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Parkia speciosa @ Petai Blossoms


Parkia speciosa @ Petai Blossoms
Photo Information
Copyright: Foozi Saad (foozi) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 180 W: 0 N: 207] (987)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-31
Categories: Nature
Camera: Nikon D80, Nikkor AF 70- 300mm
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-16 5:14
Viewed: 372
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Petai or parkia speciosa is quite a delicacy actually. Though the smell is not adorable ( to me and my family). This is the blossoms of a petai tree. The flower will later gives out branching pods about a foot length and the beans inside the pod will grow into the size of the thumb. Then it can be consumed. This photo is shot from a tall tree, the blossoms dangle about 3 metres above the ground. The petai tree is pretty tall and high.
Parkia speciosa (petai, twisted cluster bean, yongchaak or stink bean), is a plant of the genus Parkia in the family Fabaceae. It bears long, flat edible beans with bright green seeds the size and shape of plump almonds which have a rather peculiar smell, characterised by some as being similar to that added to methane gas.[1]They are an acquired taste, but are popular in southern Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia and North-eastern India and are sold in bunches, still in the pod, or the seeds are sold in plastic bags.
Culinary
Depending on the country of origin they may be labelled peteh, petai, yongchaak or sataw (sometimes spelled sator). They are best when combined with other strong flavoured foods such as garlic, chile peppers, and dried shrimp, as in "sambal petai" or added to a Thai curry such as Thai Green Curry of Duck. When young the pods are flat because the seeds have not yet developed, and they hang like a bunch of slightly twisted ribbons, pale green, almost translucent. At this stage they may be eaten raw, fried or pickled. Young tender pods with undeveloped beans can be used whole in stir fried dishes. In North-eastern India, the seeds are dried and seasoned for later consumption. When dried the seeds turn black.
Petai beans or seeds look like broad beans. Petai has earned its nickname 'stink bean' because its strong smell is very pervasive. Like mature broad beans, they may have to be peeled before cooking. It lingers in the mouth and body. Like asparagus, it contains certain amino acids that give a strong smell to ones urine, an effect that can be noticed up to two days after consumption. And like other beans, their complex carbohydrates can also cause strong-smelling flatulence.
Botanical Description
The petai tree can grow to about 90 feet (30 metres). It bears flowers in a light-bulb shaped mass at the end of long stalks. The flowers secrete a nectar that attracts bats and other pollinators. The tiny flowers mature and die. Long, twisted, translucent pods emerge in a cluster of 7 or 8 pods. When those pods are mature, within them will reside the petai beans or seeds.
Health Properties
Some studies shown Petai contain three natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fiber, petai gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proved that just two servings of petai provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

NB: I will post a matured petai beans or pods. Cheers.
messenger1, trekks, rabani, skippy007, paura has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello, Foozi -
Interesting image of this curious tree and its blossoms. The composition is well balanced and the shapes, deep colors and sharp details of the blossoms are all well brought out. Very nice shot.

  • Great 
  • maria Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 184 W: 8 N: 278] (1570)
  • [2008-06-16 6:14]

Hi Foozi,
What a beautiful composition you have here!
Superb definition. Love those blurred patterns that elegantly contrast with the natural colours of these plants.
Regards,
Maria

  • Great 
  • trekks Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1324 W: 115 N: 2171] (7571)
  • [2008-06-16 18:15]

hi foozi

Nice sharp macro of the hanging pods with rich color saturation to make it really stand out from the nicely muted BG.

tfs, bill

Dear Foozi, do you know that your forte in photography is anything botany and flowering? And honestly, you have troubled shooting anything bigger and wider than say... your front yard :)

The cure Foozi...you just need to go out more often. Think of landscape as one big bunch of flowers. Whatever you find interesting about the landscape, make it the central attention with everything else, as supporting extras.

Wassalam Foozi
Rabani

Hello Foozi, Excellent image you have captured here, great colour & clarity, selective focus has worked very well with the brightest blossom being in focus 7 contrasting well with blurred BG. Interesting & informative note.
Well done.
Thank you
Santo

hello Foozi,

Voilà une composition bien originale et joliment colorée.
Bonne soirée
Marie

Hi Foozi,
Extraordinary sharpness and fine details.very good point of view.and great colors.good framed.well done.TFS
greetings

Cevdet

  • Great 
  • Stepan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4934 W: 93 N: 3816] (25152)
  • [2008-06-22 0:52]

Interesting close up, well managed with the dof choice you had. A mysterious and funny composition...
Stéphane

The hangings are nice. The colours and the blur is brilliant.

Very nicely captured and presented.

Regards,
Bishnu.

  • Great 
  • paura Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3989 W: 8 N: 2640] (21442)
  • [2008-06-25 15:30]

Foozi,
Beautiful and well composed macro. The F/stop on 5 result great in the composition. well done.

abraço

Paulo

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