Don't see that plant too often Funnelweb -- it's really a striking colour and a real beauty.

T.

I agree with "ted" that's a real beauty.

Yes, being a lotus though the flower form was something I didn't expect. It's taken to this red volcanic soil quite well and is growing like mad. The foliage, too, is striking.
And Ted, those 'Flickr' pics of yours are truly amazing, love the swallow in flight and that one of the Indian minor.
B.

I'm used to Lotus as a species of Nelumbo. Didn't know that there was a genus Lotus. So, first I've ever seen of them. They look quite good.

Without going into indepth research, tropicb......., the genus appears to be Lotus but there seems some confusion as to whether the family is Fabaceae or papilionacaea. The common name appears to be 'parrot's beak' though my label says 'Red Flash'. I did a brief (5 minute) Google to find this tidbit of info but as to delving further into keying it out, well, I'll leave that to the taxonomists - cum - botanists or whoever.
Regards
b.

Hi
Your pic caught my eye as I grow a species of Impatiens
called "parrot beak" or Congo cockatoo depending on who's talking lol
I checked with the MO Bo gardens and they list it as "parrot beak " endemic to the canary Islands " Thought it might be a choice for me until I came to "Tolerates heat and humidity but dislikes high night temps "lol
Odd about the Lotus genus in my corner always associated with nelumbo, an emergent water plant quite distinct looking and to my knowlege there is only one genus though of world distribution .
Oh well gorgeous plant ggod luck with it!!! gary

Hi Gary, welcome to this Aussie site. After reading your post I did a further wander into Google and found another plant of the genus in Wikipedia known as Lotus corniculatus, a native of temperate Eurasia and North Africa. Seems it's a weed-cum-plant of pastures here and known as Birdsfoot trefoil. In the U.S. it's Birdsfoot Deervetch. The plant, like mine, is soil born and bears bright yellow flowers. It falls within the family Fabacaea. I think it's something for the Taxonomists to sort out; strange there are 2 genus' classified as Lotus in two distinct families! I have a relative who has a Phd in taxonomy, so I might run the question by him.
Regards
B.

hi
Often read through this site but seldom comment .
I try to stay out of Taxonomy but of course that's impossible lol. Of the last four plants I've bought 3 names were completely wrong and the jury still out on a palm lol
i usually use the Missouri Bo gdns site as a reference .
Would love to get into Kew but haven't figured out how to get into the library lol The last word in botany??
Naming seems much more confused with plants as opposed to animals ?? maybe that's because I haven't dug that far into it?? lol good luck gary

Gary if you've got any photos of flowers /plants in your garden that you wouldn't mind showing, I - and I'm sure everyone else - would love to see them. I think they get a bit sick of my Aussie natives so a bit more variety in this site would be most welcome.
B.

Hi
had to laugh when I read that lol. Australian plants are very common here . You'd probably feel right at home
Here is a pic of the south "Jungle " mostly brazilian,african and caribbeans Wanted to show some pix of my new stonework but can't find them as yet lol Had to be very careful with pix as many show my native plant collection often called weeds to the uninformed lol gary

Well, yeah, that's very tropical and rainforesty, Gary: plenty of shade topped off with a touch of sunshine. What's the silver railing? Also the blue flower just atop the railing slightly left of centre?
B

hi
This is a view of the area beneath the canopy in the first pic OOps ! there is a Caldwell lily which I believe is Austalian ?lol The silver is edging on an above ground pool Blue flower is a hybrid tropical waterlily I think the blue comes from an Austalian type ??
The last pic is where I put the stone but not there more digging lol As you can see I'm a collector NOT a landscaper !! gary

very nice Bill. have you had any rain.? Reports say there has been a lot of rain but its hard to work out specific areas
chas

About all I recognise there is some red coleus and in the right hand corner a blue clerodendron. All looks nice and lush though, Gary.
B.

hi
here is a plant that I've hunted for many years and naturally they sold me the wrong one!! lol
Cochliostema odorastissima supposed to be C. jacobiana
Supposed to be an epiphyte growing in the upper limbs of the cassia roxburgjii but has topped 7 feet so will remain in the pot Has done well potted but no flowers as yet gary

Seven feet tall, doesn't look it, Gary. Nevertheless looks healthy enough.
B.

Hi
Didn't notice the date on the pic??lol Has really expanded in the year . Could you feature it growing from a limb?? lol looks like no flowers this year but there still is around 2 months of good growing weather Has still not developed any purple nor is it developing a tree habit .or offset .as I was told lol Always a learning experience!! lol gary