I spotted this unusual plant while walking in the Western Algarve. Eventually I managed to identify it via the Portugal Wildflower FB group. I was surprised, once I discovered its name, that it was not listed in my area on the flora.pt website map.
The Paraserianthes Lophantha is registered as an invasive plant in Portugal, which is a shame because it has such unusual flowers and leaves.
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This is another wildflower that they claim to be invasive. I wonder if the bees would agree.
MAP: A.Carapeto, G.Ramos, M.J.Correia, D.Frade, F.d.Sousa, P.Beja, J.Neiva, J.Lima, et al. (2024). Paraserianthes lophantha (Benth.) I.C.Nielsen – mapa de distribuição. Flora-On: Flora de Portugal Interactiva, Sociedade Portuguesa de Botânica. http://www.flora-on.pt/#wParaserianthes+lophantha. Consulta realizada em 7/10/2024
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Useful info:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraserianthes?
Piglet in Portugal 
Fascinating.
Mental note to myself.
Learn more about our plants.
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It’s never to late to learn, granny 🙂
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Very beautiful, never seen it before.
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Hi Anna, yes it is a beautiful plant. It is not listed in your area but then it was not listed in mine so I don’t know how accurate the map is.
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Looks like a bottle brush plant mixed with a goldenrod and poke weed. Too bad it’s invasive. It is interesting looking.
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Hi Rebecca, what a wonderful description 🙂 I also love the leaves. IT is such an unusual plant.
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My guilty pleasure is hollyhocks. I love them.
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Very interesting plant, Carole. Are those pods a part of it? They look similar to the ebony tree pods we see in South Texas.
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hi Terry, yes the pods are part of the plant.
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Yes, too bad when an invasive plant is that interesting.
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Hi Laurie, yes it is. It took a while to discover its name.
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