Strelitzia

Strelitzia is a South African genus of perennial plants named after the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, home of the former Queen Charlotte of England. The common name of the genus is bird of paradise, because of the resemblance of its flowers to the bird of that name.

Classification

• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Liliopsida
• SubClass: Zingiberidae
• Order: Zingiberales
• Family: Strelitziaceae

The genus is sometimes included in the banana family, Musaceae.

Genera

• S. augusta Thunb. (also S. alba) - white bird of paradise
• S. caudata - Swaziland Strelitzia, African desert banana
• S. juncea - narrow-leaved bird of paradise
• S. kewensis (cross between S. reginae and S. augusta)
• S. nicolai - white, or giant, bird of paradise; wild banana
• S. parvifolia
• S. regia
• S. reginae Ait. - bird of paradise, or crane lily