Parasitic Plants

Parasitic Plants are type of plants that lives on other plants.

Here in tropical climate, we can see a lot of parasitic plants on the trunk or branch of a large tree. It is amazing how different plants live together under a "house" of usually larger "Host Plant".The photo was taken at NCD Botanical Garden in Port Moresby.

By the way, I thought that Orchids were also parasitic.
But, according to the expert, none of the orchids are parasitic.
"In nature, many orchids cling to trees and bushes as a growth habit; but they take nothing from the host plant and do not injure it in any way. Orchids that can grow on trees are called epiphytes or, more commonly, air plants" ---- from website of "Orchid House"

Season for Flower

Port Moresby is starting to rain these days, and becoming greener and greener.
Colourful flowers have good contract with the green back ground and decorate the town with Red & Yellow. This is the start of flower season in Papua New Guinea.

Home-grown Aibika for Dinner

Yesterday, we have harvested the Aibika leaves from our home garden.

Some of you have never heard "Aibika". It is a green leafy vegetable common in South Pacific countries. It goes very well with chicken & other meat and a "Must" ingredients for coastal people of Papua New Guinea.
I did not know that Aibika flower looks like Hibiscus, because nobody awaits here until the plant is flowering - harvest and eat before the flower blossoms.

We cooked the Aibika with pumpkin & chicken for a Dinner.

If you are next time in Papua New Guinea, don't forget to eat Aibika.

Welcoming Orchid

This is another orchid I have seen at the nursery of the National Capital Botanical Garden recently. I reckon it is Dendrobium species, but not sure about the name...
What made me interested was that the flower looks like a "person is bowing down for the visitor, with hands open to hug you." So I decided to call it ""Welcoming orchid." - sorry if there is any other common name already exists !!
There are more than 3,000 species of orchid in Papua New Guinea, which accounts for more than 2/3rd of all the orchids in the world, and they are waiting to "Welcome" your visit.

Jelly Bean or Passion Fruit ?

The other day, I have found a funny-shaped orchid - Dendrobium smilliae - in the botanical garden. Well, this orchid was "found" in 19th century, so it is not "new" spices but the shape of the flower is very unique compared to other orchids.
For me, the seeds resembles like the inside of a tropical fruit so I named it "Passion Fruit Orchid".



However later, I found that it is called "Jelly Bean Orchid" by village children.



I have looked at pictures but I still support my idea of "Passion Fruit Orchid"......
What do you think ??

Weed in Papua New Guinea

When we order flower, beautiful and rare orchids are used in many occasions.

One day, I asked "Why do you use such an expensive flower ?"

The answer was "Oh, they are many of them in here, so for us, they are no difference from weeds." While Orchids are sold as expensive exotic flowers in many countries, they are sometimes regarded as "weeds" here in Papua New Guinea !!Papua New Guinea has more than 3,000 spices of Orchid, which accounts for more than 60% of all the orchid species in the world.

Shrimp Plant

The heart-shaped bracts on these Acanthus family plants suggest a scale that looks like curved tail of the shrimp. The real flowers are tiny white ones on top of the "shrimp."
It is also called as Lollipop, as it may look like an candy.
You can see them in tropical jungle of Papua New Guinea, but more easily, they can be found in National Capital Botanical garden in Port Moresby.

Orchid with your name ?

Did you know that Papua New Guinea has more species of Orchids in any other countries of the world ? There are about 3,000 known species of Orchids, which is approx. 2/3rd of known species of all the orchids in the world, and probably more species yet to be discovered.
Once the new species are discovered, new names are given. Sepik Blue, Morobe Shower, Pomio Brown, Moresby Gold are named after the places, while some orchids are named after the person such as Veronica Somare (wife of first prime minister).
While walking in the reinforest, I encounter different species of Orchids and always wonder if those orchids were ever been "discovered"?
If you ever find new species in Papua New Guinea, you may have a chance to name the new orchid after your name !
For those interested, please check Papua New Guinea Orchid News site on
http://www.orchidspng.com/index.html

Visit to Kumul Lodge

Have recently visited Kumul Lodge near Mt Hagen.

Stunned with the breathtaking view of Waterfall coming from Misty Highlands Rainforest, amazed with the beauty of wild orchids blooming everywhere, some of them even have no names yet. What was more exiting was the different birds coming to the bird feeder in the lodge yard. We have seen 3 x Birds of Paradise in the lodge yard alone during the short stay; male Brown Sicklebill, female Ribbon-tailed Astrapia and male King of Saxony Bird of Paradise.

Real Nature Lovers Paradise, Kumul Lodge can be visited in the Package Tour as follows.
http://www.pngexplorers.com/tour/natureculture-point200.html
You can combine the visit with Madang, Walndi or both, depending on your schedule.
Hot River Expedition out of Walindi was introduced in a older post. For detail, please check :
http://pngtourismnews.blogspot.com/2008/02/hot-river-excursion-west-new-britain.html

Kumul Lodge - place for nature lovers

One of my favorite lodges in the country is Kumul Lodge outside of Mt. Hagen.

"Kumul" means Bird of Paradise in Pidgin English.

There are not many places in PNG where you can see wild Bird of Paradise inside the Lodge yard, sometimes from your own room !!

More than 70 species of birds are recorded in lodge yard alone, and more can be found in nearby sites, it is undoubtedly a birdwatchers heaven, but not only that. The misty Highlands Rainforest is home to many undiscovered wild orchid species. Based at Kumul Lodge, we can arrange bird watching, orchid watching, culture visit to nearby village, Mt Hagen trekking etc...

At altitude of 2800m, it will be very cold in the night (you cant believe it is near equator...), but there is a stove in the room to keep you warm. If you are interested in nature, please don't forget to include Kumul Lodge for your trip to Papua New Guinea.

Christmas is around the corner

Being a Christian Nation (more than 90% is Christian in different congregations), Christmas is very important in Papua New Guinea.

Golden Shower Tree & Royal Poinciana (Flame Tree) decorate the town in Bright Yellow & Vivid Red from late November to December, commonly known as Red & Yellow Christmast trees.

Unlike London, Paris or New York, PNG does not have enough money to have illuminated Christmas Trees on the street, but is blessed with Natural Christmas Trees !