Written by Maggie
Mar 08 2021
Parrot's Bill, scientific name Clianthus puniceus, also called kaka beak, prefers mild climates and does not tolerate cold or extreme heat, and is usually cultivated in a greenhouse. Parrot's Bill is endangered. Endangered: EN Endangered.
Parrot's bill is a twining vine, 2 -- 7 m long, much branched; All except corolla sparsely to densely yellow-brown villous. Stem is angulated when young.
Parrot's bill has odd pinnate compound leaves 10 -- 25 cm long; Petiole and rachis is slightly angulated, densely brownish hairy; Stipules are linear-lanceolate to awn, 11-15 mm long, sparsely hairy above, persistent; Leaflets have 9-16 pairs, opposite or subopposite, oblong to ovate-oblong, 2-5.5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, apex obtuse to acute, with awns ca. 2 mm long, base rounded to broadly cuneate, entire, both surfaces covered with brown hair, lower midrib more densely on both sides, margin with dense eyelash, lateral veins 7-10 pairs; Petiole ca. is 2 mm; Stipules of Parrot's Bill are persistent, awn-shaped, 3-5 mm long.
Parrot's bill has racemes 10 -- 15 cm long; Inflorescence rachis and pedicels densely brown hairy; Bracts are ovate-lanceolate, 1.6-2 cm long, apex caudate-long, bracteoles small, 2-4 mm long; Most;Pedicels are 7 -- 10 mm long; Calyx of Parrot's Bill is 3 -- 4 mm long, densely brownish hairy, calyx teeth 5, upper 2 inconspicuous, lower 3 broadly triangular; Corolla is purplish red to violet, red flag backwards reflex, elliptic, 15 to 17 mm long, about 11 mm wide, apex rounded, base nearly cordate, lobes short shank width, petals oval oblong, ca. 12 mm long, about 5 mm wide, have short concave, apex obtuse, base have drooping ears, keel sickle bending, about 17 mm long, a long wing flap, at its widest point up to 5 mm, apex slightly thickened, curved beak shape; Stamens are disomic, anthers elliptic; Ovary of Parrot's Bill is linear, ca. 10 mm, glabrous, base long stalk, style upcurved, ovules 6-10.
Parrot's Bill's pods are linear cylindrical, 7-9 cm long, 8-9 mm in diameter, 7 mm long beak, 5 mm long fruit neck, dark brown exocarp after dry, papery, thin and brittle, white endocarp, cartilaginous, often separated, slightly narrowed between seeds, with 6 -- 10 seeds; Seeds of Parrot's Bill are bright black, elliptic reniform, ca. 6 mm long, 3.5 mm wide, hilum broadly ovate.
Parrot's bill prefers mild climates and does not tolerate cold or extreme heat, and is usually grown in a greenhouse.
Parrot's Bill is originally from New Zealand.
Parrot's Bill propagates by sowing or cutting.
Parrot's bill is a greenhouse ornamental.