Tropicana May-June 2023 #148 The Passion Issue

MAY/JUNE 2023 NATURE
Clockwise from
left: Bougainvilleas
or paper flowers;
Bauhinia Kockiania’s
brilliant blooms;
Pretty forget-me-not
flowers; Flowers of
the Ixora Javanica
are edible
Despite the fact that TGCR was established in 1993, several of the
plants and trees here are considerably older because they were
planted in the area when they were already mature.
Interestingly, the flowers are edible and are included in a spicy Thai
mixed vegetable soup called kaeng liang. In addition, the plant’s
extracts have demonstrated promising anti-tumour efficacy.
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Many of the plants and flowers are a sight to behold, but
Genting Highlands
one showcases that nature’s stands best out in particular is the tropical woody
plant or vine known as the Bauhinia Kockiana or Bauhinia
Coccinea. There are a few different names for this plant,
including Kock’s Bauhinia, Climbing Bauhinia and Red
Trailing Bauhinia.
The Bauhinia Kockinia features flowers that are a brilliant
orange colour and foliage that are a dark green. Clusters
of the lovely flowers appear throughout the plant. Even
from a distance, their beauty and striking appearance are
immediately apparent.
The colour of the blooms begins as yellow, but it quickly changes
to an orange tone, and from there it progresses to a bright,
orangey-red hue.
There is also the evergreen tree known as the Ixora Javanica,
which may reach a height of up to 11 metres!
Then there is the Plumbago plant or Plumbago Auriculata, often
known as the sky flower or forget-me-not. It is actually a shrub
that can attain a height of three metres and a width of three
metres in its natural habitat.
Plumbago plants are endemic to South Africa and have the
appearance of sprawling bushes with branches that are similar
to vines. It is highly regarded for the pretty flowers it produces,
which resemble powder blue phlox-like blossoms that it produces
for long periods of time.
The Plumeria Rubra or frangipani, is also stunning as it comes
in a variety of hues, including white, cream, yellow, pink, orange
and even deep cerise. There is also a type that is pink, apricot and
yellow — all in one blossom!
Aside from the stunning shades, the scent of the frangipani is
worth mentioning. Some are sweet-smelling, while others exude
the aroma of jasmine or peaches.