Tuesday 21 June 2016

Hoya Serpens

Flower of Hoya serpens.
Flower of Hoya serpens.
Not a wild flower at all, at least not in the UK, but I think Hoya flowers are wonderful.  This one, Hoya serpens, is an unassuming trailing plant with small, rather fleshy round green leaves.

Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud.
Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud.
This cluster of buds is 3 cm across.  The individual flowers are less than a centimetre.

Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud.
Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud.
The buds don't give any clue about what is coming.

Flower cluster of Hoya serpens.
Flower cluster of Hoya serpens.
But it's this!  They have a very floral scent which is apparent in the early morning.  Some species are much more strongly and crudely scented.  I have a Hoya curtisii which has a similar habit of growth but prettier leaves, and when that flowered my first thought was that I must have spilled a whole container of washing-up liquid.

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