Strelitzia is a genus of five species of evergreen perennial plants belonging to the family Strelitziaceae, within the order Zingiberales. All species are native to South Africa, where they are commonly known as crane flowers. The genus is more widely recognised by the common name bird of paradise, a reference to the striking resemblance of the flower's form to a tropical bird in flight.
The plants are characterised by large, paddle-shaped leaves 30 to 200 cm long, arranged strictly in two ranks to produce a distinctive fan-like crown reminiscent of banana foliage. Flowers emerge from a stout, horizontal spathe and are typically vivid orange and deep blue or white and blue depending on the species. The largest member, Strelitzia nicolai, is a tree-like plant reaching up to 10 m (33 ft) in height and bears white and blue flowers. The remaining species are generally smaller, typically growing 2 to 3.5 m tall.
Five species are recognised within the genus, though Strelitzia juncea has been shown to be genetically nested within S. reginae and may represent a mutation in the process of speciation. The hybrid Strelitzia × kewensis is an artificial cross between S. reginae and S. augusta. Two species — S. nicolai and S. reginae — are widely cultivated as houseplants and ornamental garden plants around the world.
Strelitzia holds significant cultural status: it is the official floral emblem of the City of Los Angeles and is depicted on the reverse of the South African 50-cent coin.
Etymology
The genus Strelitzia was named by the botanist Joseph Banks in honour of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the German-born queen consort of Great Britain and wife of King George III. The name commemorates her birthplace, the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in present-day Germany.
Distribution
All five species of Strelitzia are native to South Africa. In the wild they occur in subtropical and coastal regions of the country, where the genus is commonly known as crane flower. S. reginae and S. nicolai have been widely naturalised and cultivated across warm-temperate and tropical regions worldwide.
Cultivation
Strelitzia reginae and S. nicolai are among the most widely cultivated ornamental plants in warm-temperate climates worldwide, grown as houseplants in cooler regions and as garden perennials where frosts are light or absent. They are valued for their bold foliage and long-lasting, spectacularly coloured flowers. The genus has been adopted as the floral emblem of Los Angeles, reflecting its prominence in Californian horticulture.
History
The genus was first formally described and named by Joseph Banks, the naturalist who accompanied Captain James Cook on his first circumnavigation. Banks named it in honour of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz following the plant's introduction to cultivation at Kew Gardens in the late eighteenth century. The artificial hybrid Strelitzia × kewensis bears the name of Kew Gardens, where it was raised.
