Strelitzia reginae

Banks

Bird's tongue flower, Crane flower, Bird-of-Paradise

Strelitziaceae Edible: Tuber, Root, Seeds, Flowers 16,830 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Strelitzia reginae, commonly known as the crane flower, bird of paradise, or isigude in Nguni, is a species of flowering plant native to the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. An evergreen perennial, it is widely cultivated for its dramatic flowers. In temperate areas it is a popular houseplant.

Description

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It can grow to 1.2 m high. It spreads 0.9 m wide. The leaves are 30-75 cm long on stems 1.8 m long. The flowers are orange and blue. Each flower consists of 3 orange coloured sepals and 3 blue petals. Two of the petals are united in an arrowhead-like structure.

Edible Uses

The seeds are cooked and eaten. The tuber, roots, and flowers are also edible.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are cooked and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows naturally along river banks in South Africa. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. It needs moderate moisture. It needs a fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It needs an acid pH. It needs full sun. Melbourne Botanical Gardens.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Palau, Philippines, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa*, Southern Africa, USA,

Notes

It may be in a hot house in Slovenia.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Root	91.9	109	26	0.4	—	—	1	—

Synonyms

Strelitzia parvifolia

Also Known As

Ave de Paraiso, Kera phul, Kraljevska strelicija, Za-ma-ni-hnget-pan

References (17)

Benvenuti, S. & Mazzoncini, M., 2021, The Biodiversity of Edible Flowers: Discovering New Tastes and New Health Benefits. Frontiers in Plant Science Article 569499.
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1375
Food Composition Tables for use in East Asia FAO http://www.fao.org/infoods/directory No. 413
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 636
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 295

Show all 17 references

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Morley, B. & Everard, B., 1970, Wild Flowers of the World. Ebury press. Plate 84
Recher, P, 2001, Fruit Spirit Botanical Gardens Plant Index. www.nrg.com.au/~recher/ seedlist.html p 7
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 105
Smith, A.C., 1979, Flora Vitiensis Nova, Lawaii, Kuai, Hawaii, Volume 1 p 180
Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 77
Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew