Strelitziaceae

Strelitziaceae

Bird of paradise
Consists of perennial herbs or trees
Has 3 genera (Phenakospermum, Ravenala, and Strelitzia)
Common Features
Stems

underground stems are rhizomatous

aerial stems are decumbent and herbaceous
or arborescent and woody-textured
Leaves

The leaves are:

distichous
sheathing
Petiolate
simple
penni-parallel-veined

Inflorescence
Terminal or axillary cluster of monochasial cymes
Subtended by a large sheathing bract
Flower

Bisexual
Zygomorphic
Bracteate
Epigynous
Perianth

Biseriate
Homochlamydeous
Syntepalous

Stamen
5 or 6
Anthers are basifixed, longitudinal in dehiscence and bithecal
Gynoecium
Syncarpous
Inferior ovary
3 carpel and 3 locules
Style
terminal and filiform
Placentation
Axile
Ovules
Anatropous
Bitegmic
Nectaries
Present
Fruit

Loculicidal capsule
Arillated seeds
Starch-rich endosperm
Starch-less perisperm
Unique Char.

Rhizomatous and decumbent or erect, arborescent stems

Distichous leaves
Flowers having 5-6 stamens
Ornamental plants

Strelitzia reginae (bird-of-paradise)

S. nicolai (tree bird-of-paradise)
Family Strelitziaceae

Phenakospermum guyannense

Ravenala madagascariensis

Strelitzia alba

Strelitzia caudata

Strelitzia juncea