Strelitzia nicolai

Regel & Koern.

White bird-of Paradise

Strelitziaceae Edible: Seeds, Seeds - coffee 9,231 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Strelitzia nicolai, commonly known as the wild banana or giant white bird of paradise, is a species of banana-like plants with erect woody stems reaching a height of 7–8 m (23–26 ft), and the clumps formed can spread as far as 3.5 m (11 ft). Strelitzia nicolai is among the few plants which have been verified to contain the pigment bilirubin, which is usually found in animals.

Description

A tree up to 9 m tall. Often they occur in clumps. They sucker from the base. The leaves are 1.8 m long and 0.6 m wide. They are normally tattered into strips by the wind. The flower head is 45 cm long. It has grey, blue, white and pink colours. Several flower sheaths grow out of one large flower sheath. This large flower sheath can be 30 cm long and deep red or blue. The fruit is a 3 lobed woody capsule. It is 5-7 cm long. The woolly layer around the seed is bright orange.

Edible Uses

The seeds are cooked as food or used as a coffee substitute.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are used as food. They are cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It needs moderate moisture and a seasonally dry climate. It needs a fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It needs full sun. It can tolerate salt spray. It is damaged by frost. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Queen Sirikit BG.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Indonesia, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa*, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Thailand, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds. Plants can also be grown from suckers.

Production

Plants grow quickly.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Seeds	1.9	2720	651	3.6	—	—	—	—

Synonyms

Strelitzia alba subsp. nicolai (Regel & Korn.) Maire & WeillerStrelitzia quensonii Lem.

Also Known As

Inkamanga, Isigceba, Isigude, Natal strelitzia, Orjaška strelicija, Wild banana

References (22)

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Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 295
https://growwild.co.za Edible Indigenous plants

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