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{{Taxobox
| name = ''Strelitzia''
| image = Strelitzia_larger.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Zingiberidae]]
| ordo = [[Zingiberales]]
| familia = [[Strelitziaceae]]
| genus = '''''Strelitzia'''''
| genus_authority = Ait.
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
'''''Strelitzia''''' is a genus of five species of [[perennial plant]]s, native to [[South Africa]]. The genus is named after the [[duchy]] of [[Mecklenburg-Strelitz]], birthplace of [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Queen Charlotte]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. The common name of the genus is '''bird of paradise flower''', because of a supposed resemblance of its flowers to the [[bird of paradise]]. In South Africa it is commonly known as a "crane" flower.
The species ''S. nicolai'' is the largest in the genus, reaching 10 m tall; the other species typically reach 2-6 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are large, 30-200 cm long and 10-80 cm broad, similar to a [[banana]] leaf in appearance but with a longer [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]], and arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of [[evergreen]] foliage. The [[flower]]s are produced in a horizontal [[inflorescence]] emerging from a stout spathe. They are [[pollination|pollinated]] by [[sunbird]]s, which use the spathe as a perch when visiting the flowers; the weight of the bird on the spathe opens it to release the [[pollen]] onto the bird's feet, which is then deposited on the next flower it visits.
;Species
*''[[Strelitzia alba]]'' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''S. augusta'') - White bird of paradise
*''[[Strelitzia caudata]]'' - Swaziland Strelitzia, African desert banana
*''[[Strelitzia nicolai]]'' - White, or Giant bird of paradise; Wild banana
*''[[Strelitzia reginae]]'' (syn. ''S. parvifolia'') - Strelitzia, Bird of paradise, or Crane lily
*''[[Strelitzia juncea]]'' (Ker Gawl.) - Greatly reduced or non-existent leaves. [http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=267251&repSynonym_id=267256&name_id=267251&status=true&checklist=monocots Cite].
;Hybrids
*''S × kewensis'' ([[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] between ''S. reginae'' and ''S. augusta'')
;Links
*[[List of Southern African indigenous trees]]
==In The Media==
Strelitzia is seen in the TV Series [[Farscape]], it eaten by the Scarrens to enhance their intelligence. (420: "Hot To Katratzi")
==References & notes==
;References
<div class="references-small">
* [http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxic_birdofparadise/ Toxic Information]
<gallery>
Image:StrelitziaReginaePlant.jpg|''Strelitzia reginae'' plant
Image:StrelitziaReginaeFlower.jpg|''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
Image:A wasp in flower.jpg|A wasp in ''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
Image:Bird of Paradise flower.JPG|''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
| name = ''Strelitzia''
| image = Strelitzia_larger.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Zingiberidae]]
| ordo = [[Zingiberales]]
| familia = [[Strelitziaceae]]
| genus = '''''Strelitzia'''''
| genus_authority = Ait.
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
'''''Strelitzia''''' is a genus of five species of [[perennial plant]]s, native to [[South Africa]]. The genus is named after the [[duchy]] of [[Mecklenburg-Strelitz]], birthplace of [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Queen Charlotte]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. The common name of the genus is '''bird of paradise flower''', because of a supposed resemblance of its flowers to the [[bird of paradise]]. In South Africa it is commonly known as a "crane" flower.
The species ''S. nicolai'' is the largest in the genus, reaching 10 m tall; the other species typically reach 2-6 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are large, 30-200 cm long and 10-80 cm broad, similar to a [[banana]] leaf in appearance but with a longer [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]], and arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of [[evergreen]] foliage. The [[flower]]s are produced in a horizontal [[inflorescence]] emerging from a stout spathe. They are [[pollination|pollinated]] by [[sunbird]]s, which use the spathe as a perch when visiting the flowers; the weight of the bird on the spathe opens it to release the [[pollen]] onto the bird's feet, which is then deposited on the next flower it visits.
;Species
*''[[Strelitzia alba]]'' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''S. augusta'') - White bird of paradise
*''[[Strelitzia caudata]]'' - Swaziland Strelitzia, African desert banana
*''[[Strelitzia nicolai]]'' - White, or Giant bird of paradise; Wild banana
*''[[Strelitzia reginae]]'' (syn. ''S. parvifolia'') - Strelitzia, Bird of paradise, or Crane lily
*''[[Strelitzia juncea]]'' (Ker Gawl.) - Greatly reduced or non-existent leaves. [http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=267251&repSynonym_id=267256&name_id=267251&status=true&checklist=monocots Cite].
;Hybrids
*''S × kewensis'' ([[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] between ''S. reginae'' and ''S. augusta'')
;Links
*[[List of Southern African indigenous trees]]
==In The Media==
Strelitzia is seen in the TV Series [[Farscape]], it eaten by the Scarrens to enhance their intelligence. (420: "Hot To Katratzi")
==References & notes==
;References
<div class="references-small">
* [http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxic_birdofparadise/ Toxic Information]
<gallery>
Image:StrelitziaReginaePlant.jpg|''Strelitzia reginae'' plant
Image:StrelitziaReginaeFlower.jpg|''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
Image:A wasp in flower.jpg|A wasp in ''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
Image:Bird of Paradise flower.JPG|''Strelitzia reginae'' flower
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
