Common name: Butterfly Flower, Poor Man's Orchid, Fringe flower
Botanical name:Schizanthus x wisetonensisFamily:Solanaceae (Potato family)
Butterfly Flower is an erect 30-50 cm high and
heavily branched, annual herb with attractive light-green foliage. The
alternate fern-like leaves are broadly lanceshaped in outline, but much
divided, often pinnatisect with segments incised or toothed. The flowers,
appearing in large, branched clusters, are rather unlike most Solanaceae
flowers. The deeply cut asymetrical flower resembles two widespread lips
varying in color from white through bluish and pink to carmine. The
middle lobe of the upper lip is always bright yellow and variously
blotched independent of petal color. The flower tube is shorter than the
5-clefted, almost 5-parted sepal-cup. The style and the 2 stamens are
usually rather short-exerted. The fruit is a many-seeded capsule. The
irregular shape and winglike petals may resemble butterflies or mini
orchids and has inspired the common name. The genus name Schizanthus
(schizo = divided) refers to the deeply cut flower.
Butterfly Flower is native to South America.
Identification credit: Tabish
Photographed in Garden of Five Senses, Delhi.
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The flower labeled Butterfly Flower is ...