Birds of Paradise !! - கூடையில் என்ன பூ ??

வாழ்க்கையில் ஏற்றமும் இறக்கமும்  !  அண்ணாமலையான ரஜினிகாந்த் லிப்ட் படிகளில் மேலேற, சரத்பாபு கீழே இறங்குவார் !  - ஒரே பாடலில் வாழ்க்கை மாறும்.  பால்காரரான சைக்கிள் ஓட்டும் அண்ணாமலை –

 

கொண்டையில் தாழம்பூ,  நெஞ்சிலே வாழைப்பூ !! (அது என்ன நெஞ்சிலே !!)  - படம் பார்ப்பவர்களை பார்த்து -  கூடையில் என்ன பூ  - என வினவுவார் ?  - கேள்வி -  இது என்ன பூ ??  - to those who cannot read Tamil – identify this flower ?!? 

Among the most amazing creatures in the world, more than 40 species of this most attractive birds  live in New Guinea’s Indo-Pacific rainforest, one of the largest intact tropical forested areas on Earth.  Most are distinguished by striking colors and bright plumage of yellow, blue, scarlet, and green. These colors distinguish them as some of the world's most dramatic and attractive birds. Males often sport vibrant feathered ruffs or amazingly elongated feathers, which are known as wires or streamers. Some species have enormous head plumes or other distinctive ornaments, such as breast shields or head fans.  Here is a photo of the bird from Sandiegozoo website.  

 

The birds-of-paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes. The majority of species are found in eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and eastern Australia. The family has 45 species in 17 genera. The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of the species, the majority of which are sexually dimorphic. The males of these species tend to have very long, elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings, tail or head. For the most part they are confined to dense rainforest habitat. The diet of all species is dominated by fruit and to a lesser extent arthropods. A number of species are threatened by hunting and habitat loss.  

It is a plant – known as false bird of Paradise !! H. rostrata is a very large, evergreen perennial with banana-like leaves up to 2m long. In spring and summer it produces hanging inflorescences made up of bright red bracts, each tipped with yellow and green, with yellowish-white flowers  

Heliconia rostrata, the hanging lobster claw or false bird of paradise, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to El Salvador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, and naturalized in Puerto Rico. Other heliconias grow in an upright position (e.g. Heliconia bihai), their cup-shaped flower bracts storing water for birds and insects. This plant, however, has downward-facing flowers, the flowers thus providing a source of nectar to birds.  

Heliconias are known to those who grow them as a host flower to many birds, especially the hummingbirds. Because of its unique characteristics, it is often used as a specimen for tropical gardens. Along with the Kantuta flower, Heliconia rostrata, known as patujú, is the national flower of Bolivia.

 

Interesting !

 
With regards – S.Sampathkumar
20.3.2023