SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Tropical Flora 101 More Pics

3378 views
17 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Tropical Flora 101 More Pics
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 5:53 PM
As reference for all modelers who wish to make dios of subjects in the tropics espcially in the southeast asian region, I am sharing herewith some photos of typical tropical trees and plants found in the said regions. This will probably be applicable for areas like Vietnam, Philippines, Guam, Cambodia and even Burma.

1.) The Banana Tree
Actually it is not a member of the palm clan and not even a tree. It is an overgron shrub. It is green all year round and grows about anywhere except near salt water. It could grow to about 10 to 15 feet.





2.) The Tropical Wild Grass
This is a very weather resistant type of grass and grows about anywhere even near the beaches. It could grow to a height of about 10 ft.




3.) Flowering Grass
Not so abundant in all areas but usually grows alongside the wild grasses.



The pictures are in Ron's Gallery. If you want to save a copy you may do so. I'll be back for more. Questions are welcome.

Wink [;)]

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 8:39 PM
wow lol 10 feet tall... (Whistles) wouldnt want to get lost in that. The banana tree looks like it would be a pain in the butt to do. thanks for the pics, and the info
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 8:54 PM
You are welcome, aibrush. I will be posting some more pics soon.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Thursday, December 4, 2003 2:17 AM
Thanks Dwight,
Definately a valuable resource for reference. Had I not known you were in the Philipines I would almost think you were in East Central Florida or or SE Florida. (We have lots of banana trees here, some ornamental, some out of control and gone wild)
What are the deciduous trees in the back ground? They almost look like a species of Live Oak or Laurel Oak. Mahogony maybe?

Dwight, as always. Thanks.

Mike
Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Thursday, December 4, 2003 2:38 AM
renarts,

Yes, some are local mahogany some are what we call acacia and ipil-ipil trees.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Waukesha, WI
Posted by David Voss on Thursday, December 4, 2003 2:49 AM
Great idea.

I moved them to the Diorama Reference and Ideas album and edited your original post.

Thanks!
David Voss Senior Web Developer Kalmbach Publishing Co. Join me on the FSM Map
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 3:28 AM
Hi Dwight,
I live in Coffs Harbour,about halfway between Sydney and Brisbane ,and we're the banana growing capital of Australia!
Apparently years ago they had to begin a banana growing industry here since all the imported ones from the Philipines used to arrive here bent.
Dunno how you'd go modelling one.My vegetation skills haven't extended much past grass yet.
Jeff
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Thursday, December 4, 2003 5:15 PM
Dave: Thanks.

Jeff: I tried doing a banana in my 3rd Dio. It is probably in the 2nd page of the diorama forum already. It is not perfect and was mistaken for a palm tree. LOL.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 6:13 PM
Cool pix Dwight. We used to have banana trees in our backyard there.Wink [;)]
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Thursday, December 4, 2003 6:40 PM
Alex: But it is getting rare now here in Manila. Have to drive to Fort Bonifacio to get this one.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 7:23 PM
Dwight: With the rapid growth of the urban landscape there in Manila I think it would come as no surprise that the banana is nearing it's extinction in the Metro.Ashamed [*^_^*]
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Thursday, December 4, 2003 7:58 PM
I do agree. SO much so that bananas are not ornamental plants like coconut. I see less and less of bananas as days go by.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Friday, December 5, 2003 1:57 AM
Thanks, Dwight. Very useful.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 5, 2003 3:47 AM
My attempt at a banana plant turned out ok. You can check it out on the post "zero grounded" in this forum. The plant is behind the Zero on the right.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Friday, December 5, 2003 8:16 PM
More pics. This time of the most popular tropical tree...the coconut. It is very abundant especially near the beaches. It could reach a height of a eighty feet or more. Usually the diameter would be about 2 feet. The leaves will have lengths of about 10 feet. The strips of leaves usually are 3 feet long.


A full view of a full grown tree.


Here is a closer view of the crown.


A still closer view of the leaves.


A closer view of the trunk and root base. (Note the trunk has been painted so ignore the color.)


Big Smile [:D]

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 12, 2003 1:16 PM
DT:
thanx 4 the post & a belated welcome back from ur trip !
(i did this once before, but got the boot offline just as i was posting...
i guess it didn't go thru...Sad [:(])
the last few pix r only red x's 4 me, tho.... no coconuts !
anyhow, good 2 see u postin' !
frostySmile [:)]
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Manila, Philippines
Posted by shrikes on Friday, December 12, 2003 2:10 PM
Hey, dwight! Interesting idea you have here! You seem to have captured three of four of the banana trees... They also grow alone, don't they? I recall there was a banana tree in the house next door to ours (when our subdivision was more or less empty), and since no one owned the lot, we "borrowed" some bananas and started a little garden... (mostly okra or ampalaya or something unsavory like that...) The banana tree we "had" grew by itself...
Sadly, our "illegal" garden is now the next door neighbor's garage, and the banana tree has been replaced by his front door... Maybe Acacia should be your next addition (i hear they're everywhere in asia). Smile [:)]
Blackadder: This plan's as cunning as a fox that used to be Professor of cunning at Oxford University but has now moved on and is working with the U.N at the high commission of cunning planning
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Friday, December 12, 2003 7:09 PM
Sorry for the X's guys. Dave must have transfered the pics to the dioramaref section of Ron's Gallery. I have updated the links already.

Shrike: That has been the sad story of these trees. We simply don't have enough space here in Manila anymore. Trees have become second priority.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.