Andreanum Red Champion in flower. This is a luxurious sensual, some say even erotic, vivid flaming blood-scarlet flower has a yellow tipped knobbly stamen (the large yellow tip is the "anther" which contains the pollen) and a shiny wax-like single petal heart-shaped flower.
Native of the tropical rainforest of South America it is nicknamed "oil cloth" or "Painters Palette" which hardly reflects its sexual arousing reputation. It is good as a houseplant or in a cool greenhouse but needs damp shady conditions, just like the natural rainforest. It also has what look like veins on the back of the flower.
Due to its disappearing environment and global warming perhaps more of us should buy this plant of luxury! It reminds me of a spanish girl flaring her skirt, but some women seem to think different!
Date: 01/08/2005
Location: studio