Thursday 29 March 2012

MELBOURNE STREET TREES 15

Tibouchina is a genus of about 350 species of neotropical plants in the family Melastomataceae. They are trees, shrubs or subshrubs growing 0.5–25 m tall, and are known as glory bushes or glory trees. They are native to rainforests of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America, especially Brazil. The name comes from an adaptation of the native Guiana term for these shrubs. In Brazil, people use the massed purple blooms to decorate churches at Easter time. Here in Australia tibouchinas also make quite a statement in autumn, with their riot of purple flowers.

This particular plant is Tibouchina 'Alstonville', probably the best of the larger growing kinds, and common as a garden and street tree in Melbourne.This plant was produced at Alstonville, on the New South Wales North coast, by the late Ken Dunstan. It is an evergreen small tree which usually grows to about 5m tall. The foliage is dark green in colour with a pale reverse. 'Alstonville' puts on a brilliant display of violet/purple flowers in late summer and autumn. It makes an excellent street or specimen tree, and responds very well to pruning.

This post is part of my Floral Friday Fotos meme.





18 comments:

  1. Beautiful!
    I've never seen it before.
    Thanks for sharing this beauty.
    Have a wonderful day.
    Mette

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  2. Love the water droplets on the last photo. Nicely done.

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  3. An absolutely gorgeous set of photos! I am not familiar with the flower here in the US, so I appreciate the opportunity to see this and find out about it. You have such wonderful information! The water droplets are a wonderful addition to the flower.

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  4. It's gorgeous! I don't know if I've seen it before. Wonderful shots!

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  5. Wow, those flowers are really something!

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  6. A neverending treasure trove of plants and trees that are totally unknown to me. How I would love to walk these streets so gloriously decorated.
    My first impulse was tradescantia, but of course, the flowers are totally different and not set in threes.

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  7. What breathtaking captures of such a gorgeous flower, Nick! That rich purple color is incredible! Hope your week is going well. Thank you for the kind thoughts regarding my daughter, they are greatly appreciated.

    Sylvia

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  8. Calling by as another participant in Floral Friday, what a stunning colour flower.

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  9. Omg! These are stunning! The color is great. I love this street trees series you are doing. I feel like I am learning something. :)

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  10. That's the deepest purple -- what beautiful pictures. The water drops are just wonderful. You are so lucky to have such wonderful trees along the urban streets. Someone has put a lot of thought into those plantings.

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  11. These are simply gorgeous! I'd only expect to see something like this in a botanical garden here. Fantastic! You make me want to visit Oz more and more. )

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  12. Yeah, bring on the purple! I always thought of this bright color as the most sophisticated one:) Can you tell? I like it:):)

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  13. What an exquisitely coloured and stunning flower Nick - I've not seen anything like it; breathtaking! Thanks for sharing

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  14. Just beautiful...
    A wonderful picture of a beautiful flowering plant.
    - Cheers Gisela.

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  15. Such a radiant lilac, especially enhanced by the water droplets in the last photo!

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  16. Simply gorgeous. Wonderful photos.

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