This plant can easily be overlooked as it looks the same throughout the year, however this plant as a very important ecology that benefits the environment. The flowers require pollination, and this means that bees and other pollinators frequently visit this plant. Through pollination the plant is able to continue to produce essential nectar from autumn and deep into spring, which attracts birds sunbirds, mousebirds, Olive Sunbirds, and grey birds (and other local birds; on this day I spotted a Go-Away bird resting on the leaves of the plant) that consume the nectar. This helps with nectar harvesting and provides energy to other species (SANBI 2002). The stems and leaves will also often grow in ways that create stable spaces at the base of leaves, which creates a space for a small reservoir of water to develop. These water sources can form breeding grounds for insects and microorganisms as well as water sources and resting spaces for birds (Nichols 2007; SANBI 2002). In specific locations, the Strelitzia nicolai’s flowers are eaten by Vervet and Samango monkeys, and frogs, ducks and birds find shelter amongst the multi-stems and leaves of the plant. The evening butterfly, Banana Tree Night Fighter (Moltena fiara) relies on the Strelitzia nicolai to survive: it will lay its eggs on the leaves of the plant and the caterpillars will feed on the leaves of the plant (Nichols 2007). Humans have also used the dried stems of the plant for firewood, and the leaves ad flowers of the plant have become stylised and are often used in floral arrangements due to their extraordinary beauty and longevity. Strelitzia nicolai plants have also become popular as house plants because of the aesthetic beauty of their big leaves, but this means that the plant will remain at a size that denies the growth of flowers and seeds. The Strelitzia nicolai suffers from a few ecology problems, including root rot (where the roots of the plant begin to rot due to overwatering, causing the whole plant to slowly die), mealybugs (these bugs attack the plant, but they can easily be removed by washing the plants leaves with a bar of antibacterial soap), and leaf blights, which are white spots on the leaves caused by fungi (SANBI 2002). This being said, these plants are very low maintenance and can easily be nursed back to health without the need for an insecticide or pesticide intervention. It should be quite obvious that although the Strelitzia nicolai is often overlooked, the species is essential to different ecosystems and without it, many other species may suffer.