Rank Species | Genus Medinilla Higher classification Medinilla | |
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Similar Medinilla, Melastomataceae, Medinilla myriantha, Medinilla speciosa, Calatheas | ||
Medinilla magnifica update and flowering
Medinilla magnifica, showy medinilla, is a species in the genus Medinilla native to the Philippines. This species of Medinilla is also commonly known as the Philippine orchid, and it is an epiphyte. Various species and hybrids in this family are well known and popular with plant collectors with Medinilla speciosa or the Showy Asian Grape plant being found almost identical.
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The plant grows up to 3 m tall, with opposite, firm, leathery leaves, which grow to 20-30 cm long in an ovate shape with a short point. The flowers grow in panicles up to 50 cm long, with ovid pink bracts. The individual flowers are up to 25 mm in size, and are pink, red or violet. The fruits are violet, fleshy berries, about 1 cm wide.
In the Philippines, Medinilla magnifica grows in the forks of large trees. It is an epiphyte, which is a plant that grows on other trees but does not withdraw its food from those trees as parasites do. In the tropics, it is grown as a perennial. It is also a common house plant in cooler climes. King Boudewijn of Belgium was a big devotee of Medinilla. He grew them in the royal conservatories and they were depicted on the bank note of 10,000 Belgian francs.
Medinilla magnifica watering
