Members of the mint family (Lamiaceae) feature prominently in the European pharmacopeia, and thus we know of peppermint, spearmint, catnip, melissa, sage, thyme and others. Much less is known about the medicinal properties of species of Lamiaceae in Australia, but … Continue reading →
Commonly by various names such as the Flaming Glorybower, this vigorous vine, native to tropical Africa, is grown for its showy and ornamental red blossoms. Beautiful these flowers are! – brilliant bright red, very showy, and borne in terminal clusters. … Continue reading →
This herb, also known commonly as pignut or chan, is a native of tropical regions of Mexico, Central, the West Indies, and South America. It has been widely naturalized in tropical parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. It grows to … Continue reading →
A native of Philippine islands, this ornamental shrub is also known as Parrot’s Beak. The down-hanging inflorescence that bear the bright yellow and curious looking flowers are botanically classified as a paniculate cyme. The yellow flowers are accompanied by purple-brown … Continue reading →
Callicarpa pedunculata (also known as Velvet Leaf) is a common successional species of shrub, that grows in disturbed rainforest and giant eucalypt forests. As the coomon name suggests, the leaves have a velvety feel. The leaves are oppositely arranged, somewhat … Continue reading →
This is a rain forest understorey shrub with wonderfully large leaf proportions. The leaves can be almost as large as a dinner plate, and have a superficial resemblance to the Stinging Tree, particularly Dendrocnides cordifolia. However, C. tracyanum is not … Continue reading →
Just about everywhere along the roadsides beside canefields in Cairns we may encounter this beautiful exotic herb, commonly known as Leucas. Leucas occurs in wasteland environments in India to China and some parts of Southeast Asia. Most unfortunately, few people … Continue reading →
This glorious vine seems to be a very common inhabitant of rain forests. It’s hard to imagine that this vine has anything to do with what we would normally call mints (i.e members of the Lamiaceae family), but the flower … Continue reading →
This herbaceous plant occurs in rainforest and wet forest and is easily recognized and distinguished from other species of Plectranthus by the way the leaf lamina narrows towards the base. Even when flowerless, it will be easily recognized to be … Continue reading →
In a way, the unification of much of the Verbena (Verbenaceae) with the Mint family (Lamiaceae) makes it easy to pinpoint what family this tree belongs to. This tree used to belong to the Verbena family but the tubular flowers … Continue reading →
Been in Australia for over a decade gazing at plants, both large and small, grasses and trees, in rain forest and savanna, in the tropics and in temperate zones. I love connecting with people with similar interests. You can read more about me on my About page and at my personal BLOG.
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Leaf Whispering in the Tropics 