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Tropical flowers
A kaleidoscope of colour, pictures stolen from nature, a lover enshrining the image of his loved one. A fascinating insight into Gianfranco Paghera’s personal collection of photos in this brand-new series.
Flowers from the earthly paradise of the tropics, an explosion of scents and colours that helped inspire Paghera to design his splendid gardens and which have become part of his collection of flowers. Here are just some examples of this wonderful collection.
Barringtonia
Barringtonia asiatica grows, like mangroves, on sandy and rocky shores. The flowers open at night and consist of four petals surrounded by numerous white filaments terminating in shades of pink. Its scent attracts moths and bats that feed on the pollen.
Zephirantes candida
The name Zephirantes candida means the flowers of the west wind, Zephyrus from the Greek God of the west wind and anthos, meaning flower. Native to the wetlands and marshes of Rio de la Plata, they thrive in damp climates and bloom during the rainy season ushered in by the west wind. For this reason they are also known as Rain Lilies.
Acalypha hispida
Acalypha hispida is a deep pink-red flowering shrub which can flower virtually all year long under the right climatic conditions. It is also commonly known as the Chenille plant because of the distinctive shape of its elongated pistilles, that can reach a length of 18 centimetres.
Plumeria
Plumeria, with its fleshy, scented flowers, is a genus of shrub or small tree widespread in tropical climates, where it is much-loved. It owes its name to the French botanist Charles Plumier (1646-1704) who travelled widely in the New World and discovered numerous species of plants. It is commonly known as Frangipani, after Muzio Frangipane, a Roman nobleman, who is credited with devising a scent in medieval times which was subsequently found to be very similar to the perfume of the flowers of this plant.
Ixora Coccinea
Originally from the south of India and Sri Lanka, Hindus traditionally offer it to Shiva. The flower, along with the roots and the leaves, is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Alpinia Purpurata
Alpinia purpurata, or Red Ginger, with its unmistakable long brightly coloured red bracts, is an ornamental plant. It blooms almost all year round and can reach three metres in height. The genus name, Alpinia, was dedicated to Prospero Alpini (1553-1616), a famous Italian physician and botanist.
Brugmansia
Brugmansia is a genus of seven species originating mainly in South America. A generously flowering and scented plant, it is grown for ornamental purposes. Being rich in alkaloids, many indigenous cultures of South America used it in medical preparations, but also as a hallucinogen in rituals, in ceremonies linked to divination, or to communicate with the spirits of their ancestors.
Ravenala madagascariensis
Ravenala madagascariensis, despite its appearance, is not a true palm but a member Musaceae family like the bird-of-paradise, Strelitziaceae or the banana.
It is also called the Traveller’s Tree thanks to the characteristic fan-like arrangement of its leaves. These have a hollow base, where rainwater collects and that was then used by travellers to slake their thirst.
Angraecum eburneum
Angraecum eburneum, also called the Payanke orchid, is the floral symbol of the Seychelles. The name is derived from the tropical Payanke bird, native to the Seychelles, whose long thin tail looks very similar to the flower.
Psychotria elata
Native to tropical forests and rainforests, Psychotria elata with its glossy bright red bracts attracts large numbers of pollinators, including hummingbirds and butterflies. Its curious, unusual shape, similar to lips, has inspired a number of nicknames, including "Hot kiss plant" or "Mick Jagger lips" thanks to its similarity with the famous Rolling Stones logo.
A kaleidoscope of colour, pictures stolen from nature, a lover enshrining the image of his loved one. A fascinating insight into Gianfranco Paghera’s personal collection of photos in this brand-new series.
Flowers from the earthly paradise of the tropics, an explosion of scents and colours that helped inspire Paghera to design his splendid gardens and which have become part of his collection of flowers. Here are just some examples of this wonderful collection.
Barringtonia
Barringtonia asiatica grows, like mangroves, on sandy and rocky shores. The flowers open at night and consist of four petals surrounded by numerous white filaments terminating in shades of pink. Its scent attracts moths and bats that feed on the pollen.
Zephirantes candida
The name Zephirantes candida means the flowers of the west wind, Zephyrus from the Greek God of the west wind and anthos, meaning flower. Native to the wetlands and marshes of Rio de la Plata, they thrive in damp climates and bloom during the rainy season ushered in by the west wind. For this reason they are also known as Rain Lilies.
Acalypha hispida
Acalypha hispida is a deep pink-red flowering shrub which can flower virtually all year long under the right climatic conditions. It is also commonly known as the Chenille plant because of the distinctive shape of its elongated pistilles, that can reach a length of 18 centimetres.
Plumeria
Plumeria, with its fleshy, scented flowers, is a genus of shrub or small tree widespread in tropical climates, where it is much-loved. It owes its name to the French botanist Charles Plumier (1646-1704) who travelled widely in the New World and discovered numerous species of plants. It is commonly known as Frangipani, after Muzio Frangipane, a Roman nobleman, who is credited with devising a scent in medieval times which was subsequently found to be very similar to the perfume of the flowers of this plant.
Ixora Coccinea
Originally from the south of India and Sri Lanka, Hindus traditionally offer it to Shiva. The flower, along with the roots and the leaves, is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Alpinia Purpurata
Alpinia purpurata, or Red Ginger, with its unmistakable long brightly coloured red bracts, is an ornamental plant. It blooms almost all year round and can reach three metres in height. The genus name, Alpinia, was dedicated to Prospero Alpini (1553-1616), a famous Italian physician and botanist.
Brugmansia
Brugmansia is a genus of seven species originating mainly in South America. A generously flowering and scented plant, it is grown for ornamental purposes. Being rich in alkaloids, many indigenous cultures of South America used it in medical preparations, but also as a hallucinogen in rituals, in ceremonies linked to divination, or to communicate with the spirits of their ancestors.
Ravenala madagascariensis
Ravenala madagascariensis, despite its appearance, is not a true palm but a member Musaceae family like the bird-of-paradise, Strelitziaceae or the banana.
It is also called the Traveller’s Tree thanks to the characteristic fan-like arrangement of its leaves. These have a hollow base, where rainwater collects and that was then used by travellers to slake their thirst.
Angraecum eburneum
Angraecum eburneum, also called the Payanke orchid, is the floral symbol of the Seychelles. The name is derived from the tropical Payanke bird, native to the Seychelles, whose long thin tail looks very similar to the flower.
Psychotria elata
Native to tropical forests and rainforests, Psychotria elata with its glossy bright red bracts attracts large numbers of pollinators, including hummingbirds and butterflies. Its curious, unusual shape, similar to lips, has inspired a number of nicknames, including "Hot kiss plant" or "Mick Jagger lips" thanks to its similarity with the famous Rolling Stones logo.
