MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 27 
BIRD OF PARADISE FLOWER (STRELITZIA 
REGINAE) 
The genus Strelitzia belongs to the Musaceae or banana 
family and greatly resembles the banana in habit of growth. 
It is a native of South Africa and includes about five species, 
three of which are represented in the Garden collection. 
Strelitzia augusta, the arborescent type, described in the 
June, 1918, number of the BULLETIN, is the largest-growing of 
the five species. The species S. Reginae is by far the most 
gorgeous of the group. It was introduced into cultivation 
in 1773 by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, through 
the efforts of Sir Joseph Banks, who named it in honor of 
Queen Charlotte of the family of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife 
of King George III. The striking coloration and oddity of 
its flowers soon brought the plant into prominence, as much 
as twenty-five dollars having been paid to collectors in Africa 
for a single small specimen. Despite its early introduction, 
the plant is rarely seen outside botanical gardens, except 
where it is possible to naturalize it outdoors, as in California. 
Its luxuriant colors, combined with the bird-like appearance 
of the flower, suggested the name ‘‘Bird of Paradise.’’ 
In habit the plant is perennial. The roots are somewhat 
rhizomatous, suggesting the growth of carrots. The leaves 
emerge directly from the ground, supported on long stems 
or petioles, unlike S. augusta, which forms a true trunk. The 
unbranched flower spike towers above the foliage, is circular 
in shape, of equal thickness throughout, embraced with four 
or five sheaths, and is of a glaucous color. The number of 
flower spikes to each plant is governed by the age of the 
plant. Terminating the flower stem is a horizontal spathe 
about eight to ten inches long, of a glaucous color, with ai 
fine bright purple base, extending to the pointed end. In 
the process of development the spathe, or protective covering 
for the flowers, opens from above within an inch of the apex, 
where the edges roll to one side forming an angle of 45 degrees. 
This permits the recession and opening of the flowers, which 
are arranged one behind the other within the spathe. After a 
blossom has been open for a day or so it recedes, making room 
for the next bloom pushing out from the spathe. This peculiar 
operation is repeated until all the flowers, usually six or eight 
in number, have emerged from their covering. 
The upper petals are bright orange in color; the lower 
