By Tommy Clarkson from the February 2016 Edition Screw Palm (Pandanus spiralis) Family: Pandanaceae Also known as: Pandanus Palm, Walking Palm or Screw Pine In my best Aussie (and friends from there are now cringing!) I’ll say that “It’s fair dinkum I’m a lizard drinking trying to understand this dog’s breakfast of the ridgy-didge name […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the January 2016 Edition Papyrus, Cyperus papyrus Family: Cyperaceae Also known as Papyrus, Giant Papyrus or Paper Reed Before discussing the Cyperus papyrus, let’s talk a bit about the Cyperus family whole which consists of around 600 herbaceous sedge, water loving species. They range from the tropics to rather high latitude […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the January 2016 Edition Panama Hat Palm (Carludovica palmata) Family: Cyclanthaceae Also known as: Panama Hat Plant, Carludovica Palm or Toquilla Palm Let’s clear up a couple of relatively major, incorrect, facts from the outset. Firstly, this plant is not a palm tree. Secondly, the hats for which this plant is […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the December 2015 Edition Red Flag Bush, Mussaenda Erythrophylla Family: Rubiaceae (Also known as: Lady Flowers, Ashanti Blood Plant, Tropical Dogwood, Red Velvet Mussaenda, Prophet’s Tears or Virgin Tree) From the outset, I admit holding off a long time before getting one of these, as most of the specimens I’d seen had […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the December 2015 Edition Lady Palm, Rhapis excelsa Family: Arecaceae (Also known as Bamboo Palm, Miniature Fan Palm, Little Lady Palm, Large Lady Palm, Slender Lady Palm, Broadleaf Lady Palm, and Ground Rattan) With what I’m about to say, you’ll probably think that I’m pulling your proverbial leg but, honestly, I’m not! […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the November 2015 Edition Syagrus Palm Cultivars Family: Arecaceae (The following is the result of extensive research in endeavoring to identify a small, slow growing, pinnate, non-self-cleaning, petiole armed palm specimen I acquired several years ago but whose specific name I have never been able to establish. I believe it to […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the November 2015 Edition Spider Lily, Hymenocallis galvestonesis Family: Amaryllidaceae (Also known as Spring Spider Lily or incorrectly Crinum) The Spider Lily’s genus name comes from the Greek words hymen, meaning “membrane” and kalos that translates to “beautiful”. To my way of thinking, they’ve got the kalos thing correct as this […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the October 2015 Edition Queen Sago Palm (Cycas circinalis) Family: Cycadaceae Also known as: Queen Sago, False Sago or Fern Palm Probably originating from the equatorial portion of the Dark Continent, this is another attractive palm imposter that, in actuality, is a cycad an ancient gymnosperms (cone bearing plants) believed to […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the October 2015 Edition Arrow Leaf Elephant Ear, Xanthosoma Sagittifolium Family: Araceae Sub-family: Aroideae (Also known as the Arrowleaf, Yautia, or Malanga) What seems readily apparent upon first seeing an “Elephant Ear” plant, in fact, is not. Just because the plant has big leaves reminiscent of . . . well, elephants […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the September 2015 Edition Miniature Chusan Fan Palm (Trachycarpus wagnerianus) Family: Arecaceae Also known as: Wagner’s Windmill Palm, Waggie Palm or Waggie or Trachycarpus fortunei (dwarf form) (Fully researching this wonderful palm was quite the challenge as differed are the opinions, experiences and first hand awareness/knowledge of it. But, perseverance prevailed […]
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