Pride of Burma

Taxobox
name = Pride of Burma

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
subfamilia = Caesalpinioideae
tribus = Detarieae
genus = "Amherstia"
species = "A. nobilis"
binomial = "Amherstia nobilis"
binomial_authority = Wallich

The Pride of Burma ("Amherstia nobilis" in the Fabaceae) is a tropical tree with exceptionally beautiful flowers (it is also known as the Orchid Tree, a name otherwise reserved for members of the genus "Bauhinia"). Its name in Burmese is "thawka-gyi". It is widely cultivated for ornament in the humid tropics. Pride of Burma is very rare in the wild and has only been collected from its native habitat a few times. It is native to Burma (Myanmar), hence the common name. The scientific name commemorates Lady Amherst, as does Lady Amherst's Pheasant.

This stunning tree is the only member of the genus Amherstia. The extravagant flowers are seen hanging from the long inflorescence, or flower stalk, which is a bright crimson red at the end. There are 5 petals although 2 of these are minute and the rest are of unequal size.The petals are also crimson; the two medium sized petals are yellow at the tip and the largest petal is broad and fan-shaped with a wavy upper margin and a yellow triangle of colour extending from the lip down into the flower. This large petal can reach 7.5 centimetres long and over 4 centimetres wide at the end. There are either 9 or 10 stamens, 9 of which are partially fused into a pink sheath; the stamens are of two differing lengths with the longer ones having larger anthers. The compound leaves bear 6 - 8 large leaflets; these are broadly oblong in shape and are a whitish colour underneath.

The fruits, or seedpods, are 11 to 20 centimetres long. They are roughly scimitar-shaped and the woody outer case opens to disperse the seeds.

External links

* [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/plants_and_algae/Amherstia_nobilis/ From the ARKive digital database]