# Calling all botanists...What are these plants? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667 "2005-08-18T22:26:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tio\_Gringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@Tio\_Gringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tio_Gringo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/1 "2005-08-18T22:26:45Z")
I just got back from a trip to Guatemala where I took upwards of 1000 photos. As I sit here organizing and captioning them, I realize that I have absolutely no idea what any of these plants and flowers that I took pictures of are. I tried to find an online field guide to the flowers of Guatemala, but no such animal seems to exist. What to do, what to do? ☹ :smack: D’oh! My fellow Dopers are more than able to rise to the challenge. So how about it? This first batch all was taken at Tikal in the low-land jungle. [First, we have what looks like an olive branch (complete with pimento).](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?collid=49511352308&photoid=66081862308&&refreshkey=1124401552878) [This delicate flower had very long stamens.](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?collid=49511352308&photoid=64917862308&&refreshkey=1124401552878) [This is another shot of the same flower.](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?collid=49511352308&photoid=84917862308&&refreshkey=1124401552878) This is all for now, but I will upload others in the near future. Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/2 "2005-08-18T22:57:13Z")
The first looks to be some sort of palm infructescence. What did the plant it came from look like (give as detailed a description as you can) The second and third are most likely Caesalpinia pulcherrima, pretty common flowering plant. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/3 "2005-08-18T23:07:28Z")
I agree on the \*Caesalpinia, \* [here’s a photo](http://www.mytho-fleurs.com/images/ile%20de%20Tenerife/Jardin%20des%20Orchidees/caesalpinia_pulcherrima.JPG) I don’t know about the first. There’s not much to go on. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/4 "2005-08-18T23:19:12Z")
Basically what he said. We really need more information, particularly a description of the general growth habit and leaves. That second one is definitely Caesalpinaceae but what species or even genus is impossible to tell from those photos. Could be Caeslapinia, could be Delonix (if Delonix even still exists; that family gets reorganised every 12 months). ---
**Author:** ![Tio\_Gringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@Tio\_Gringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tio_Gringo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/5 "2005-08-18T23:34:11Z")
Thanks for the replies. As to a more complete description of the first one…I dunno. It struck me as a very unusual and interesting plant, so I took a picture of it. I can say it was a tree (as opposed to a bush or shrub) of medium height (not strikingly tall or short). I wish I could give more details. Just out of curiosity, does the _Caesalpinia_ have a common name? ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/6 "2005-08-19T00:03:08Z")
> [@EvilAsh](#): > > As to a more complete description of the first one…I dunno. It struck me as a very unusual and interesting plant, so I took a picture of it. I can say it was a tree (as opposed to a bush or shrub) of medium height (not strikingly tall or short). I wish I could give more details. The fact that it wasn’t strikingly palm-like suggests that it wasn’t a palm anyway. > [@](#): > > Just out of curiosity, does the _Caesalpinia_ have a common name? The most likely candidates for what you have there are usually called poincianas after an obsolete taxonomy. Also often called bird-of-paradise, but they share that name with at least half a dozen other plants. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/7 "2005-08-19T06:53:12Z")
The first picture looks like a bromeliad of some kind. A little research shows that there are bromeliads in Tikal, but I wasn’t able to narrow it down further. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/8 "2005-08-19T19:52:19Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > Basically what he said. We really need more information, particularly a description of the general growth habit and leaves. > > That second one is definitely Caesalpinaceae but what species or even genus is impossible to tell from those photos. Could be Caeslapinia, could be Delonix (if Delonix even still exists; that family gets reorganised every 12 months). Delonix (regia at least, which is what would be commonly grown if found in Tikal) has petals that are held “out” (where you can easily see the calyxes when looking at the flower from above), Caesalpinia has petals which show no such spacing. Delonix also has much shorter stamens than the flowers in the pictures. Caesalpinia pulcherrima has stamens of a similar length, as well as the yellow tipping you see in the flowers posted (of course, it could be a closely related species). I’m going to have to go with Caesalpinia and not Delonix. ---
**Author:** ![Tio\_Gringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@Tio\_Gringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tio_Gringo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/9 "2005-08-20T00:03:06Z")
Thanks again for the identification of _Caesalpinia_. I’ve uploaded a few more photos of flowers. All of these were taken in Antigua which is in the volcanic highlands (elev. approx. 1 mile). #1. This is actually a cluster of small flowers connected to a central stem. I have never seen flowerettes of two distinct colors like this before. [Pic 1](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=42439974308) [Pic 2](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=62439974308) [Pic 3](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=33439974308) [Pic 4](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=33439974308) #2. As you can see, this one has vary long slender petals. [Pic](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=13439974308) #3. This is a tree, and what I originally thought were blooms were actually colored leaves. [Pic 1](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=67691084308) [Pic 2](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=47691084308) [Pic 3](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=93439974308) [Pic 4](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=87691084308) #4. Just a simple red flower, but I thought that it was rather striking. [Pic](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=73439974308) #5. This unusual flower was growing “upside down,” hanging from a vine. [Pic 1](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=84280084308) [Pic 2](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=15280084308) [Pic 3](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=35280084308) [Pic 4](http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=52439974308&photoid=55280084308) This is all for now, but I will post some more tomorrow. Let me know if you need any further description of these. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/10 "2005-08-20T00:44:26Z")
I’m no expert like the folks who precede me in this thread, but in the new pics: #1 look like a lantana. They’re grown as annuals in northern climes. #3 is definitely a bouganvillea. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/11 "2005-08-20T00:44:47Z")
#1 is a species of _Lantana_ #2 is an orchid, I’ll have to check what kind #3 is _Bougainvillea_ ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/12 "2005-08-20T00:53:43Z")
# 1. I’d bet that it was Lantana camara. Definitely Verbenaceae. Almost certainly Lantana although possibly a Lippia. The common name is simply Lantana. A description of the plant size or where it was growing would help. 90% sure # 2 is the wild type of Canna indica. It’s commonly called Indian Shot in that form, but there are numerous showy domestic forms and hybrids with various names, often just called cannas. A description of the leaves, or better yet the fruit, would help no end. #3 is Bouganvillea glabra, common name: Bouganvillea. You did well to spot that the colourful bits aren’t in fact petals. However they aren’t leaves either, they’re bracts. #4, I get the feeling I should know it, but I don’t. #5. Yes, it is upside down isnlt it. No idea. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/13 "2005-08-20T01:02:04Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > #2 is an orchid, I’ll have to check what kind Are you sure it’s not Indian Shot? Compare this photo: [http://www.karcheskycanna.com/images/rosea-f.jpg](http://www.karcheskycanna.com/images/rosea-f.jpg) (See Ash, this is why leaves, growth habit, size etc. are important 😉 ). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/14 "2005-08-20T01:08:14Z")
No, I think you’re right. I guessed too soon. I misinterpreted part of the flower in the photo. #5 I think is _Thunbergia mysorensis_ [![](http://static.hugedomains.com/images/logo_huge_domains.gif) ](http://static.hugedomains.com/images/logo_huge_domains.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/15 "2005-08-20T01:09:45Z")
> [@Doobieous](#): > > Delonix (regia at least, which is what would be commonly grown if found in Tikal) has petals that are held “out” (where you can easily see the calyxes when looking at the flower from above), Caesalpinia has petals which show no such spacing. Delonix also has much shorter stamens than the flowers in the pictures. Caesalpinia pulcherrima has stamens of a similar length, as well as the yellow tipping you see in the flowers posted (of course, it could be a closely related species). I’m going to have to go with Caesalpinia and not Delonix. I’ll bow to superior knowledge if you think you have a handle on the latest taxonomy. A quick Google seach shows that Delonix regia is a synonym for Caesalpinia regia. At this point I don’t even have any keys for separating the genera to hand and couldn’t even swear that the genus Delonix still exists. If you think you have a good handle on what separates Delonix from Caesalpinia in the latest taxonomy (or even that it exists) then I’ll go with it. This whole mimosaceae/legumiseae group seems to be reviewed and reorganised every three months. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/16 "2005-08-20T01:12:37Z")
And the Thunbergia isn’t upside down. It looks like a fairly normal flower for its family, Acanthaceae. Common name is clock vine. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/17 "2005-08-20T01:22:18Z")
I think the point was that the first impression is that it’s upside down. That was the impression I got anyway. That’s helped because the top of the inflorescence is maturing first, which is odd. Of course the pendulous form means that the top is really the proximal part, which matures first in most plants, but it all adds to the illusion. ---
**Author:** ![Tio\_Gringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@Tio\_Gringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tio_Gringo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/18 "2005-08-20T02:09:50Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > (See Ash, this is why leaves, growth habit, size etc. are important 😉 ). See, I _know_ that. :smack: I’m a scientist by training (chemist), but when I was on my trip I just thought, “Gee, what a neat looking flower.” Palmate or pinnate leaf structure was the furthest thing from my mind. > [@Blake](#): > > #3 is Bouganvillea glabra, common name: Bouganvillea. You did well to spot that the colourful bits aren’t in fact petals. However they aren’t leaves either, they’re **bracts**. Bracts, huh? I learn something new every day. So, what is the difference between leaves and bracts? I thought that looked like _Bouganvillea_, but I have only seen _Bouganvillea_ as a bush, never as a tree. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/19 "2005-08-20T04:31:28Z")
Just a side note. The Lantana is sometimes called “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” because the flowers change color as they age. The hanging flowers look a little like the [hanging lobster claw flower](http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pages/0001-0508-0414-4639.html) from Hawaii ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667/20 "2005-08-20T04:37:36Z")
> [@EvilAsh](#): > > Bracts, huh? I learn something new every day. So, what is the difference between leaves and bracts? Actually, they are leaves of a sort. Basically, they are modified leaves or leaf-like structures associated with flowers. Often they are small, but as other cases, as in Bougainvillea, they are large and showy and take the place of the flower petals. Merriam-Webster says: > [@](#): > > 1 : a leaf from the axil of which a flower or floral axis arises > 2 : a leaf borne on a floral axis; especially : one subtending a flower or flower cluster [Answers.com](http://Answers.com) says: > [@](#): > > A leaflike or scalelike plant part, usually small, sometimes showy or brightly colored, and located just below a flower, a flower stalk, or an inflorescence. Biology Online says > [@](#): > > A leaf-like structure, different in form from the foliage leaves and without an axillary bud, associated with an inflorescence or flower. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-botanists-what-are-these-plants/317667.md?page=2)