Unusual flowers - Tree begonia

Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

Tree begonias, originally from Brazil, will flower for most of the year.  Both the foliage and the flowers are hairy!

Unusual flowers - Gymea Lily by Frances

Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown

Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa) is a special Australian wildflower that only occurs naturally in the coastal region near Sydney. 

It has huge flower clusters.  This cluster was over half a metre in length.  Usually the clusters are on stems 3 - 5 metres high (and difficult to photograph) however, this one was leaning over due to the weight of the flowers, so I could get up close.  Each individual flower is about 10cm across when it opens. The excellent flowering is probably due to all the rain we had in Sydney a month or two ago.

Unusual Flowers - Bird of Paradise by Janet

Image copyright 2013 Janet Denne

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) is unusual because the majority of flowers types have radial symmetry (e.g. daisies), but this flower is proudly asymmetric!  These flowers are also quite large - about 15-18 cm in length.

Orchids are another group that vary from the norm in their symmetry - most are bilaterally symmetric.

Unusual flowers - Clematis by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Although Clematis is not especially unusual, this variety grows as a vine, and has unusual feathery seed heads. The  bright yellow lantern shaped flowers are pretty, too

Unusual flowers - Flamingo Astilbe by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Astilbe has striking long stemmed feathery plumes and flowers in Summer. The flowers may be pink, white, lavender or red. This vibrant pink Flamingo Astilbe was photographed in Duns, Scotland, by Liz

Unusual flowers - Liatris spicata by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

With its bright purple feathery flower clusters, Liatris is also called "Blazing Star" or "Gay feather". This plant is part of the Daisy family (Asteraceae) and is is native to North America, Mexico and the Bahamas. Photographed in Scotland by Liz.

Unusual flowers - Bromeliad by Georgie

Image copyright Georgie Brown 2013

This week features unusual flowers. This gorgeous multi coloured bromeliad was photographed in Perth by Georgie.  

Spring Blossom by Romaine

Image copyright 2013 Romaine Moss

This beautiful Spring blossom was photographed by Romaine in Tuscany in May.

Spring blossom - Plum Blossom by Georgie

Image copyright 2013 Georgie Brown 

"Red Plum" blossom photographed by Georgie.  The fruit is red, the flowers are white.

Spring blossom - Peach blossom by Frances

Image copyright 2013 Frances Brown