Strelitzia juncea

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.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Strelitzia juncea
Cultivated specimen in the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Zingiberales
Family:	Strelitziaceae
Genus:	Strelitzia
Species:	S. juncea
Binomial name
Strelitzia juncea Andrews[1][2]
Approximate distribution of Strelitzia juncea in South Africa
Synonyms[1]
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.

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.^[5]