Bird of paradise flower

The Bird of Paradise flower is any of the species of flowering plants belonging to the taxonomic genus Strelitzia. They are also called the Crane Flower because it has a shape of a crane. This plant has a unique shape, a beautiful array of colors, and can be found on tropical islands. The flower was named after the actual Bird of Paradise because it resembled that bird. The official name of the flower means freedom, magnificence, and good perspective.

Anatomy
The Strelitzia plant is a flowering plant. The flower comes up on a stem that is also called a pedicle, which grow up to 5 feet tall and above. The flower is very unique and shaped somewhat like a bird, which inspired its name. The leaves that are shaped like canoes, also known as bracts. The bracts or leaves vary in length ranging from 4 inches to 5 inches. They have a variety of colors green, purple, and red. The length of the leave depends on the height and size of the plant. The leaves of the plant then have different flowers coming out of them. They may have two or three flowers that come out of the leaves. The flowers are usually yellow or orange. With in that flower there is then a blue smaller leaflet that is used in the reproduction of the plant.

Reproduction
The blue petal that extends out from the rest of the leaves of the plant is known as the female parts of the plant. This is what helps in the reproducing of the Strelitzia. This plant requires a nectar eating bird for pollination. This process is also known as ornithophilous. The flowers male and female reproductive parts are not always receptive to each other. This is known as protandrous. Each plant has male and female organs in order for it to reproduce. The flower reproduces by the birds transport the pollen to the other flowers.

Ecology
The Strelitzia Plant will grow the best in loamy soil, sand, silt and clay. They are grown any time of the year and is easily grown when there is an abundance of water. These plants need sun in order to survive. This plant is very sensitive to the cold weather and when in the cold they must be indoors. The cold can damage the plants flowers. The Strelitzia can flower more than once a year and if in a well watered area and are cared for well they will flower many times a year. This plant in the beginning needs to be watched more carefully than after the plant has been established.

Plant usage
This plant is commonly grown as an ornamental. They were first discovered in 1773 in gardens of Europe after which it started to become more known to the world. Because the plant grows in sunny and warm areas the plant is mostly in America and Australia because these places are known to have warm places to grow them. This plant was chosen as the Official Flower of Los Angeles where they grows well because of the warm climate.