Today’s photograph was submitted by Martin LaBar of southern California South Carolina (aka Martin LaBar@Flickr (original image | Flickr BPotD Group Pool). Martin has a number of plant and plant-related photographs in his Flickr photo sets, so do visit them if you have the opportunity. Thank you, Martin!
“Probably originating from Mexico or Guatemala” is the native origin suggested by a reference for Caesalpinia pulcherrima in the International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS). However, much like Lantana camara, red bird of paradise or Barbados pride has been introduced to so many warm places around the Earth, its distribution should now be considered purely pantropical.
The Wikipedia entry on Caesalpinia pulcherrima links to this interesting article by Dr. S. Allen Counter (a professor of neurology and neurophysiology at Harvard Medical School) in the Boston Globe: Amazing Mystery. Dr. Counter details the medicinal properties of Caesalpinia pulcherrima and asks the question of how indigenous knowledge can (and so very often does) precede Western medicine’s knowledge of the human health uses of a plant.
Photography resource link: Musings on Photography is a weblog by Paul Butzi of Carnation, Washington. Its tagline, “Musings on photography from an artist perspective and art from a photographer perspective”, gives you an idea of what you’ll experience if you visit the site.
This is an amazing coincidence. I was recently in Tahiti and saw this plant for the first time. I had no idea what it was or how to begin finding out the name. And here it is! Thanks for an always informative and beautiful daily photo.
Daniel, your photos brighten my days. Thank you
Patricia – I don’t deserve all the credit. Without contributions from around the world, like today’s from Martin, BPotD would certainly be less than it is.
Thanks so much for selecting one of our photos for Photo of the Day for November 22nd. It’s a great honor. I have been subscribing to your RSS feed for over a year, and have looked at all the photos you have posted in that time.
By the way, I’m from South Carolina — a lot of our photos are from Southern California. We have a grandson there.
Thanks again. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Martin – corrected.
Paula – the same thing has happened to me, too! I’ve seen a flower, wondered how on earth I would be able to find it, and then a few days later it appeared here!
Just returned from Antique Rose Emporium, Independence,TX where I saw it growing this weekend ,8-’07,in their garden. Purchased this plant from them and am so excited about it’s tremendous show in the garden. Hope to container this one, to move it forward on the patio while in bloom. Greenhouse protect in the winter. Good idea, anyone? Or should I just plant it in my zone 9 S.E. TX?
Must be a hit with many. A.R.E. had only one left after my purchase. Carole