Strelitzia juncea

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Strelitzia juncea flower.jpg |image_caption = Cultivated specimen in the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden | status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1 |genus = Strelitzia |species = juncea |authority = Andrews<ref name = "POWO">{{cite web |url= https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:798181-1 |title= Strelitzia juncea Andrews |author= |date=n.d. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=October 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/8X7FG |title= Strelitzia juncea Andrews |author= |date=n.d. |website=Catalogue of Life |publisher=Species 2000 |access-date=October 15, 2022}}</ref> |synonyms = *''Strelitzia parvifolia'' var. ''juncea'' (Andrews) Ker Gawl. *''Strelitzia reginae'' var. ''juncea'' (Andrews) H.E.Moore *''Strelitzia reginae'' subsp. ''juncea'' (Andrews) Sm. *''Strelitzia principis'' Andrews *''Strelitzia teretifolia'' Barrow ex Steud. |synonyms_ref = <ref name = "POWO" /> |range_map = South Africa in the world (W3).svg |range_map2 = Map of the provinces of South Africa 1910-1976 with the Cape highlighted.svg |range_map2_caption = Approximate distribution of ''Strelitzia juncea'' in South Africa }}

'''''Strelitzia juncea''''', the '''rush-leaved strelitzia''' or '''narrow-leaved bird of paradise''', is a monocotyledonous flowering plant that is indigenous to South Africa. This drought-resistant ''Strelitzia'' occurs sparingly near Uitenhage, Patensie and just north of Port Elizabeth. It is the only ''Strelitzia'' species which typically lacks a lamina, or leaf blade.<ref>{{cite book | last= Hogan | first= Sean | date= 2004 |title= Flora -The Gardener's Bible | location= Willoghby, New South Wales |publisher= Global Book Pub. Pty. Ltd | page= 1375 with photo | isbn= 1-74048-097-X }}</ref> It also differs from ''Strelitzia reginae'' in having an inflorescence that is shorter than the leaves, while those of ''S. reginae'' are taller than the leaves.<ref>{{cite book | last1= Turner| first1= R.J. Jr. |last2= Wasson | first2= Ernie | date= 1999 |title= Botanica | location= <not given>| publisher= Barnes & Noble | page= 862 | ISBN= 0760716420 }}</ref> It is threatened in part by illegal removal for horticultural purposes. This species is thought to be one of the most frost-resistant of the genus ''Strelitzia''.<ref name="PA">[http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/strelitzjun.htm ''Strelitzia juncea'' at PlantZAfrica.com]</ref>

Other common names include '''strelitzia''', '''bird of paradise''', or '''crane flower''' though these names are also collectively applied to other species in the genus ''Strelitzia''.<ref name="PA"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} {{Wikispecies|Strelitzia juncea}} * [http://www.ipni.org/ipni/simplePlantNameSearch.do;jsessionid=A4898AC1B4D0F650EACB0C99AA222A55?find_wholeName=Strelitzia+juncea IPNI Listing]

Category:Endemic flora of the Cape Provinces Category:Strelitziaceae Category:Taxa named by Henry Cranke Andrews