening flower.

Larkspur pink flowers
Larkspur pink flowers
Larkspur pink flowers
Larkspur pink flowers