FFF67 - HELICHRYSUM

The genus Helichrysum consists of an estimated 600 species, in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The type species is Helichrysum orientale. The name is derived from the Greek words helisso (to turn around) and chrysos (gold).It occurs in Africa (with 244 species in South Africa), Madagascar, Australasia and Eurasia. The plants may be annuals, herbaceous perennials or shrubs, growing to a height of 60–90 cm.

The genus was a wastebasket taxon, and many of its members have been reclassified in smaller genera, most notably the Everlastings, now in the genus Xerochrysum.Their leaves are oblong to lanceolate. They are flat and pubescent on both sides. The bristles of the pappus are scabrous, barbellate, or plumose.The receptacle (base of the flower head) is often smooth, with a fringed margin, or honey-combed, and resemble daisies. They may be in almost all colours, except blue.

There are many capitula and generally flat-topped corymbs or panicles. The corolla lobes show glandular hairs at the abaxial surface. Several species are grown as ornamental plants, and for dried flowers. When cut young and dried, the open flowers and stalks preserve their colour and shape for long periods.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

FFF67

1.	Emille/Jesh	12.	Hazel	23.	Sara Chapman in Seattle USA	34.	Chris
2.	Inspiration	13.	Xavi	24.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, 2nd entry	35.	ann nz
3.	NixPixMix	14.	Bjarnes hageblogg	25.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, 3rd entry	36.	Photo By Manka
4.	Nick, Melbourne	15.	beagleAnnie	26.	Fitness Buff	37.	Yellow Roses
5.	Andrea, fortune plant	16.	Ekaterina, Finland	27.	doris	38.	twiggy
6.	Tina´s PicStory	17.	Aud - Norway	28.	veredit, germany	39.	A Student Gardener
7.	Luna Miranda	18.	Loredana Donovan	29.	Amiko, Jakarta	40.	Valerie, Australia
8.	Enerhagen	19.	Rajesh, India	30.	Synnöve	41.	Tina, Germany
9.	Zauberpalme	20.	Bernie in Australia	31.	Moni
10.	NatureFootstep Photo	21.	Jama-Singapore	32.	HoodPhoto OR-USA
11.	Gunilla	22.	BirgittaB	33.	Joy: Flora and fauna

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FFF66 - CROWEA EXALATA

Crowea exalata, or Small Crowea, is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, which is native to the states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria in Australia. It is a small shrub growing to 1 metre tall. It is named after James Crowe, an 18th-19th century surgeon and botanist. The specific name exalata means without wings, referring to the lack of ridges on the stems - this is not a definitive characteristic.

This species flowers during most months of the year, resting only in extremes of heat and cold, and with flushes in autumn and spring. Pointed buds open to five-petalled starry flowers 2 cm across, in clear tints of rose purple. They are of a solid waxy substance, and make a vivid display for the size of the plant. Before falling they close again to look like buds of deeper pink. Propagation by cuttings is easy using tip growth (which is very soft in character), at a half-ripe stage.

Nurseries dealing in native plants usually stock this small shrub and it should be planted in light, lime-free soil. A position with some shade is desirable - otherwise the soil should be shaded in some way from hot sun. This may be done by surrounding the plant with 5-10 cm of leaves, bush litter or compost. Rocks make an attractive setting, and in fact this is a beautiful rockery subject. Pruning should be done to maintain bushy growth, or a straggly plant with bare stems may develop. The end of winter is a good time to do this - or any time when sprigs of cut flowers are wanted, as these are dainty and long-lasting in water.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

FFF66

1.	NixPixMix	10.	cameliia ikebana and poem	19.	doris	28.	Shirley USA
2.	Nick, Melbourne	11.	Fitness Buff	20.	Synnöve	29.	Ingmarie We/Refugium
3.	Sallie (FullTime life)	12.	Enerhagen, Norway	21.	Firas, India	30.	Bev's Rose Kalanchoe
4.	Tina´s PicStory	13.	BirgittaB	22.	Chris	31.	Susan
5.	Zauberpalme	14.	NatureFootstep Photo	23.	Bernie in Australia	32.	Rajesh, India
6.	Gunilla	15.	bettyl - New Zealand	24.	Moni	33.	ann
7.	Luna Miranda	16.	Emille/Jesh StG	25.	guild-rez Canada	34.	Meghana, India
8.	Hazel	17.	Jama-Singapore	26.	Xavi
9.	Liz (mlc)	18.	Sleepshort	27.	Shutter Happy Jenn

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FFF65 - FRINGED WATER-LILY

Nymphoides peltata (syn. Villarsia nymphaeoides, Fringed Water-lily, Yellow Floating-heart, Water Fringe) is an aquatic plant of the family Menyanthaceae native to Eurasia. It has cordate floating leaves that support a lax inflorescence of yellow flowers with fringed petal margins. The fruit is a capsule bearing many flattened seeds with stiff marginal hairs.The plants are commonly sold for use in ornamental water gardens. Outside their native range, however, they can escape cultivation and become nuisance noxious weeds.

Fringed Water-lily is an aquatic plant that grows well in shallow fresh-water like canals and ponds or slow moving streams. It differs from true water-lilies in that the flowers are smaller and that they are projecting above water level on short 8 cm stalks. Also in that it has five petals which are frayed or fringed around the periphery. The leaves float on water, from which long stems dangle. The leaves are normally oval in appearance with a shiny appearance from above, sometimes with purple spots, and purple below.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

FFF65

1.	robert geiss	11.	Ingmarie We/Refugium	21.	bettyl - New Zealand	31.	Kramer Wetzel
2.	Ekaterina, Finland	12.	Luna Miranda	22.	Liz (mlc)	32.	Pret-a-Vivre {ready to waltz}
3.	NixPixMix	13.	Hazel	23.	Xavi	33.	In Search Of Spring
4.	Tina´s PicStory	14.	Aud på Dal	24.	Jesh StG	34.	Enerhagen, Norway
5.	Nick, Melbourne	15.	NatureFootstep Photo	25.	Emille	35.	Chris
6.	guild-rez Canada	16.	Jeannette St G	26.	doris	36.	Shelly Bean
7.	Gunilla	17.	Susan	27.	ann nz	37.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, 2nd entry
8.	BirgittaB	18.	Jama-Singapore	28.	beagleAnnie	38.	Meghana, India
9.	Loredana Donovan-Red Roses	19.	Sara Chapman in Seattle USA	29.	Moni	39.	Roses = I love you
10.	Mary, MI	20.	Jesh StG	30.	Rajesh, India	40.	Joy: Effort

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FFF64 - EUSTOMA/LISIANTHUS

Eustoma, a genus of three species in the family Gentianaceae, grows natively in warm regions of the Southern United States, Mexico, Caribbean and northern South America. Examples grow mostly in grassland and in areas of disturbed ground. These flowers are commonly known as Lisianthus flowers.

They are herbaceous annuals, growing to 15 – 60 cm tall, with bluish green, slightly succulent leaves, and large funnel-shaped flowers growing on long straight stems, sometimes erect single stems, other times growing on branching stems that can rise to be one metre tall. The flowers can grow up to 5 cm across and can be found in a variety of colours. They have been found in all shades of pink, purple, white, and blue. In addition, some are bicolored and some are occasionally found in yellow or carmine-red.

Lisianthus flowers are either single flowered or double flowered. They are usually 33 cm to one metre tall. Although there are dwarf varieties the only grow up to 20 cm in height. Lisianthus flowers are tricky to grow and require some maintenance. They have tiny seeds that must be sown on the surface not buried, and they must be planted in rich well drained soil as well as exposed to full sun. Make sure to keep them moist but do not over water, over watering may result in the growth and development of fungal diseases.

Lisisanthus flowers will begin to bloom in early summer and some will continue to bloom throughout the later months of the summer. Lisianthus plants are available all year round for sale though. When cut, the flowers can last anywhere from two to three weeks in a vase, they are a very elegant flower that look nice on display.

Eustoma russellianum is particularly popular and has a number of cultivars that are grown for the cut-flower market. The cultivated flower is also often known as Lisianthus, Texas Bluebell, Prairie Gentian, Tulip Gentian or just Gentian, although the last name can cause confusion with the related Gentian plant genus. Eustoma is named after the Greek words eu-, which means beautiful, and the word stoma which means mouth. Lisianthus on the other hand comes from the Greek word lysis, meaning dissolution as well as the word anthos, which means flower.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

FFF64

1.	Nick, Melbourne	10.	Fitness Buff	19.	Sara Chapman in Seattle USA	28.	twiggy
2.	NixPixMix	11.	luna miranda	20.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, 2nd entry	29.	Chris
3.	Andrea, Philippines	12.	NatureFootstep Photo	21.	Liz (mlc)	30.	Gemma Wiseman
4.	Zauberpalme	13.	Emille, CA	22.	Moni	31.	Indrani
5.	Gunilla	14.	Ingmarie We/Refugium	23.	doris	32.	Rajesh, India
6.	Enerhagen	15.	beagleAnnie	24.	ann nz	33.	Shutter Happy Jenn
7.	Aud - Norway	16.	Bernie in Australia	25.	Synnöve	34.	Kramer in SA
8.	Maboe	17.	Shelly Bean	26.	Susan	35.	Quince flowers and happy Tết.!
9.	Hazel	18.	Jama-Singapore	27.	Thankful woman: Joy

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