Bunga Bakawali ~ Bunga Wijaya Kusuma

 my small pot of ' bunga bakawali'

originates from Makteh Asrah's  laman in Melaka

I had waited a long time to see its white bloom but missed viewing it

since it only opens up middle of the night

Epiphyllum Angulige, also known as Moon Cactus,

Queen of the Night (since it bloom at midnight only)

and in Malaysia it's common name 'bunga Bakawali'

while  Indonesians called them 'bunga Wijaya Kusuma'

It belongs to the cactus family and  said to originate from Mexico.

It is grown in gardens for its ornamental value because of its beautiful fragrant

 flower that bloom for a few hours only at night.

Both the flowers and  stems/leaves of Bakawali also known for its medicinal properties.

My Potted Laman

~ a hanging potted  'ginseng Jepun'

common name       :  Ginseng Jepun/Akar Som Jawa

botanical name  :  Talinum Paniculatum Gaerth

Said to be a wild plant , now it has become a household potted plant and its known for its medicinal properties both from the roots and leaves - to treat cough/asthma, and to reduce swelling of abscess,

Can be eaten either fresh as 'ulam'/salad  with sambal belacan or as a fried/boiled vegetable dish

a corner of my tiny Laman

Hummingbird

bunga tanjung ( Mimusops Elengi)

'Hummingbird peeping out the nest

Bird Nest hanging from the Bunga Tanjung tree

a close-up view - Hummingbird (Burung Kelicap)

Asam Gelugur or Asam Keping in Malay (Garcinia Atroviridis)

Brief info :
Scientific name   -   Garcinia Atrovoridis
Local name         -   Asam Gelugur
Common name   -   Malabar Tamarind
Main component -   Hydroxycitric acid (HCA)
Properties/Uses  -   Anti-inflamatory,  antidiarrheic, digestive, anti-tumor

The 'asam gelugur' tree has long trunk and it can grow to more than 20m tall, with smooth grey bark and drooping branches . The leaves are  dark green in colour while its round fruits are initially green  and turn yellow/bright orange when ripe . The long shiny leaves are pointed  at the tip with upturned edges.

Asam gelugur has sour taste .When sliced and dried it is used both for for cooking and as herbal medicine for weight loss and also known for its  antioxidants properties.

Garcinia Atroviridis- asam gelugur belong to the same group as the 'garcinia mangostana' - mangosteen/ manggis fruit tree.

~~~~~~

It was during one of our Sunday morning walks at the Putrajaya Parks that triggered my interest on  the 'Garcinia Atrovidis' - asam gelugur. Came across a few fruits that have fallen down.  Recalled the brief notes on uses and properies of the 'garcinia'  during our visit to the Nasuha Herbal Farm & Resorts in Pagoh, Johor, where hundreds of asam gelugur trees were planted and was told that  the owner of this herbal farm imported selected species from overseas.

The Banting Family Wedding on 23rd May 2010

'bunga telor' - wedding favors for the guests

Amira with the bride - Ain

the marriage ceremony at Sungai Manggis, Banting Mosque

23rd May 2010, in one day, Mak Anjang (MIL's younger sis) welcomed three new members into the Banting family. Two grandaughters were married on the same day and one was engaged the evening before. Managed to snap a few photos of the youngest girl, Raja Siti Ain b. Raja Razman.

Presented her with my 'bierdemeir' design sirih junjung and the Banting girls prepared for them with wedding favors ..  gifts for the guests.

Dean Martin - Sway

Another version .....Michael Buble || Sway

Another version by latest hearthrob ....

Bunga Telang>Butterfly Pea>Pigeon Wings>Clitoria Ternatea

Had a fun trip this morning to Banting, my hubby's hometown located in Kuala Langat and took less than 2 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur via Klang. Visited  an interesting family friend  and came home with a bunch of the 'bunga telang' seedlings  ...

bunga telang seedlings

....became interested and curious about bunga telang when I was posted to work in Kelantan and got to taste Kelantan well known  'blue nasi kerabu'. My brief info on this particular blue flowering climber plant  > .....Bunga Telang - Laman 2008

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http://hajjah-mytravellogue.blogspot.com/2008/08/laman-2008.html

the  bunga telang  plant 

where those seedlings came from

Miniature Pineapple (Dwarf Pineapple)

This morning, a nice surprise greeted me as I ponder over the balcony  railings , where we hang a few potted plants. A beautiful yellow-golden 'dwarf pineapple' fruit with a proud crown on top ....

my own  'dwarf pineapple'

Took the flower pot indoors and immediately

 captured a few images using my tiny digital camera

Nanas Hana69 - MAHA 2008

: Pineapple Industry Board Malaysia

Not sure whether it is edible but have seen in being sold in the supermarket, Chinese fruit stalls and often used in flower arrangements, especially during the Chinese New Year celebration. Maybe it can be used as an exotic drink stirers as it has long nice stalk. I planted this dwarf pineapple from a cutting given by my sister in Melaka who was clearing her plot of front yard garden almost a year ago. Initially, I have given up hope that it could  fruit.

Browsing the internet to get some information on this plant :

Family  :    Bromeliaceae

Species :   Anana Nanus

Known to originates from Brazil as ornamental plant with longish green-grey leaves with spines. The ripe fruit look like a small pineapple.

Red Wild Ginger Blooms - Zingiberaceae (Ginger Family) -

These bright blooming stalks of the 'Alpina Purpurata', also known as ' Polynesian Princess' in Hawaii, started me off doing my first flowers in 2010.

- -Fresh Flower Stand --

Brief notes on Ginger Plants >

There must be hundreds of different variety of ginger plants under the 'Zingiberaceae' group/family. Beside the Alpina purpurata/Polynesian Princess that stand tall in the above geometric-design flower arrangement, I found out that there are several types of 'ginger' commonly used by my kampung folks either in their cooking or herbal medicines such as the following list :-

common ginger - Zingiber officinale

Halia (common cooking Ginger, Botanical name - Zingiber officinle) is known to be used to treat upset stomach, indigestion, motion sickness and muscular cramps. Ginger is also added in cooking so as to relieve fevers and bodily pains as well as to remove toxins from the body.

Temu Kunci - Fingeroot, Boesenbergia rotunda

Temu Kunci- Fingeroot (Botanical name - Boesenbergia rotunda) also known as 'Chinese Ginger', 'Thai Ginger' is a tall ginger plant with beautiful purplish-pink flowers and its long tubers sprout out from the middle of its rhizome. It is so called 'finger root' because the shape of the rhizomes appears to look like the human fingers. Temu Kunci gives out a strong flavor and popular in Indonesian and Thai cooking, often added into fish curries.

Temu Kunci is sometimes used for swellings, treating wounds and diarrhea. The Malays also use it for postnatal care/nursing mothers.

ref : http://www.tropilab.com/

Temu Lawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) or Temu Putih still under the  Zingiberaceae  family, is said to originates from Indonesia. Its rhizome commonly use in herbal treatments due to its anti-viral and anti inflamation properties. Also used in cooking as it give certain flavor especially in Indonesian dishes. It is said to have aromatic but pungent smell and has bitter taste. The traditional Malay midwife recommended this type of ginger since it has effect on breast milk production.

Temu Pauh-

Halia Bara-Zingeber officinale var. rubrum

halia bara

Bunga Kantan - Torch ginger (Etlingera Elatior)

Bunga Kantan, a common name in Malaysia, is also known by various names -Torch Ginger, Ginger Flower, Red Ginger Lily, Wild Ginger, Philippine Wax Flower, Indonesian Tall Ginger, Porcelain Rose. Its preety pink flowers are often used in flower arangements and also in cooking giving the dishes an exclusive flavour

Then there also other varieties often used in floral arrangement >

Pinecone ginger/Pinecone Lily - Shampoo ginger (Zingiber serubet)

Siam Tulip (Curcuma Alisnatiforia)


Note : need more info on the different types of  rhizomes under the ginger family

Ref : Plant Aficionado,Wikipedia.org,Daves Garden