The mystery climber I mentioned in a previous post continued to remain nameless for a while. This winter it flowered profusely drawing my attention each time I walked in or out of Native Place. I began to visit this climber every afternoon to watch the sun birds drink nectar from its hanging flower bracts. It continued to flower and show off up until the end of March inspiring me to keep the search on for its true name. Recently while browsing I hit pay dirt.
Thunbergia coccinea, Wall. (Hexacentris coccinea, Nees). A very tall climber: st. much branched, 4-angled: lvs. short-petiolate, variously shaped, the lower broadly ovate, with a hastate or cordate angled base, the upper ovate, cordate, all angularly toothed or the upper entire: fls. in terminal or axillary racemes, 1-3 ft. long; bracts large, inflated, as long as the tube; limb scarlet, of 5 reflexed emarginate lobes; throat orange. Autumn and winter. India.
Source: Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
Peace Bliss & Happy Landings
Astrid Rao
