Solandra maxima

species: Solandra maxima

common name: cup-of-gold, golden chalice 

family: Solanaceae

where & when encountered: Monterey, CA - 2015

Solandra - it sounds like a solar energy company, but is actually a genus in the Solanaceae family, native to Latin America. I found these amazing flowers, also called cup-of-gold, trellised along the side of California's First Theater in Monterey.

mandevilla

species: Mandevilla or Dipladenia
common name: mandevilla, rocktrumpet
family: Apocynaceae
where & when encountered: Old Westbury, NY - 2013

This attractive member of the dogbane family was named after British diplomat Henry Mandeville. Unfortunately these mostly tropical plants, native to the Americas, are very susceptible to pests, as I later learned when a pair came into my possession.

Santa Cruz ironwood

species: Lyonothamnus floribundus
common name: Santa Cruz ironwood
family: Rosaceae
where & when encountered: Sherwood Park, Salinas, CA - 2015

Lyonothamnus floribundus, also known as Santa Cruz ironwood, Catalina ironwood, and Lyontree. A true California native, endemic to the Channel Islands, but also doing well as an ornamental on the mainland.

dawn redwood

species: Metasequoia glyptostroboides

common name: dawn redwood

family: Cupressaceae

where & when encountered: Lattingtown, NY - 2016

California has the redwoods and Sequoias, but the Bailey Arboretum in Lattingtown, NY has the dawn redwoods - their rare Chinese cousin. Not only that, they have the champion - the largest known specimen, by girth, in the world.

Tipuana tipu

species: Tipuana tipu

common name: tipu, pride-of-Bolivia

family: Fabaceae

where & when encountered: Carpinteria, CA - 2017

I learned about these trees from a local Carpinteria, CA newspaper. They are an attractive South American import, but unfortunately have roots systems that can wreak havoc on sidewalks and parking lots, like the one above. Right after reading the article, I found the trees and took this photo. According to the article, some of them would have to be removed. Below, the seeds of the tipu tree.

a curious concentration of catalpas

species: Catalpa speciosa

common name: northern catalpa

family: Bignoniaceae

where & when encountered: Old Westbury, NY - 2017

I have been familiar with this area for a very long time - actually my whole life - and I had never noticed these trees before. The native range of northern catalpas is in Arkansas and Missouri, so obviously they have been introduced. Heck, they may even be southern catalpas, Catalpa bignonioides. In any case there are dozens, and they are no doubt spreading via birds or other natural causes.