The Parrot's Beak:Gmelina philippensis

摘要

Native to the Philippine Islands, this species belongs to the genus Vitex and can also be found in India and Southeast Asia. The G is silent in Gmelina philippensis. This species is a vine-like shrub that grows extremely fast in hot and humid environments. They can reach up 10 to 15 feet in height. Parrot's Beak which is its common namehas ivy shaped leaves. (Figure l)This is one of the biggest attractions I had when I first saw this tree. This species will bloom in the spring to summer but as a bonsai the blooms are not proportioned to the tree size. The tree would have to be a largebonsai for it to be proportioned appropriately. (Figure 2) It has pendant branches and the leaf size can be reduced significantly. This property makes them idea for shohin and mame bonsai trees. (Figure 3 & 4)The blossoms are yellow and emerge at the endof cylinder like exoskeleton of intersecting brats. At best, blooms stay open for one day and there will be one seed pod per bloom. This species is a tropical and should be treated as such. Pedro Morales is one of the contributing factors why this species is popular in bonsai and for that I thank him. If you do not have a greenhouse, I would not recommend the Parrot's Beak for northern climates. The leaves turn a chartreuse color when the temperatures drop to 50°F or under - they will drop leaves andnew growth will start popping everywhere.