City - Austin State - TEXAS Country - United States
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Canon PowerShot S1 IS Photographed July 03, 2005 11:55 AM Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. Drummondii) Also known as Drummond wax-mallow, it attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and moths. The elite troops of the Ottoman sultans, the janissaries, were recognized on the battlefield by their ability and by the distinctive shape of their red conical hats. Turk's Cap in bloom It is an apt image for the flower known as Turk?s cap, but so is a cardinal?s hat, another name for this handsome flowering shrub that grows up to 10 feet tall. The Turk?s cap originates from Central America, but is native as far north as Mexico and south as Colombia. It made its way to Florida because of its ornamental value, its ability to draw butterflies and humming birds and its ease of maintenance. Its close resemblance to a drooping hibiscus that never quite opens its blossoms explains why the Turk?s cap, or Malvaviscus arboreus, is often called a sleeping hibiscus.
The flowers, which seem to be of crêpe paper, are long and slender with protruding stamens. The broad green leaves run along the stems, which often reach up and over adjacent flora. Although not indigenous to Florida, Turk?s cap shrubs are well-suited for the warm temperatures and sun, and have begun growing in the wild in many areas of Central and South Florida, including in an around Fort Myers. They can be grown in containers, but they require extra watering and need to be pruned to maintain their shape. Distance: 18 Flash Bias: 0 EV ISO: 200 White Balance: Auto Metering Mode: Spot Macro Mode: Normal Flash Used: None Quality: Fine Focal Length: 5.8 mm Shutter Speed: 1/318 (8.31) Lens Aperture: F/4.5 Exposure Bias: F/0.9 (-0.33) Exposure Mode: Manual Exposure
What an odd looking flower Peter! We don't have anything like that here, even though we have tons of Hibiscus. A wonderful image that is accentuated by the dark vignetting! :)
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{K:24393} 7/15/2005
