April 13, 2014 · 5:29 pm

Victoria amazonica (Giant Water Lily, Royal Water Lily)

Victoria amazonica (Giant Waterlily, Victoria Water Lily, Royal Water Lily) [previously Victoria regia]
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: 10-11 (Temperatures below 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius) will harm these; water tempature should be 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) or warmer while growing.)
Height: The petioles can grow up to 8 meters (27 feet) tall.
Diameter: The leaves grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) in diameter. Spreads up to 6 meters (20 feet) in diameter.
Growth Rate: rapid (The laminae can grow almost half a square meter a day under optimal conditions. 40-50 leaves can be produced in one season. A 20-20-20 mix fertilizer promotes growth.)
Age: short-lived perennial, sometimes grown as an annual
Root System: fairly small, serves largely as anchorage
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Subspecies: V. ‘Longwood’ is a hybrid of V. amazonica and V. cruziana

Tolerates: not much other than warm water and generally humid conditions
Problems (major): Growing these requires A LOT of time and money.
Problems (minor): The water must be as still as possible; frequent movement upsets these plants.
Poisonous:presumably no

Soil requirements: Moist, boggy soils (loam is appropriate)
Air Requirements: Heavy winds that stir the water disrupt overall health.
Watering requirement: Must be constantly submerged in still freshwater.
Sun requirement: full sun required

Depth: The water can not exceed 8 meters (26 feet) in depth. In cultivation, these are usually placed in containers 30-90 centimeters (1-3 feet) full of water.
Freshwater/Saltwater native: freshwater
Location (Pond, Stream, River, Lake, Sea, Ocean): rivers (specifically native to the Amazon River), streams, ponds
Unicellular/Multicellular: multicellular
Colonization: none
Motility: none
Nautical reproductive cycle: none in particular
Alternation of isomorphic/heteromorphic generations: heteromorphic (the haploid and diploid stages are readily distinguishable)

Leaf shape: Circular with upturned edges (5-9 centimeters (2-4 inches) tall), the upper potion of the laminae are waxy and repel excessive water absorption; the bottom halves of the leaves are reddish-purple with a countless number of spines. The undersides of the leaves also have “ribs” that hold air to let the leaves stay afloat more easily.
Leaf size: up to 3 meters (10 feet) across, although regularly to 2.0-2.5 meters (6-7 feet) across
Flower structure: Flowers have a myriad of white petals on the first evening open and purplish-red petals on the second evening open. The flowers are around 22-30 centimeters (9-12 inches) in diameter.
Flowering frequency: The flowers are only around for 48 hours, blooming in July or August. During the first evening, the flowers are white, have matured stigmas (lady parts), and release heat to attract pollinators. The flowers close until the next evening, where they are purplish-red, have matured anthers (boy parts), and no longer emit heat. If pollinated, the flowers goes below the water’s surface where the seeds mature.
Bulb/tuber: neither, uses roots largely for anchorage
Monocot/Dicot: dicot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: perennial

Notable characteristics:
If perfectly, equally distributed, a single leaf in good health can support 45 kilograms (99 pounds).

Uses:
Typically grown as an ornamental. The seeds are edible but are relatively poor options as food.

Sources used:

Victoria_amazonica_1

Several medium-sized lily pads (uploaded 10 September 2009 by Lewis Clarke)

Victoria_amazonica_2

A close-up of larger leaves (November 3 2007)

Victoria_amazonica_6

A maturing leaf, still a ways away from maturity, at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden (uploaded by Biswarup Ganguly on 29 January 2012)

 

Victoria_amazonica_7

The underside of a mature leaf, notice the change in color, “ribs”, and spines (uploaded 13 April 2008)

 

Victoria_amazonica_3

An emerging flower (uploaded 18 August 2012)

Victoria_amazonica_4

A beautiful fully opened flower on the first evening (uploaded 21 October 2009)

Victoria_amazonica_5

A fully opened flower on the second evening (uploaded on 21 July 2007 by Frank Wouters)

I do not own the rights of these images; all credit goes to its original creator(s).

Victoria_amazonica_image_sources

Leave a comment

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as

April 12, 2014 · 5:02 pm

Drosera capensis (Cape Sundew)

I’ve always found sundews to be the most interesting carnivorous plants. Despite their small size, the methods by which they move have always interested me. The trichomes, the little hairs they use to catch prey, always looked like Drosera are hugging their prey. Since these are unusually easy to grow for carnivorous plants, I image that I’ll give these a try sometime soon.

Drosera capensis (Cape Sundew)
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: 8-9
Height: typically 15 centimeters (7 inches) tall at maturity
Diameter: 15-22 centimeters (7-10 inches) in diameter
Growth Rate: fast
Age: perennial
Root System: well-developed once mature
Family: Droseraceae
Subspecies: ‘Albino’ (produces white flowers), ‘Broad Leaf’, can be grown in ‘Wide Leaf Form’ or ‘Narrow Leaf Form’ or ‘Red Form’

Tolerates: moist, boggy soils with few nutrients readily available
Problems (major): Without prey, growth will be inhibited (D. capensis can grow without prey, albeit slower).
Problems (minor): Aphids, mealy bugs, and thrips can harm new growth. Under proper conditions, these can self-propogate to the point of being excessive. Consuming too much prey at once can “burn” the laminae (singular, lamina – the “leaf”), damaging them.
Poisonous: presumably no

Soil requirements: Requires acidic, moist, boggy soils (These tend to lack Nitrogen among other key chemicals.)
Air Requirements: high humidity, especially when digesting prey
Watering requirement: requires consistently damp soil
Sun requirement: full sun or part-shade

Common prey: tiny insects such as midge flies
Type of carnivorous plant: Sundew; these use tentacles (trichomes) with sticky, nectar-like fluids to catch prey. Once the prey is stuck on at least one tentacle (trichome), others close in, enveloping the victim. The leaf may fold over entirely to more efficiently absorb the prey. The liquid in this nectar-like substance contains digestive enzymes, which help break down its prey into valuable resources the plant requires for survival.
Time required to consume prey: It takes sometimes several hours to entirely ensnare prey.
Sphagnum/peat moss preferred: These are very easy to grow, especially in sphagnum moss. Brighter light and peat moss will turn the laminae and petioles a more red color.
Symbiotic/Mutualistic relationships: no major symbiotic/mutualistic relationships
Medicinal uses: Leaf extracts are rumored to help with warts and sunburn. Leaf extracts may function as tranquilizers or help against tuberculosis, asthma, syphillis, and some intestinal problems.

Leaf shape: The laminae are covered in many tentacles (properly know nas “trichomes”) that contain a sticky, nectar-like substance at the end. When insects try to feed on this “nectar”, they become stuck and are slowly ingested. The laminae and petioles are strap-shaped.
Leaf size: The petioles are about as long as the lamina, although half as wide.
Flower structure: Flowers are small (1 centimeter across), pink, and arrive in groups of 15 to 30. Flowers can be pollinated by insects, although they typically self-pollinate.
Flowering frequency: Flowering occurs in December and January.
Bulb/tuber: neither, forms a “woody” rhizomatous stem that easily produces offsets/offshoots
Monocot/Dicot: dicot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: perennial

Notable characteristics:
Drosera capensis is surprisingly easy to propogate, either by seed or vegetatively by rhizome offsets. These can appear more red if given a lot of sunlight and are grown in peat moss instead of sphagnum. Digesting too much prey at once can lead to “burns”, which may damage the laminae.

Uses:
These are helpful if gnats or small insects are bothersome, although it will take them some time to eliminate the problem. These make quite interesting specimen plants as well.

Sources used:

DSC07899
Uncurling leaves
DSC08101
Emerging flowers

Sundew_Drosera_wateri_plant
D. wateri (MoBot)

Dwarf_Sundew
Spoonleaf Sundew in Mississippi

Leave a comment

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as

April 11, 2014 · 11:09 pm

Calla palustris (Calla Lily, Water Arum)

Not to be confused with the similar “Caltha palustris”, this water-dwelling plant is surprisingly hardy(zones 2 to 6). These can be grown both in wet soil and in marshy, muddy conditions with still, shallow freshwater. These perennials also frequently vegetatively reproduce by producing offsets through their rhizomes.

 

Calla palustris (Calla Lily, Water Arum, Water-dragon, Wild Calla)
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: 2-6
Height: 13-26 centimeters (6-12 inches) tall
Diameter: 13-26 centimeter (6-12 inches) spread
Growth Rate: moderate
Age: perennial
Root System: fairly small, serves as an anchor in wet regions
Family: Araceae
Subspecies: none

Tolerates: very wet soil, thrives in boggy/marshy conditions
Problems (major): extremely intolerant of drought
Problems (minor): few minor issues
Poisonous: Every part of this plant contains calcium oxalate crystals. If ingested, these cause inflammation and burning of the lips, tongue, mouth, and throat. The dried berries are edible, but eating them without consulting a licensed physician/medical doctor is not recommended.

Soil Requirements: prefers acidic, humusy, very moist (muddy) soil (can live in land or still water), accepts clay, loamy, and sandy soils
Air Requirements: not sufficiently researched (I have found nothing specificly stated.)
Watering Requirement: grows well in still, shallow water with muddy soil
Sun Requirement: Grows best in part-shade, full shade causes the stems to wilt a bit.

Leaf shape: oblong and heart-shaped
Leaf size: 5-12 centimeters (2-5 inches) long
Flower structure: The inflorescence consists of a medium to dark green peduncle (9-11 centimeters, 4-5 inches, tall), a white spathe, a light green spadix, and yellow and white flowers. Produces small, globular red fruits.
Flowering frequency: flowers June-July
Bulb/tuber: bulb, produces rhizomes
Monocot/Dicot: monocot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: perennial

Depth: Shallow water, the crown (where the roots and stem meet) won’t be damaged with 4-5 centimeters (2 inches) of water above it.
Freshwater/Saltwater native: freshwater
Location (Pond, Stream, River, Lake, Sea, Ocean): pond
Unicellular/Multicellular: multicellular
Colonization: very minor (Reproduction by rhizomes is the closest equivalent.)
Motility: little to none
Nautical reproductive cycle: can vegetatively reproduce by producing offsets through rhizomes
Alternation of isomorphic/heteromorphic generations: neither

Notable characteristics:
Easily divides, especially in spring and in marshy soils. Grows in both moist soils and in still and shallow freshwater bodies.

Uses:
Occasionally grown in marshy or wet gardens. Almost never eaten. The foliage isn’t outstanding, although the inflorescences look nice.

Sources used:

Calla_palustris_1 Calla palustris at “Southern Heath Nature Park”, Germany (uploaded 28 August 2013)

Calla_palustris_2 2 inflorescences (uploaded 2004 by Kurt Stüber)

Calla_palustris_3  Several leaves and inflorescences (uploaded by Kurt Stüber in 2004)

Calla_palustris_4Immature seeds (uploaded 2004 by Kurt Stüber)

Calla_palustris_5 Mature red seeds (uploaded 24 August 2012)

I do not own the rights of these images; all credit goes to its original creator(s).

Calla_palustris_image_sources

Leave a comment

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as

April 7, 2014 · 1:46 am

Rafflesia arnoldii (Rafflesia, Corpse Flower)

These oddities are native to Indonesia, where deforestation has threatened their existance. Despite being plants, they do not photosynthesize, have no roots, have no leaves, and don’t at all seem like plants (aside from their large red flowers). Furthermore, they have their largest single flowers of any organism known to date. This plant has remained an elusive mystery for almost 200 years and may very well continue to evade thorough research, unfortunately. Hopefully more information will become available in the near future.

Rafflesia arnoldii (Rafflesia, Corpse Flower)
Deciduous: No, it lacks leaves.
Hardiness Zones: native to zone 13 (supposedly)
Height: not sufficiently researched (I have yet to find any sources explicitly stating its height. My educated guess is around one foot tall.)
Diameter: The flowers reach almost 1 meter in length
Growth Rate: largely unknown
Age: perennial?
Root System: none
Family: Rafflesiaceae
Subspecies: var. ‘atjehensis’, var. ‘arnoldii’

Tolerates: not sufficiently understood, other than conditions inside Tetrastigma vines
Problems (major): Badly damages host plants. Reproduction is mostly unsuccessful. The flowers smell (literally) like death.
Problems (minor): Issues tend to be major.
Poisonous: The buds and flowers contain toxins, such as tannins, that can be fatal in large quantities.

Soil requirements: none
Air Requirements: no requirements, native to typically humid environments
Watering requirement: whatever happens to be inside Tetrastigma vines
Sun requirement: never requires sunlight

Leaves: none
Roots: none
Flowering structure/inflorescence: Their massive flowers almost grow one meter in diameter! The flowers are either male or female. They are also primarily red-colored, with tanish-white freckles. The flowers smell like rotting carcasses, attracting their primary pollinator, flies. The center protrusions may help radiate heat, spreading the odor to further attract insects. Despite all of this, pollination has low success rates, as the flowers are fully open for less than a week on average. These five-petaled flowers burst through their hosts’ bark for a very short period of time.
Photosynthesis?: Members of Rafflesiaceae do not photosynthesize. Yes, this confuses everyone.
Method of parasitism: Lives inside Tetrastigma vines, bursts out to flower. These uses haustorium (essentially parasitic drinking straws) to absorb nutrients from their host.
Common hosts: Tetrastigma vines

Notable characteristics:
This extremely odd plant is dioecious, having separate “imperfect” male and female flowers. The flowers are very complex, but their rarity inhibits our ability to successfully study them. On an off note, R. arnoldii inspired the creation of Vileplume, a Pokemon. It has been featured in other games as well.

Uses:
Rarely used as very questionable medicine, never professionally. MAYBE as a specimen plant but good luck finding one and getting one to grow.

Sources used:

Rafflesia_arnoldii_3 A fully opened flower with three buds nearby (photo uploaded on 2009-04-05)

 Rafflesia_arnoldii_1 A fully opened flower with two buds close by (photo uploaded on March 2007)

 

Rafflesia_arnoldii_2 A dead flower which did not decompose being preserved at the Kyoto Botanical Garden (photo uploaded on 11 December 2005)

I do not own the rights of these images; all credit goes to its original creator(s).

Rafflesia_arnoldii_image_sources

Leave a comment

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as

April 6, 2014 · 1:24 pm

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

While biking through a nearby forest preserve, I stumbled across multiple Echinacea purpurea to the side of the path. Curious as to what they were, I began asking around once I returned home. I’ve discovered a surprising amount in my hometown, which further perked my interest in these. Turns out that these deceptively fragile coneflowers tolerate a great deal of environmental conditions. Their resistances and unique lavender inflorescences have made them extremely popular in most areas across North America.

Echinacea purpurea (Purple coneflower)
Deciduous: yes
Hardiness Zones: 4-9 (in zone 3 and zone 10 with adequete protection)
Height: 2-5 feet
Diameter: 1.5-2.0 feet across
Growth Rate: moderate
Age: perennial
Root System: deep, fibrous root system
Family: Asteraceae
Subspecies: ‘Alba’, ‘Bravado’, ‘Bressingham hybirds’, ‘Finale White’, ‘Kim’s Knee High’, ‘Magnus’, ‘Robert Bloom’, Springbrook’s Crimson Star’, ‘The King’, ‘White King’, ‘White Swan’

 

Tolerates: deer, drought, clay soil, dry soil, rocky soil, acidic soil, slightly alkaline soil
Problems (major): Very intolerant salt. Self-seeding can lead to excessive, potentially invasive, reproduction. Sweetpotato whitefly can be very harmful.
Problems (minor): Japanese beetle and leaf spot are minor problems, vine weevils bother roots, powdery mildew and grey mold can be issues
Poisonous: no evidence of toxicity to humans or animals

Soil requirements: E. purpurea accepts acidic to slightly alkaline soil (6.0-7.0 pH is optimal); dry, clay, and rocky soils are all viable options.
Air Requirements: not sufficiently researched
Watering requirement: dry to medium
Sun requirement: prefers full sun, survives in part-shade

Leaf shape: lanceolate, medium green color
Leaf size: 5 inches in diameter
Flower structure: 10-20 drooping lavender rays surround a black center (eye) which contains seeds. These resemble the daisy-like Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida).
Flowering frequency: flowers annually from June until August
Bulb/tuber: neither, has a deep, fibrous root system
Monocot/Dicot: dicot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: perennial

Notable characteristics:
The daisy-like blooms with several lavender rays attract a great deal of attention in gardens.

Uses:
Purple coneflowers attract birds and butterflies. The flowers are remarkably unique and beautiful, so they are fairly common in household gardens. These plants go extraordinarily well with Rudbeckia fulgida, Black-eyed Susans.

Sources used:

Wisconsin_2 Purple Coneflower inflorescences in Wisconsin (image taken August 2012 by me)

DSC07539 DSC07540 DSC07822 DSC07823

The image provided may be used for educational/informational uses provided that this article or online journal is properly cited/referrecned.

Leave a comment

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as

April 5, 2014 · 3:00 pm

Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master)

Eryngium yuccifolium is a moderate sized yucca with thistle-like flowers sprouting from an erect inflorescence stem. These tend to grow in prairies, where they can self-seed under proper conditions. They cannot be transplanted, usually, due to their deep tap root. These plants have been used to help subdue venom from rattlesnakes.

Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master, Button Snake-root, Button eryngo)
Deciduous: yes
Hardiness Zones: 3-8
Height: 4-5 feet tall
Diameter: spreads 2-3 feet
Growth Rate: moderate
Age: perennial
Root System: The tap root extends deep into the soil, making this plant difficult to transplant.
Family: Apiaceae
Subspecies: ‘Kershaw Blue’

Tolerates: drought, erosion, clay soil, dry soil, rocky soil, shallow soil
Problems (major): no major issues
Problems (minor): Taller plants may need support to stay upright.
Poisonous: presumably no

Soil requirements: good drainage is necessary, dry and sandy soils are preferred
Air Requirements: not sufficiently researched
Watering requirement: dry or medium
Sun requirement: Full sun is preferred, part-shade is acceptable.

Leaf shape: sword-shaped, yucca leaves
Leaf size: up to 0.9 meters (3 feet) long
Flower structure: The flowers are tiny, and stemless with green-white flowers. The individual flowers are similar to thistle flowers with two stigmas, five anthers, five greenish sepals, and five white petals. The flowers are around an inch across. Flower heads grow vertically from the rosette’s base, 3 to 6 feet tall.
Flowering frequency: Flowers from middle to late summer.
Bulb/tuber: deep taproot
Monocot/Dicot: dicot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: Perennial

Notable characteristics:
Rattlesnake Masters can self-seed somewhat profusely under optimal conditions.

Uses:
This plant was once used a cure for rattlesnake bites, hence its common name.

Sources used:

e
 Form and foliage (SIUC Native Plants, campus)

ey
Flowerhead

All of the images provided were taken by me. They may be used for educational/informational purposes only provided that this article/blog is appropriately cited first.

Leave a comment

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as

April 5, 2014 · 12:50 am

Musa acuminata (Banana)

This familiar monocot is the parent for the hybrids which produce the bananas commonly sold at grocery stores. This species grows up to 20 feet tall at maturity, making it one of the largest herbs known to date. These plants are frequently grown for their unique foliage and fast growth rate.

Musa acuminata (Banana)
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: 10-11
Height: 3-6 meters (10-20) feet tall
Diameter: 5-10 feet in diameter
Growth Rate: fast (can reach full height in a single year)
Age: perennial
Root System: The roots send out a new sucker once the primary pseudostem dies; these typically form around a “clump”, the center of the plant.
Family: Musaceae
Subspecies: ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ (much smaller, up to 6 feet tall), ‘Colla’

Tolerates: not much, unfortunately
Problems (major): Since these are primarily composed of water,
Problems (minor): Aphids, scale, mealybugs, nematodes, sigatoka, spider mites, wilt, anthracnose, weevils, and mosiac virus. These need a lot of space to grow.
Poisonous: Presumably no, the fruit is edible.

Soil requirements: requires consistently moist soils with good drainage
Air Requirements: relatively high humidity is preferred
Watering requirement: moderate
Sun requirement: full sun, tolerates part-shade

Leaf shape: Paddle-shaped, fairly large
Leaf size: 1-2 meters (6-10 feet) long and 0.6 meters (2 feet) wide once mature
Stem: Succulent, juicy, properly named “pseudostem” (these are made up entirely of old leaves)
Flowering structure: Flowers are cream and yellow colored. The inflorescence is typically reddish-pink with female (pistillate) flowers.
Flowering frequency: Flowering typically won’t occur until the plant consistently grows for 2 or 3 years.
Fruits: Familiar, medium sized bananas (start off green, then turn yellow, then brown) occur in groups of 10-25 for 6-9 clusters per flowering

stalk.
Bulb/Corm: corm or fleshy rhizome

Notable characteristics:
Produces, and asexually reproduces, by suckers. After the main stem (properly called “pseudostem”) dies off, the roots send up a new “stem”. The oldest sucker from the base of the plant, called the “clump”, replaces the old stem.Most bananas sold in grocery stores are hybrids of Musa acuminata.

Uses:
The fruit is very widely used as food. The actual plant is grown for its tropical, beautiful, and large foliage. The the fruits, leaves, and “pseudostem” are occasionally used to help treat digestive issues. The leaves are occasionally used to weave specific objects.

Sources used:

bananas_2 Multiple mature banana plants growing in the Climatron at the Missouri Botanic Garden

banana_flower_fruit A close-up of the flowering structure at the Missouri Botanic Garden

banana_fruiting_structure  Fruits and an inflorescence growing at the Missouri Botanic Garden

banana_overhead_1 Massive foliage alongside an inflorescence and several maturing banana fruits at the Missouri Botanic Garden

banana_overhead_2 Multiple M. acuminata plants at the Missouri Botanic Garden

banana_trunk A stem and leaves of a banana plant at the Missouri Botanic Garden

banananana_1 A close-up of the “pseudostem”

banananana_2 New growth on the “pseudostem”

banananana_3 The underside of a juvenile leaf

banananana_4

banananana_5 An emerging leaf accompanied by multiple other leaves

banananana_7 The top portion of an older, wrinkly leaf

banananana_8 A full view of a juvenile banana plant

bananas_1 Several bananas growing at the Missouri Botanic Garden in the Climatron

All these pictures were taken by me December 2012 and December 2013. They may be used for educational and informational purposes only, and this article or journal must be appropriately cited/referenced first.

Leave a comment

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as

April 4, 2014 · 2:59 am

Phalaenopsis ‘Alice Gloria’ (Moth Orchid)

Even before I delved deep into the world of botany, I knew that orchids are picky. I initially veered away from them, as I thought that they were too difficult to grow for me. Eventually, though, my interest in them peaked as I discovered Moth Orchids. When visiting the Missouri Botanic Garden Climatron and SIU Carbondale’s greenhouses, I came across some ‘Alice Gloria’ hybrids. Naturally, I began to look into the extremely diverse and magnificent world of orchids. After some research, I’ve found this particular variety to be most captivating.

Phalaenopsis ‘Alice Gloria’ (Moth Orchid)
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: 10-12 (Keep indoor temperatures 70-85 during the day and 60-65 at night.)
Height: 0.75-3.00 feet tall
Diameter: 0.50-2.00 feet across
Growth Rate: Variable among Phalaenopsis species and hybrids (anywhere from very slow to very fast)
Age: perennial
Root System: Relatively large, long, inflexible, silver-white with green-colored new growth
Family: Orchidaceae
Subspecies: few to no subspecies, mostly hybirds

Tolerates: Not much, it’s an orchid.
Problems (major): Improper watering frequently leads to root rot. Humidity below 50% (and above 80%) may impair growth.
Problems (minor): Orchids require a drop in temperature (about 10 degrees Fahrenheit) during the night, which can be problematic for orchids grown indoors. Mealybugs and scale insects are occasionally bothersome. Scale, mealybugs, snails, slugs, stem rot, root rot, and bud blast.
Poisonous: presumably not

Soil requirements: Bark or moss are acceptable. Soils comprised of Redwood bark chips, peat moss, and perlite work well. The should soil remain evenly moist most of the time, with short periods where the soil can dry out. Fertilizer with a 20-20-20 mix is beneficial when these orchids are noticeably growing.
Air Requirements: high humidity
Watering requirement: moderate, keep the soil fairly moist
Sun requirement: Part-shade or indirect light (South or east facing windows work well.)

Leaf size: unspecified (no more than a foot in length and six inches in width)
Leaf shape: Broad, flat
Flowering frequency: Moth orchids usually flower only once per year, but the flowers may stay on the plant for 3 months. A drop in temperature (around 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit on average) encourages flowering spikes. Flowering occurs in winter and spring.
Flower color(s): white
Flower gimmick: none
Flower spike: The flower spike (stem-looking thing) produces around 20 flowers (not all at the same time).
Petals/Sepals: The petals are broader than the sepals (typical of Group I Phalaenopsis). The petals have rounded edges while the sepals are more pointy.
Lip/Column: Each flower’s lip is colored yellow and flare out a bit. The column resides at the flower’s center.
Stigma/Anthers: The stigma is very difficult to see; the anthers are mostly hidden.
Epiphyte: yes
Roots: Fairly large, long, inflexible, silver-white with green-colored new growth, can cling to diaganol structures (like tree branches)
Daytime temperature: 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit
Nighttime temperature: 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit

Notable characteristics:
Phalaenopsis ‘Alice Gloria’ orchids are typically epiphytes, plants that grow regularly on tree trunks or similar supportive structures, in their native homes.

Uses:
Almost always grown as a specimen plant for its outstanding beauty when flowering. Although very delicate, its flowers are exceedingly majestic.

Sources used:

 

Phalaenopsis_'Alice_Gloria' Phalaenopsis ‘Alice Gloria’ growing at the Missouri Botanic Garden (photo taken by me, December 2013)

Phalaenopsis_Moth_Orchid A Moth Orchid growing at SIU Carbondale’s greenhouse (photo taken by me, 8 February 2014)

Phalaenopsis_'Alice_Gloria'_SIU_1 Phalaenopsis ‘Alice Gloria’ growing at SIU Carbondale’s greenhouse, fully opened flowers and visible buds present (photo taken by me, 8 February 2014)

Phalaenopsis_'Alice_Gloria'_SIU_2 Phalaenopsis ‘Alice Gloria’ growing at SIU Carbondale’s greenhouse, two flower spikes (photo taken by me, 8 February 2014)

The images provided were photographed by me, and they may be used for educational and informational purposes (provided that this article and/or blog is properly cited/referenced beforehand).

18 Comments

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as

April 3, 2014 · 12:31 am

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Minerva’ (Rose of Sharon, Shrub Althea)

Despite being called a “Rose of Sharon”, these plants are actually belong to the Hibiscus genus. They are very tolerant of many conditions, making them very appealing garden shrubs. The grow moderately fast, and can look marvelous when flowering. Flowers range from white to pink to purple to red; ‘Minerva’ has lavender petals and a red “eye” (center of the flower).
I first encountered Roses of Sharons at my grandfather’s house, where he received quite a few from a friend. He actually complained how many sprouted up on their own, although I was eager to try and get the seeds to germinate. Eventually, he got me a juvenile Rose of Sharon, which I soon planted in my backyard.

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Minerva’ (Rose of Sharon ‘Minerva’, Shrub Althea)
Deciduous: yes
Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Height: 5-9 feet tall on average
Diameter: 4-7 feet wide on average
Growth Rate: moderate
Age: perennial
Root System: The roots are located just below the surface of the soil (few to no surface roots ever appear).
Family: Malvaceae
Subspecies: ‘Minerva’, ‘Admiral Dewey, ‘Ardens’, ‘Bluebird’, ‘Boule de Feu’, ‘Coelestis’, ‘Coerulius’, ‘Coerulius Plenus’, ‘Diana’, ‘Duc de Brabant’, ‘Hamabo’, ‘Jeanne D’Arc’, ‘Lady Stanley’, ‘Leopoldii Plenus’, ‘Lucy’, ‘Mauve Queen’, ‘Paeoniflorus’, ‘Red Heart’, ‘Rubus’, ‘Souvenir de Charles Brenton’, ‘Totus Albus’, ‘Woodbridge’,

Tolerates: urban pollution, drought, heavy pruning, high humidity, clay (compact) soil, black walnut, salt (moderate)
Problems (major): Fatal cankers may form in older plants. Cotton root rot is typically fatal in alkaline soils.
Problems (minor): The seeds have an extremely high germination rate; they can quickly overtake certain areas. Blight, rust, leaf spots, aphids, scale, and Japanese beetles are all threats.
Poisonous: toxic to dogs, cats, and horses

Soil requirements: Requires moist, well-drained soils with a pH from 5.5 to 7.0 (acidic); H. syriacus can adjust to soils of vaious soils.
Air Requirements: tolerant of urban conditions
Watering requirement: Moderate amounts (don’t let the soil dry out)
Sun requirement: full sun to part-shade

Needles: none
Cones (male): none
Cones (female): none
Leaves: Typically 3 inches long, broadly ovate, grow in an alternate fashion with 3 distinct lobes.
Flowers: H. syriacus ‘Minerva’ has beautiful light purple flowers with a fascinating red center (called an “eye”) at the center of their five petals. Flowering tripically begins in July and finishes in October. Other cultivars have white, pink, purple, or red flowers. All flowers are roughly 2 to 4 inches in diameter.
Fruits: The seeds are small (less than 1 inch across), brown centers with fuzzy orange hairs. They have an extraordinarily high germination rate.
Seeds require stratification: yes
Monoecious or Dioecious: not sufficiently researched

Notable characteristics:
The flowers are typical of Hibiscus plants, although they are generally smaller. Roses of Sharon are extraordinarily well-adapted to most areas, making it an ideal choice to grow.

Uses:
Primarily grown as a large bush or small tree since it tolerates a wide variety of conditions and has gorgeous flowers.

Sources used:

 

Rose_of_sharon_flower A fully open lavender H. syriacus ‘Minerva’ flower (opened August 2013, grown by me, photo by me)

Hibiscus_syriacus A juvenile H. syriacus ‘Minerva’ given to me by my grandfather, a special thanks to my father for helping get it started 🙂 (photo taken by me, August 2013)

1 
Newly germinated seedlings

2 
A fairly large Rose of Sharon grown as a bush

3 
Multiple ‘Minerva’ flowers

4 
Fluffy white flowers of a different cultivar

5 
Opening buds and foliage on a different variety

6 
A pink-white flower of another H. syriacus variety

7 
A white flower of a different H. syriacus variety

8 
Seeds and a seed pod

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as

March 30, 2014 · 1:14 pm

Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry, Woodland Strawberry)

These strawberries commonly grow in forested areas and can be easily identified by their unique, ruffled, three-leaflet leaves.

Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry, Woodland Strawberry)
Deciduous: in colder climates, yes (evergreen in warmer areas)
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Height: 6-20 centimeters (3-9 inches) tall
Diameter: Spreads 23-30 centimeters (9-12 inches) typically “per plant”; the stolons (horizontal runners) can create new “plants” and go on indefinitely in theory.
Growth Rate: slow initially, quickly accelerates once established
Age: perennial
Root System: Highly localized underneath leaves, the roots delve only a few inches into the soil. Medicinally, the roots have been used as diuretics (do not use any part of the plant for any medicinal purposes, contact your doctor and get a professional answer first).
Family: Rosaceae
Subspecies: ‘Alexandra’, ‘Americana’, ‘Bracteata’ (occasionally produces only female plants), ‘Californica’, ‘Vesca’, ‘Semperflorens’

Tolerates: deer, partial shade
Problems (major): Fungal diseases (anthracnose, leaf spots, rots,wilts, powdery mildew, blights)
Problems (minor): Spider mites and aphids (F. vesca quickly gains resistance to these, though), leaf scorch sometimes occurs in bright, scorching summers.
Poisonous: no known toxins, fruits edible

Soil requirements: prefers humusy, well-drained soils, non-extreme pH values  (sandy, loamy, and clay soils acceptable)
Air Requirements: not sufficiently researched
Watering requirement: medium
Sun requirement: prefers full sun, part-shade tolerated

Leaf size: Leaves are 1-7 centimeters (0.5-3.0 inches) long and 1-7 centimeters (0.5-3.0 inches) wide
Leaf shape: basal, palmatly trifoliate leaflets
Stem length: lack stems, petioles from 1-18 centimeters (0.5-7.0 inches) long
Stem width: petioles thin, no more than 1 centimeter (0.5 inches) in width
Other stem qualities: The petioles are light green and form crowns (“new plants”, genetically identical to the “parent’) from stolons.
Flowering structure: Flowers have five white petals with yellow pistils and stamens (in the center of the flower). Flowers are considered “perfect”, meaning that they have both male and female reproductive organs. F. vesca ‘Bracteata’, however, sometimes produces only female plants (this varietie is gynodioecious).
Flowering frequency: F. vesca typically blooms from February to May in warm climates (usually blooms from May until August in colder areas). Flowers and fruits frequently grow side by side.
Fruits: Likely distributed by birds and other animals. Seeds tend to germinate in areas with moist soil and part-shade. Stratification increases the odds of seeds germinating. The strawberry fruits are roughly 15 millimeters in diameter.
Propagation methods: Stolons (horizontal runners) can be easily offset to produce “new plants” (called “vegetative reproduction”, asexual reproduction).

Notable characteristics:
Strawberries are familiar garden plants typically known for their edible aggregate fruits.

Uses:
These are sometimes grown for their edible fruits or for other ornamental purposes in mass.

Sources used:

DSC05846 DSC05850 DSC05906DSC05568 DSC05625

All of the images provided were taken by me. They may be used for educational/informational purposes only, provided that this article/online journal is appropriately cited first.

2 Comments

Filed under Plant Analysis

Tagged as