Monday, October 24, 2016

In Focus: Hoya diversifolia



Hoya diversifolia is a much loved hoya of the Philippines. It was reported to have been found in Palawan, there is even a name H diversifolia subspecies el nidicus, which refer to that one found in El Nido, Palawan. It is reported that aside from the Philippines, it is also discovered from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. There are many subspecies and even written as varieties in hoya websites, but they are probably given by traders to show physical differences, not considering the changes they show when grown in different conditions of the environment including media, pH, nutrition, temperature, sun exposure, etc. Researches to show variations in one through time is non-existent or very limited. Moreover, even the main Hoya diversifolia name has the status of "unresolved" at The Plant List.

Long time growers very well know that hoya characteristics changes in color, shapes of flowers or leaves and a lot more phenotypically. But this species is named such because of its diverse characteristics of leaves. For example, sizes of leaves vary so much that if only big leaves are shown continuously for a long time, someone might think that it is the actual leaf sizes for it. However, the word diversifolia came from diverse or variations of the foliage.

Even with the growth of the flower buds, there are normally a few stages in one umbel at a particular time. The above umbel has at least 3 stages of flower development. But there are also umbels showing the same stages of flower growth. 

The early opening buds already produce an exciting phase like the photo above. The fuchsia corona color peeps through the light colored corolla making the opening very dramatic. 

Nectar is also a prominent characteristics of this hoya, giving indoor growers in temperate countries some difficulty with cleanliness. Nectar is sticky and difficult to clean most specially because flower stays open for 1 week. Scent is not very sweet nor bad, just a pale discernible flavor. 

I taste all the nectar of my hoya, and i just discern the sweetness, characteristics of all their nectar. 

This hoya has long internodes and really grows fast, so i allowed one plant to climb the lanzones tree. Despite our very long, hot dry season, it thrives there without any watering. The leaves just turn yellow and wilted, but recovers quickly after the first heavy rains of the next season. It is also noticeable that almost all nodes are laden with umbels. 

It climbs almost all branches and twigs, then the stem end drops to space for lack of suitable object to cling to. Even the dropping stems bear continuous umbels on every node.

The characteristic differential flower bud maturity in an umbel is shown in many umbels of the above photo.

 But there are also umbels showing the same stages of maturity. By the way, we can see the sudden big size of that above leaf, surpassing all the sizes of the older leaves before it! Diversity in foliage clearly sustained.

This is the main trunk of the tree it climbed on, now already fully enveloped at the base. It also produces long adventitious roots reaching the ground, finally getting more food sustaining it for the dry season.

The only difficulty i have is climbing the roof just to get some photos. At least our house has a lower roof above the terrace, where i can easily climb via the 2nd floor window.

 Flowering starts in September and continue until December or January. That is almost 6 months of non-stop flowering. This is the difference when growing in their natural habitat, as many growers in temperate countries are disappointed for years without blooms. In my case, even the very short newly planted cuttings produce small number of flowers.

 My Hoya diversifolia does not disappoint growers. It is self supporting without watering and did not receive any taste of fertilizers. It also caters to insects in their own food chain, as lots of them are thriving in that small micro community.

Can you see that green praying mantis at the top right portion of the photo? 
I just saw it when i post this here. 

Previous In Focus posts: 

20 comments:

  1. These close ups of the Hoya flowers are just pieces of art.

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  2. Lovely. I particularly like the first picture of the Hoya flower against the blue sky.

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  3. love this plant one of my favourites :-)

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  4. delightful and so unique
    never saw here

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  5. Your posts on flora and fauna are so informative that even a lay person feel very knowledgeable.

    BTW, silly you. I consider you one of my "closest" blog friends. I only friend people on FB that I feel "close" too.

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    Replies
    1. Hahaha thanks for that. Sometimes length of togetherness do wonders too!

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  6. That's a lovely hoya! Thanks for showing the beauty of the vining branches, too.

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  7. May we display your header on our new site directory? As it is now, the site title (linked back to your home page) is listed, and we think displaying the header will attract more attention. In any event, we hope you will come by and see what is going on at SiteHoundSniffs.com.

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    1. My header here is not as nice as in my other blogsite www.abagillon.blogspot.com. But yes you can display my site there. What do we get in return for putting our site there in your website? Thanks.

      Delete
    2. Thank you so very much for giving permission. You can see your linked header for ure Oxygen Generators under All, Gardening/Plants, Land/Sea/Skyscaes, Photography and the Philippians. I listed Andrea in this Lifetime ahead of schedule, and its linked header can be seen under All, Daily Life, Gardening/Plants, Photography and the Philippians. I plan on sharing the revenue generated from outside business advertising with all who allowed their header to be displayed after enough traffic comes by to attract advertisers. Since the site has only been up for two weeks, it may be a while before any business will want to advertise on it. Until then, you have the added exposure to the masses by being listed on the site, and a 300x150 (pixels) header certainly stands out over the 18-point text links. If you could say something (preferably good) about SiteHoundSniffs.com here and there, I would greatly appreciate it.

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    3. Thank you Jerry.Actually my sites are not filled with advertisements because I cannot decipher why Adsense didnt accept them, so I just let it be that way.

      Please cotrect your entry of the word Philippians, just put my country Philippines. It is obvious that you are not qell informed who we are, people in the Philippines are called Filipinos, not Philippians. Thanks

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    4. Thank you Jerry.Actually my sites are not filled with advertisements because I cannot decipher why Adsense didnt accept them, so I just let it be that way.

      Please cotrect your entry of the word Philippians, just put my country Philippines. It is obvious that you are not qell informed who we are, people in the Philippines are called Filipinos, not Philippians. Thanks

      Delete
    5. I am sorry for the confusion. I was having another "practice" senior moment when I sent that notification. Your sites are listed under the Philippines.

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    6. Thanks Jerry, i already went there. By the way, Andrea in this Lifetime is my avenue for my travel posts, so maybe you can also link it in Travel Blogs other than just Philippines. Pure Oxygen Generators only cater to those i see in my garden in my small patch on earth. Thanks so much.

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    7. Andrea in this Lifetime has been added to the Travel category.

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  8. Andrea, all of your hoya's beautiful and this one's flowers so special, thank you for sharing

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    1. You're welcome Klara. I have not been to your site also lately. Thanks for finding my post again.

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  9. Oh you have gotten me thinking about nectar now and the different kinds...These are beautiful plants Andrea .. Michelle

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