Parrot Flower

The Very Rare Parrot Flower

This is a flower from Thailand. It is also a protected species and is not allowed to be exported. This is the only way we’re able to view this flower.

Parrot Flower (scientific name : Impatiens psittacina) is a flower that looks like a parrot. Okay I get that, but I really didn’t believe it till I got my eyes on it. Talk about another’s of natures creations. There are things that are pretty, and then again there are things that are pretty. Yes I know that parrots are green but trust me now I can actually visualize them as pink. They look real and if the birds were pink they’d look just the same.

These delicate parrot flowers simply hang in there, but whichever angle you look at them from you’d still see pink parrots. I’m not sure where they’re found but obviously they’re a rare phenomenon. Honestly I’ve never seen a real one. If I was a cynic I’d say someone was fooling me but they look too real and pretty to be the work of idle minds.

A balsam, Impatiens psittacina is a very rare impatiens species discovered and identified to botanical world in 1901 by botanist E.D. Hooker. This plant raises only in a small part of north Thailand (near Chiang Mai), Burma, and one territory of eastern India. The species can be found in several botanical reference books including Plants of India. The original botanical drawings are now posted at several website on the internet. Hooker originally stumble upon the plant in India and brought back the seed to the Royal Botanic Garden Kew in London. Those seeds did not reproduce after the first year.

Parrot Flower, the varied and fantastic forms and rich colors of the different species of (Parrot Flower) Heliconia make them an important florist item, particularly prized for large and signature arrangements. Parrot Flower, is named after Mount Helicon, the seat of the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts and sciences in Greek mythology. Like their god Apollo, the Muses supposedly remained young and beautiful forever like the long-lasting and elegant flowers of Heliconia. Lobster claw and Crab's claw are additional common names for flowers in this genus.

Parrot Flowers are normally harvested fully mature – the flowers will not open past the stage at which they are harvested. While flowers last longer if the bracts are less open compared to more open, they generally do not open further after harvest and that may reduce their visual appeal. Therefore, the openness of the flower at purchase often is the most it ever will open. Consumer life varies greatly among species and cultivars, thus, learn species and cultivar differences. Parrot Flowers are native to the tropical Americas, and are therefore very sensitive to chilling injury. They should never be held at temperatures below 10-12.5ºC. Flowers may be stored in moist shredded newsprint, or in water at 12.5ºC.

(Just over one year ago there were several discussions on this board regarding an email which was captioned "The Rare Thailand Parrot Flower". It circulated the internet for much of the first half of last year. Many people thought the photos were fake. They are not.

That species is a rare impatiens from Northern Thailand, Burma and portions of eastern India known to science as Impatiens psittacina. Apparently the email is now on its second journey around the world! The Rare Thailand Parrot Flower has taken flight again!

First it is extremely rare in nature. Second, it is illegal to collect, possess or sell in Thailand. And third, few people have the facilities to grow one in the United States. This one is tough to grow even for highly experienced rare impatiens collectors. Not one single botanical garden in the US that I can locate grows or displays the species. And believe me, I've checked! There has to be a good reason!

Rather than take up a ton of space here I've prepared a link explaining why you can't buy it, unless of course you are willing to fly to Thailand in late November or December and attempt to bring back your own seeds. There is a tour company that takes people to see it when it is in bloom. But that could be costly both in airfare and jail time!)

Homemade Facial Mask Recipes

· Turmeric Facial Mask

This is the traditional mask, also used for a bride, seven days in advance of marriage.
Take in a cup half a cup of besan (gram flour), 2 tsp of turmeric powder, 2 tsp of sandal wood powder, 2 tsp of ghee or almond oil, add some water to make a paste. Apply to face and whole body and leave for 5-10 minutes. Rub with pressure with both palms and fingers to remove all the paste.

· Honey Facial Mask
Rinse your face with warm water to open up the pores. Apply honey and leave for half an hour. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores.

· Oily Skin Mask
Mix 1 tsp. brewer’s yeast with plain yogurt to make a thin mixture. Apply it thoroughly into all the oily areas and leave for 15 - 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores.

· Dry Skin Mask
Mix 1 tsp. of butter in 1 teaspoon of water. Apply it thoroughly into all the dry areas and leave for 15 - 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water,

· Banana Mask for wrinkles
Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy and apply on face and leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores.

· Avocado Facial Mask
Mash the meat of the avocado into a creamy texture. Apply it thoroughly on face and leave for 15 - 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then use cold water to close the pores.

· Oatmeal Facial Mask
Take 2 tsp oatmeal and 1 tsp baking soda and add water to make paste. Apply to face and all over the skin and rub gently.

· Facial Mask
Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Apply on your face and leave for overnight. Wash your face with warm water.

· Clay Facial

Choose the right clay for your skin type. Add plain water or floral waters or try wetting agents such as fruit purees . Make a thick paste of the clay. Apply the mask to your skin and let it dry for 20 minutes. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry. Repeat weekly.

· Multani (Gypsum) Mitti Body Mask
Make a paste of multani mitti adding water to the mitti powder. Apply to whole body and hair. Take bath after half an hour.

· Grape Cleanser

Split 2-3 grapes and rub the flesh over face and neck. Rinse with cool water.

· Banana Face Pack for Dry Skin

Mash half cup of natural yogurt, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1/4 ripe banana. Apply this pack on face and neck and leave for 10 minutes and then rinse off.

· Cucumber Face Pack to get Smooth Skin
Mash 1 whole cucumber, strain water, add 1 tablespoon of sugar and mix well. Put in a container,l keep refrigerated and take out whenever you want to use it. Apply on your face and leave for 10 minutes, then wash with cold water and enjoy the smoothness of your skin.
You canttry on it on other parts of body as a scrub.

Facial Masks for Skin Types

1. Homemade Facial mask for normal skin
1. Make a paste of some powdered with milk or lemon juice if you want to fade spots on your skin.
2. Blend 1 egg white, 2 tsp vegetable oil and 1 tsp apple juice until smooth.
3. Mix 1 egg white, 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and 1 tsp olive oil until smooth.
4. Apply a raw egg yolk and rinse with cold water. The high vitamin A content of egg is very effective in healing blemishes.
5. Mix well 2 parts milk,1 part fuller's earth clay, 1 tsp honey and essential oil.

1. Homemade Face mask for oily skin
1. Blend 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1 egg white, 1 tsp honey (heat in microwave for a few seconds to melt it), 2 strawberries and 2-3 drops eucalyptus oil or jojoba oil (optional).
2. Blend a ripe tomato and pat on your face. Wash after 20 minutes with normal water.
3. Mix well a tsp of baking yeast in a some warm milk.
4. Make a paste by mixing some potato flour in tomato puree.
5. Blend an apple in a blender and apply on your face. Wash after 20 minutes with normal water.
6. Rub some Milk of Magnesia, and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water.
2. Homemade Facial mask for sensitive skin

Warm some hone to melt it, then apply. Leave the mask on for 20-25 minutes.

4. Homemade Face mask for dry skin
1. Mix ½ avocado (or 2 tsp avocado oil) with ¼ cup honey.
2. Mix 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp warm honey, some vitamin E oil (optional).
3. Blend 50g ripe avocado flesh, 25g orange juice, 1tsp honey, 1 tsp molasses and 4-5 drops of some essential oil.
5. Homemade Facial mask for combination skin

1. Mix 1 egg white, 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and 1 teaspoon olive oil until smooth.
2. Rose Mask: This mask is good for both the oily and dry areas of your skin.
   Take Soak 5 rose petals and soak in water and then crush them. Add 2 Tbsp rosewater, 1 Tbsp yogurt and 1 Tbsp honey (heat in a microwave for a few second to melt it) and mix well.
4. Homemade Facial mask for ageing or maturing skin
   Take 3 Tbsp sugar and dissolve it in 4 Tbsp warm water.
   This mask is good for maturing skin and will help soften the wrinkle lines.
5. Face mask for chapped or sunburned skin
   Mix 1 cup plain yogurt and ½ cup oatmeal and apply to the skin for 15 minutes.
6. Facial masks for all skin types
   Grind a cup of yellow mustard seeds and a few rose petals in water. Apply on face and wash with water after 20 minutes.

Blend two egg yolks, two tablespoons of honey and 3 drops of almond oil. Apply on face and wash with water after 20 minutes.

More Home Facial Recipe Blends

Mash up 1/2 a banana with a fork, add a TBSP of honey and 2 TBSP of sour cream. Mix well and apply to face and let set for 10 minutes. Gently remove with a warm wet wash cloth and then a final rinse.

Mix 1 1/2 tsp. honey, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, and 2 TBSP yogurt, and 1 whipped egg white. Apply and leave on for 15 minutes and then remove with lukewarm water.

Strawberries, Honey and Milk (any milk, buttermilk is good and powdered milk works too)

Any fruit such as grapes (my favorite), strawberries, or apricots. Add avacado and/or cucumber with a little milk or yogurt, and some honey and you have yourself a great facial blend that you can tweak to your liking!

Many of these recipes will be more than you need, so invite a friend, your Mom or Sister to join you or cut the amounts down to how much you think you'll need. Creating your own day spa with the girls can be a good time!