Phytologikos

Just a blog dedicated to learning about plants. Expect lots of succulents. Kind of a personal favourite of mine these days.

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 23 January 2020

Grown by many Ethiopian farmers as a staple crop Ensete ventricosum (enset, Ethiopian banana, Abyssinian banana, false banana) has over 300 varieties. This plant is principally grown as a starchy food but also as a source of fibres. The leaves can be used as plates, provide fibrous ‘wet wipes’, be processed as a food called kocho fermented from the leaf stalks (15 days fermenting above the ground and 15 days under the ground) with addition herbs and as bulla eaten as a porridge. In the U.K. ornamental varieties of this species are used to add an exotic foliage effect to plantings in the summer.

Jill Raggett

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Eucalyptus macrocarpa

It felt like a return to the Good Old Days to have this plant flower this year. Our former specimen was killed in a severe freeze in December 1990, and this is our first flower since then. It is not a typical eucalyptus, since it is a shrub rather than a tree, and it is a bit awkward as a garden subject, with its gangly braches, but we treasure it for its bluish-white leaves and its huge red flowers. Native to Western Australia.

-Brian

[flora-file]

The biggest Eucalyptus flower I’ve ever seen. It was almost as big as my open hand.

[linenandwool-blog]

How to Describe Plants

[botanicaladventures]

2019 07 11, some blooming cacti (photo 1: astrophytum asterias, photo 2-4: epyphyllum crenatum, photo 5: some blooming sempervivum on the roof, photo 7: euphorbia obesa from the back

[lifemaniac91]

[thebashfulbotanist]

We’ve posted about ghost plant (Monotropa uniflora) a few times - but can you blame us? It’s so strange! This plant is in the Ericaceae family, the same as blueberries and azaleas, but it’s a mycoheterotroph with no chlorophyll. It parasitizes fungi for nutrients rather than relying on photosynthesis like most plants. They can be pure white to red in color, although the red color is rare and I’ve never seen it. I found this pale pink one in Issaquah, Washington State.

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 25 May 2019

Vriesea are bromeliads native to Central and South America. Within the Vriesea genus there are hundreds of different species and cultivars. This display at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Show, London, gave a glimpse of the amazing range of foliage patterns.

Jill Raggett

[terramantra]

[phytologikos]

In addition to looking stunning in the new year, hellebores have interesting ways of attracting the few pollinators that are out of hibernation so early-on.

Research has shown that the nectar of hellebores contains natural yeast which, as it degrades, releases heat and a pungent aroma (exactly like the composting process). Due to the drooping cup-like structure of the plant’s sepals, this creates a microenvironment of humidity and strong odours. Both of these features are alluring to any pollinators during the winter months, giving hellebores the edge over less equipped early-flowerers. The best example of this kind of Hellebore is H. foetidus (of which photos will appear on this blog next month).

Additionally hellebores are toxic, and will cause diarrhoea and other discomforts should they be ingested.

[phytologikos]

Hellebore foetidus in all its slightly whiffy glory.

[nettlepunk]

Lysichiton americanus, western skunk cabbage, found in Florence Oregon

[phytologikos]

Disocactus flagelliformis or the Rattail Cactus is so named because of its whip-like or flagellated “tails”.

It belongs to the cactus family (Cactaceae) and originates from South America where it would grow epiphytically or lithophytically dependant on its surroundings.

Providing a minimum temperature of 6°C, a partially-shaded position and a nutrient and sand-rich potting mix is enough to suit these elongated cacti. Report every other year in fresh soil regardless of if they have outgrown their last pot as the soil will acidify otherwise. Cut old and discoloured stems off at the base in winter to allow for spring growth. Additionally, during the winter months, water the Disocactus less than you would in warmer spells.

[phytologikos]

Typically it had to flower a day after posting this!

[phytologikos]

Disocactus flagelliformis or the Rattail Cactus is so named because of its whip-like or flagellated "tails".

It belongs to the cactus family (Cactaceae) and originates from South America where it would grow epiphytically or lithophytically dependant on its surroundings.

Providing a minimum temperature of 6°C, a partially-shaded position and a nutrient and sand-rich potting mix is enough to suit these elongated cacti. Report every other year in fresh soil regardless of if they have outgrown their last pot as the soil will acidify otherwise. Cut old and discoloured stems off at the base in winter to allow for spring growth. Additionally, during the winter months, water the Disocactus less than you would in warmer spells.

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 9 April 2019

A container display of Muscari (grape hyacinth) species and cultivars at Great Dixter, Sussex, provided waves of blue and white flowers. They included Muscari ‘White Beauty’, Muscari 'Sky Blue’ and the deep blue Muscari latifolium (broad-leaved grape hyacinth).

Jill Raggett

[phytologikos]

This is a variegated cultivar of Ficus elastica (otherwise known as the rubber plant). Its stunning multicoloured foliage is a result of a mutation that has been encouraged over the years by plant breeders.

Ficus elastica belongs to the Moraceae (the fig family), can be found throughout Asia and has been introduced to many other tropical regions, such as Hawaii and the West Indies. As with all figs, elastica requires a fig wasp to pollinate it by entering its fruit to reach the flower held within, lay its eggs inside and then die. The offspring will then hatch, the males will fertilize the females and then leave together via the hole their mother originally created, laden with pollen in search of other figs.

The variegated rubber plant has red midribs which are only slightly visible in the pictures above. Unfortunately they are not hardy and require a minimum temperature of 15°C, partial shade to full sun and lightly moist soil. They can grow tall in these ideal conditions, some reaching nearly 2 metres in height! Care should be taken when pruning ficus elastica as it produces a latex sap that is highly irritant if left untreated on skin.

[phytologikos]

Got to love the lignification on it too! Looks amazing!

[harddyblog]

http://bit.ly/2IhorGY

[phytologikos]

This is a variegated cultivar of Ficus elastica (otherwise known as the rubber plant). Its stunning multicoloured foliage is a result of a mutation that has been encouraged over the years by plant breeders.

Ficus elastica belongs to the Moraceae (the fig family), can be found throughout Asia and has been introduced to many other tropical regions, such as Hawaii and the West Indies. As with all figs, elastica requires a fig wasp to pollinate it by entering its fruit to reach the flower held within, lay its eggs inside and then die. The offspring will then hatch, the males will fertilize the females and then leave together via the hole their mother originally created, laden with pollen in search of other figs.

The variegated rubber plant has red midribs which are only slightly visible in the pictures above. Unfortunately they are not hardy and require a minimum temperature of 15°C, partial shade to full sun and lightly moist soil. They can grow tall in these ideal conditions, some reaching nearly 2 metres in height! Care should be taken when pruning ficus elastica as it produces a latex sap that is highly irritant if left untreated on skin.

[oldfarmhousefallfeatures]