Iconic symbol of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team and other national sports teams and athletes. I photographed this frond fragment on a trail in Otari-Wilton’s Bush, Wellington, NZ in March 2022. Alsophina dealbata, can grow to 30 feet and the full fern frond can be 10 feet long. It is the underside that is white/silver.
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Elephant Foot in FlowerElephant Foot in Flower
Right now the Beaucarnea recurvata, aka elephant foot or ponytail plant, are in flower at the San Diego botanic garden. There are white, orange (shown), and red forms. Post provided by BB.
Toyon and Hollywood?Toyon and Hollywood?
It appears to be a favorable winter for the fruiting of red Toyon berries as patches of red have appeared on our chaparral hills. The berries while technically edible are very unpleasant if eaten raw. Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon, or California Holly is native to coastal ranges of California and southern Oregon. Although it grows on the hills around Hollywood that is apparently not the reason for the name.
California Holly: How Hollywood Didn’t Get its Name | Natural History Museum (nhm.org)
Hot PinkHot Pink
Currently in bloom on Aviary Drive just south of the swim and racket club. This is Tabebuia heterophylla also known as pink manjack or pink tulip tree.