Pritchardia pacifica (Fiji palm, Saii)

With leaves up to 6 feet long by 6 feet wide, P. pacifica is a slow-growing palm up to 30 feet tall. These do best in full-sun with mostly moist, well-drained soils.

Pritchardia pacifica (Fiji palm, Saii)
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: 10-11
Height: 6-9 meters (20-30 feet) tall
Diameter: 3.5-5.5 meters (12-18 feet) across
Growth Rate: slow
Age: not sufficiently researched
Root System: shallow (typical of palm trees)
Family: Arecaceae
Subspecies: var. ‘marquisensis’, var. ‘pacifica’, var. ‘samoensis’

Tolerates: warm, humid environments
Problems (major): Lethal yellowing is fatal – yellows leaves, blackens flowers, premature fruit drops
Problems (minor): few minor problems
Poisonous: believed to be non-toxic to animals

Soil requirements: prefers moist, well-drained soils
Air Requirements: Temperatures under 60 degrees Fahrenheit will damage these; temperatures near freezing are lethal.
Watering requirement: moderate
Sun requirement: full sun or part-shade

Needles: none
Cones (male): none
Cones (female): none
Leaves: Enormous, up to 6 feet long by 6 feet wide, lime green, fan-shaped, palmate, up to 90 sections per leaf
Flowers: Blooms July-August in large clusters up to three feet long with brown flowers (3 petals and 3 sepals), sprouts anywhere from 1 to 4 inflorescences at a time
Fruits: dark brown or black, up to 1 centimere (1/2 inch) in diameter
Seeds require stratification: no
Monoecious or Dioecious: monoecious

Notable characteristics:
The leaves are enormous, sometimes surpassing 30 cubic feet.

Uses:
P. pacifica are typically grown as an ornamental for its colossal leaves.

Sources used:

• http://www.tropicos.org/Name/2401372
• http://www.tropicos.org/NameSearch.aspx?name=Pritchardia+pacifica
• http://www.palms.org/palmsjournal/2003/vol47n2p107-109.pdf
• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=276715&isprofile=1&basic=palm
• http://ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?plantid=11899
• http://archive.org/stream/ornamentaltreeso00rock/ornamentaltreeso00rock_djvu.txt
• http://eunops.org/content/glossary-palm-terms
• http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/trees/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Pritchardia_spp.pdf
• http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/daehler/wra/full/Pritchardia%20pacifica%20SA.xls

 
The colossal leaves of P. pacifica behind another palm (for size comparison)
The image was taken by me during December 2012. It may be used for informational or educational purposes only, and this online journal must be appropriately cited/referenced before use is allowed.

Xanthosoma sagittifolium (Tannia, Cocoyam, Arrowhead Elephant Ear)

Potentially a better food source than Colocasia esculenta, Xanthosoma sagittifolium’s tubers/bulbs and young leaves are edible. The developing leaves are eaten once sufficiently cooked, and the underground stems are sometimes eaten once cooked and occasionally used to make flour. Although successful pollination is rare, these are popularly grown in the Pacific and South America as a common food staple.

Xanthosoma sagittifolium (Tannia, Yautia, Cocoyam, Arrowleaf Elephant Ear)
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: 8-10
Height: 1.8-2.7 meters (6-9 feet) tall in the American tropics
Diameter: 0.6-1.2 meter (2-4 foot) spread
Growth Rate: moderately fast (to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall and 1.2 meters (4 feet) wide in one year’s growth)
Age: perennial
Root System: tuberous, fairly extensive, fibrous
Subspecies: none

Tolerates: dappled shade
Problems (major): Leaf spots caused too much light are very detrimental. Snails, if not detected early, can inflict serious harm. Temperatures should consistently remain about 20 degrees Celsius, and tannia are intolerant of consistently soaked soil.
Problems (minor): Strong wind can harm these. Pythium rot, Rhizocotonia rot, and viruses are potential threats.
Poisonous: X. sagittifolium produces calcium oxalate crystals which irritate the mouth and throat if ingested.

Soil requirements: prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils (requires tall containers if not grown directly in the ground)
Air requirements: requires consistently warm and humid weather
Watering requirement: medium
Sun requirement: part-shade to full shade (preferred)

Leaf shape: Sagittate (shaped like an arrowhead), the petiole connects to the lamina, forming a “Y” “vein” structure. The petiole connects to the lamina at the very point/apex of the blade, where the blade splits from one sheet into two smaller sheets. The petioles can presumably either be a green or black color, depending on the plant.
Leaf size: The laminae/blades up to 4 feet long and 3 feet wide.
Stem: None, the petioles are “ribbed” and grow up to 3 feet tall
Flowering structure: inflorescence with a light-green peduncle, a green-yellow-white spathe (12-15 centimeters tall), and a yellowish-white spadix
Flowering frequency: blooms when amounts of daylight are changing (personally observed  in October and February)
Fruits: berry-like, uncommon
Subterranean storage organ: tuber, capable of breaking into multiple plants

Notable characteristics:
X. sagittifolium unfortunately has “extreme protogyny”, meaning that the female flowers are receptive for only a very short time. The foliage is attractive and edible for a short period of time. Under the right conditions, these can survive in shallow water.

Uses:
The tuberous/underground portion of Xanthosoma sagittifolium and Colocasia esculenta are both widely eaten in the Pacific. They contain a high concentration of carbohydrates and water, making them a food staple in certain regions. The younger leaves (moreso of X. sagittifolium than C. esculenta) can also be eaten if properly cooked and cleaned first.

Sources used:

• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c752
• http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=XASA2
• http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0646e/t0646e0o.htm
• http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/1492/tannia.html
• http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/198500258.html
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17995692
• https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/hort_403/pp_pdf/pp_27.pdf
• http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/elephant.htm
• http://ufh.netd.ac.za/bitstream/10353/573/5/CHAPTER%201.pdfnik.pdf

The petiole attaches to the very end of the lamina, similar to some Alocasia

Multiple X. sagittifolium leaves at the SIUC Life Science Greenhouse

An inflorescence in early October

An inflorescence in mid-February

The images provided were taken by me at the SIUC Life Science Greenhouse. They may be used, provided that this article/blog is appropriately cited  first.

Pilea cadierei (Aluminum Plant, Watermelon Pilea)

This herbaceous (non-woody), dioecious perennial is native to Vietnam, where it commonly grows in part-shade or full shade. Although it prefers high humidity, these are fairly easy to grow indoors. The flowers are rather inconspicuous, but the foliage is remarkable with unique silver stripes along every leaf.

Pilea cadierei (Aluminum Plant, Watermelon Pilea)
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: 11-12
Height: 20-26 centimeters (9-12 inches) tall, rarely up to 40 centimeters (18 inches) in optimal conditions
Diameter: 13-26 centimeters (6-12 inches) across
Growth Rate: moderate, roots aggressively if given the opportunity 
Age: perennial, reaches maximum height between 2-5 years of age
Root System: fibrous, somewhat small
Family: Urticaceae
Subspecies: ‘Minima’ (a dwarf, growing up to 6 inches tall)

Tolerates: shade
Problems (major): Mealybugs, if not detected early, will often kill these plants. Full sun will discolor the foliage and make these more susceptible to spider mites.
Problems (minor): leaf spots, stem rot
Poisonous: contains alkaloids in leaves, poisonous in large quantities by ingestion

Soil requirements: wet, acidic, slightly alkaline, clay, sand, loam soils (Potting mixes with peat also work well.)
Air requirements: requires warm, humid conditions
Watering requirement: medium
Sun requirement: requires part-shade, indirect light, to full shade

Leaf shape: ellpitical to ovate, dark green leaves with 4 of aluminum-colored stripes on lateral veins
Leaf size: 2-4 inches long, 1-2 inches wide
Flower structure: Small, white or green, inconspicuous flowers occur in cymes (a type of inflorescence). The fruits are tiny achenes.
Flowering frequency: These flower in summer months.
Bulb/tuber: neither
Monocot/Dicot: dicot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: perennial

Notable characteristics:
Stem cuttings are highly successful means of vegetative propogation, especially in early spring. The patterns on the foliage are unique bands of silver/aluminum colored pigments.

Uses:
Typically grown as a house plant.

Sources used:

• http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp478
• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b612
• http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/198500369.html
• http://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/pilea-cadierei/
• http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/syllabi/608/Lists/Fourth%20Edition/Pileacadierei.pdf
• http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/foliage/folnotes/pilea.htm
• http://plantsrescue.com/pilea-cadierei/
• http://plowingthroughlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/fridays-flower-pot-pilea-cadierei.html#.U1vGF1VdWuI
• http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1474
• http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242338028
• http://plantssg.blogspot.com/2012/07/pilea-cadierei.html

 

 Several Picea cadiere in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s greenhouse (grown by Greenhouse manager Richard Cole, photo taken by me on 25 April 2014)

 Pilea cadierei, after a fatal attack by mealybugs (plant grown and photographed by me, originally owned by Eastern Illinois University’s Doctor Janice Coons)

Close-up of a Picea cadiere in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s greenhouse (grown by Greenhouse manager Richard Cole, photo taken by me on 25 April 2014)

The images provided were taken by me, and they may be used for educational or informational purposes only, provided that either this article or this blog is appropriately cited/referenced. 

Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)

Native to Europe, this maple has an unusually symmetrical, dense crown. Due to their high shade, drought, and air pollution tolerances, as well as their shallow root system, these are considered invasive and are pushing out other native species. However, ‘Crimson King’ is still planted commonly due to its magnificent foliage. The leaves are somewhere between a maroon and purple and appear exceptionally striking.

Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
Deciduous: yes
Hardiness Zones: 3-7 (survives, but will not thrive, in zone 7)
Height: 9-15 meters (30-50 feet) tall (capable of reaching 28 meters (90 feet) tall)
Diameter: 6-12 meters (20-40 feet) across
Growth Rate: rapid (at first), slows down with age
Age: up to 150 years
Root System: shallow, remains mostly at the surface
Family: Sapindaceae
Subspecies: ‘Crimson King’ (has maroon-purplish foliage, slower growth rates), ‘Emerald Queen’ (has deep green foliage), ‘Deborah’
(changes from bright red to dark green leaves, changing to orange-bronze in autumn), ‘Schwedleri’, ‘Globosum’ (dwarf), ‘Summershade’ (more resistant to heat), ‘Columnare’/’Erectum’/’Olmsted’ (columnar, vertical growth)

Tolerates: drought, pollution (poor air quality), shade, typically pest resistant
Problems (major): Verticillium may kill off an entire tree.
Problems (minor): The bark may succumb to sunscald in the summer and frost cracks (radial shakes) in winter, especially on younger trees. Leaf scorch may harm some trees receiving too much light (mostly in the summer). Leaf hoppers can be a problem if not noticed soon. Bark splits relatively frequently. Norway Maples are apparently reducing Sugar Maple populations due to competition. The shallow roots sometimes
cause complications. Dense shade and some toxins, created by older trees especially, crowds out other plants.
Poisonous: Pushes out other native species by producing toxic chemicals. These are not known to be poisonous to horses, although Acer rubum (Red Maple) has foliage that is.

Soil requirements: “average” (not picky about certain soil types), well-drained soils
Air requirements: tolerant of urban conditions and poor air quality
Watering requirement: medium
Sun requirement: full sun or part-shade

Needles: none
Cones (male): none
Cones (female): none
Leaves: have 5 sharply pointed lobes, up to 15 centimeters (7 inches) across
Flowers: Maroon-yellow flowers occur in early spring in clusters known as “corymbs”.
Fruits: 2 inch long, purplish-red samaras occur in pairs connected at their bases (the non-winged areas)
Seeds require stratification: yes
Monoecious or Dioecious: dioecious (separate male and female trees)

Notable characteristics:
The petioles (“leaf stems”) release a milky-textured sap. The gray-colored bark has splothces of black and shallow bark furrows. These trees are native to Europe.

Uses:
Shade tree, be careful for their shallow root systems, however. Variety ‘Crimson King’ has exceptional foliage.

Sources used:

• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspxtaxonid=241805&isprofile=1&basic=Norway%20Maple
• http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/acepla/acepla1.html
• https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ACPL
• http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=6
• http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/norwaymaple.html
• https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st032
• http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/acepla/all.html
• http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/acpl.htm

A. platanoides foliage and samaras (seeds) of ‘Emerald Queen’

A. platanoides flowers and foliage

A. platanoides ‘Crimson King’ foliage and samaras (seeds)

Samaras of ‘Crimson King’ in early spring alongside developing foliage

Developing foliage of A. platanoides ‘Crimson King’

‘Crimson King’ shape

‘Emerald Queen’ shape

The three (3) images provided were taken by me during the summer of 2013. They may be used for informational and educational purposes, as long as this article or online journal is appropriately cited.

Adansonia digitata (Baobab, Up-side-down tree, Tree of life)

Looking like an up-side-down tree, each Baobab tree possesses enourmous girth. Some have been made into bus stops, a jail cell, or even a tavern. Barren of leaves for the entire dry season (typically 9 months long in South Africa), many tales surrounding Baobab trees emerged. Stories tried explaining how the tree was supposedly picked up and planted incorrectly. Their atypical appearance has made these valuable among nurseries in selective hardiness zones.

Adansonia digitata (Baobab, Up-side-down tree, Tree of life)
Deciduous: Yes, the leaves are only present for around 3 months every year.
Hardiness Zones: 10 only (native to South Africa)
Height: up to 25 meters tall
Diameter: The trunk grows up to 8 meters with 10 centimeter thick bark. These trees can have a maximum total girth of 20 meters
Growth Rate: relatively fast, primarily grows during wet seasons (usually only 3 months out of the year)
Age: Supposedly, some have survived for 3,000 years. However, records show the oldest to be roughly 1,300 years old.
Root System: expansive
Family: Bombacaceae
Subspecies: none

Tolerates: drought, heat, fire
Problems (major): Elephants will frequently break the outer bark to get the water stored inside, killing baobabs.
Problems (minor): Few, problems are primarily major.
Poisonous: The pulp contains tartaric acid.

Soil requirements: Prefers moist and well-drained, sandy soils but is very drought tolerant. Tolerates acidic soils.
Air requirements: Warm air (temperature) required year-round for survival.
Watering requirement: Regular watering improves growth; remember that these trees are accustomed to a wet-dry season climate.
Sun requirement: full sun

Needles: none
Cones (male): none
Cones (female): none
Leaves: Mature leaves can have up to 9 leaflets (5-7 leaflets are more common, however).
Flowers: The flowers are large (up to 20 centimeters across) and white with five petals and are pollinated by bats.Trees typically won’t flower until around 20 years of age.
Fruits: The fruits are large (up to 35 centimeters long by 13 wide) and hairy, with yellow-brown capsules. Plentiful seeds reside in the dry, whitish-pink pulp (which is has high concentrations of Vitamin C). The dark brown seeds, spherical with a diameter of 1 centimeter, have a red-black seed coat.The fruits and seeds are commonly eaten.
Seeds require stratification: no
Monoecious or Dioecious: not sufficiently researched

Notable characteristics:
Other than looking like an up-side-down tree most of the year, Baobab trees are very drought tolerant. They hold significant amounts of water in their enormous trunks, which is sometimes capitalized by passing elephants. Some mature trees have such a large girth that they have been made into taverns, bus stops, and prisons.

Uses:
Commonly used to treat digestive problems, infections, skin ailments, and many other diseases. The bark is used for a wide variety of crafts, including basket weaving.

Sources used:

• http://www.africa.upenn.edu/faminefood/category3/Cat3_Adansonia_digitata.htm
• http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/adansonia-digitata-baobab
• https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ADDI3
• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/baobab.htm
• http://www.ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?plantid=131
• http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5327e/x5327e0g.htm
• http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=143http://www.ask.com/explore/planting-baobab-tree

A Baobab almost entirely covered by its foliage (uploaded January 2011 by Muhammad Mahdi Karim (www.micro2macro.net))

An older, thick-barked tree (uploaded 24 June 2007 by Hans Helliwaert)

Foliage (uploaded 5 March 2009 by J. M. Garg)

A large, white flower with protruding stamens (uploaded 23 August 2005)

A large, singular fruit (uploaded on 7 May 2009)

A mature tree with foliage (uploaded 12 July 2012 by Udo Schmidt)

Several immature hanging fruits (uploaded 23 September 2004 by Marco Schmidt)

A mature flower with petals, stamens, and stigma visible (uploaded 28 May 2003 by Scott Zona)

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

Adansonia_digitata_image_sources

Dieffenbachia seguine (Dumb Cane, Mother-in-law Plant)

Native to Brazil, members of the Dieffenbachia genus are extremely common houseplants. Reaching usually one meter tall in homes, these are prized for their unique foliage and tolerance of low light levels. Although they prefer high humidity, room temperature meets their heat requirements (of 65-75 degree Fahrenheit) year-round. These reproduce asexually once mature, sending up new plants identical to their parent. They have few devastating insect and disease issues, making them an all-around promising choice for a house plant.

Dieffenbachia seguine (Dumb cane, Mother-in-law’s tongue, Mother-in-law plant)
Family: Araceae
Subspecies: var. ‘lineata’, var. ‘lingulata’, var. ‘seguine’, var. ‘ventenatiana’, var. Camilla
Hardiness Zones: 10-12
Height: 1.8-3 meters in native habitats, rarely exceeds 0.6 feet tall indoors
Diameter: to 1 meter wide
Growth Rate: moderate in part-shade, slower in full shade
Age: perennial
Root System: taproot system with small lateral roots
Deciduous: no
Monoecious/dioecious: monoecious, bisexual inflorescence
Monocot/dicot: monocot

Tolerates: dense/thick shade, drought
Problems (major): none
Problems (minor): Spider mites, scale, aphids, blight (bacterial rot) and mealybugs are all potential problems. Over-watering leads to yellow leaves.
Poisonous: The sap often burns the mouth, tongue, and throat if ingested. It may also lead to vocal cord paralysis and other health problems. The sap can also irritate the skin and eyes. These also contain Oxalic acid. The primary damaging agents are “raphides”, which are expelled from the cells when the cells are broken.

Soil requirements: prefers loamy, well-drained soils (appreciates a water-filled tray underneath the pot to increase humidity)
Air requirements: prefers high humidity
Watering requirement: moderate to low, water once the soil begins to dry
Sun requirement: part-sun to full shade required (bright indirect light for optimal growth)

Leaf shape: ovate-oblong or oblong with splashes of cream/white colors in the center of mature leaves (absent on small foliage)
Leaf size: to 30 centimeters long in its natural habitat, rarely exceeds 20 centimeters in length and 13 centimteters in width
Flower structure: Dumb canes produce inflorescences similar to Calla lilies. The spadix is typically 14-17 centimeters tall, hidden inside the green spathe usually 12-25 centimeters long (resembles a typical leaf). The spathe is a light green while the spadix is a creamy white. The peduncle is reduced since the inflorescences grow between the leaves.
Flowering frequency: rarely indoors, year-round
Fruit: Small, red-orange berries are produced post fertilization, although flowering alone is rare indoors.

Notable characteristics:
These are extremely easy to asexually propagate by sections of stem alone. Roots are able to grow into mature plants if removed their parent plants. Some plants may produce offspring by sending up new plants through their root systems. The stem appears to have “rings”, areas where previously leaves grew and fell off. This stem is fairly prominent, especially with older specimens, with several buds visible as old leaves die off. All dumb canes produce substances called “raphides”, which are shot through cell walls when individual cells are damaged. This effective defense against grazing herbivores, however, means that these must be grown cautiously.

Uses:
Primarily used as an ornamental house plant. Caution must be used when handling to avoid raphide expulsion.

Sources used:

• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b589
• http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?13948
• http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=DISE7
• http://hear.its.hawaii.edu/pier/species/dieffenbachia_seguine.htm
• http://www.ladybug.uconn.edu/factsheets/dieffenbachiahouseplant.htm

New sprout (grown from a broken off root)

Older foliage

Adolescent

Inflorescence

Female flowers

Several plants produced by natural underground root divisions

Male flowers

The images provided were taken by me (the plants, also, were grown by me). They are D. seguine var. Camilla. They may be used for educational and informational purposes only, provided that this online journal or article is cited correctly.

Dionaea muscipula (Venus Fly Trap)

Well known for their quick movements, relative to others in the plant kingdom, and their insectivorous trait, Venus Fly Traps are one of the most popular plants across the globe. Their traps are expertly designed to close only when prey is inside the trap. The bristles and hairs are remarkable feats of nature at its finest, acting in ways that are almost entirely unique to animals.

Dionaea muscipula (Venus Fly Trap)
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: survives 5-6 with appropriate protection, best suited to zones 7-10 (keep temperatures from 21-35 Celsius (70-95 Fahrenheit) at all times, keep about 5 Celsius (40 Fahrenheit) during winter dormancy)
Height: 13-27 centimeters (6-12 inches) tall
Diameter: 13-20 centimeter (6-9 inch) spread from the crown/center of the rosette
Growth Rate: fairly slow
Age: perennial
Root System: can propagate by dividing rhizomes in spring, fairly shallow root system
Family: Droseraceae
Subspecies: ‘Akai Ryu’ (also called ‘Red Dragon’, produces notably red stems and traps), ‘Trichterfalle’

Tolerates: moist, boggy soils, acidic soils, poor nutrient soils, few disease or insect problems
Problems (major): Aside from being threatened or vulnerable, these are pretty tricky to grow. Getting the right conditions can be a challenge.
Problems (minor): Aphids, spider mites, black spot
Poisonous: not presumably

Soil requirements: The soil MUST be consistently moist, mixed peat moss and sphagnum moss, acidic, humusy, unfertilized, damp, and swampy.
Air requirements: High humidity is necessary for these to survive.
Watering requirement: These plants absolutely must be in consistently moist soils.
Sun requirement: full sun or part-shade

Common prey: small insects and arthropods, primarily aerial prey
Type of carnivorous plant: Venus Fly Trap (snaps shut to capture prey)
Time required to consume prey: roughly 4-10 days to completely hydrolyze and digest prey
Sphagnum/peat moss preferred: a 50/50 mix of sphagnum and peat moss
Symbiotic/Mutualistic relationships: none currently known
Medicinal uses: Contains “naphthoquinones”, which may be potentially valuable for medicinal purposes.

Leaf shape: Basal petioles give way to hinged the lamina, which include 2 elliptical-shaped halves where insect consumption occurs. The laminae are typically green on the outside, red on the outside, and contain several “hairs” which serve as tripwires inside. There are roughly 12-22 bristles on the outer portion of each trap. If an insect touches two or three hairs, the trap snaps closed, capturing prey. NOTE: The leaves may die after closing anywhere from 3-7 times; do not tease them.
Leaf size: 2-11 centimeter (1-5 inch) long petioles, 2 centimeter wide traps (laminae)
Flower structure: blooms in May and June, 5 white sepals and petals
Flowering frequency: Venus fly trap flowers are cup-shaped and white. The flowers are in groups of 4-10 in the umbel (an inflorescence where the flowers diverge from a central point) that extends up to 12 inches tall. Once pollination and fertilization occurs, small, black, egg-shaped fruits are produced. Germination and growth to a respectable size, however, takes several years.
Bulb/tuber: forms rhizomes that may appear bulb-like
Monocot/Dicot: dicot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: perennial

Notable characteristics:
Each plant contains no more than seven leaves, consisting of the primarily photosynthetic petiole and the digestive lamina. The “traps” may close within half a second if two or more of the hairs are stimulated in short succession (electric impulses are responsible for the closing of the leaves).

Uses:
Usually grown as a house plant for its extremely interesting, quick, insectovorous “hunting”. Although they require several conditions to survive, they continue to fascinate people around the globe.

Sources used:

• http://www.botany.org/Carnivorous_Plants/venus_flytrap.php
• http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/dionaea-muscipula-venus-flytrap
• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d707
• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c706
• https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=DIMU4
• http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/198501413.html
• http://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/dionaea-muscipula/
• http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/chiwonlee/plsc211/student%20papers/articles02/dhodgson/dhodgson.html
• http://www.mweb.co.za/gardening/PlantDetailsView.aspx?pn=Dionaea%20muscipula&type=BotanicalNames

Flower (SIUC PLB greenhouse)

Form

Yellow variety

Deep green foliage

Heracleum mantegazzianum (Giant Hogweed, Cartwheel Flower)

The Federal Noxious Weed list includes Giant Hogweed. It self-seeds extremely quickly via wind and water and can quickly overtake native populations. Although similar in appearance to Cow parsnip, another species in this genus native to Washington in North America, this vile plant is native to southwest Asia. It has escaped cultivation and, without successfully alerting the public about the plant, can become an extremely serious problem. Being monoecious, it is also capable of self-pollination, unfortunately. Notable population sizes are appearing in Michigan. The United States federal government specifically lists Giant Hogweed as a critical problem in Alabama, California, Conneticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington. Southern Ontario and Quebec, as well as Cape Breton, New Brunswick, and eastern Newfoundland also report Giant Hogweed’s presence.

Heracleum mantegazzianum (Giant Hogweed, Cartwheel Flower)
Deciduous: yes
Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Height: 2.5-4.5 meters (10-15 feet) tall
Diameter: roughly 1 meter (3-4 feet) across
Growth Rate: slow (moreso in Canada), leaf growth typically occurs in spring
Age: Supposedly up to 15 years in extreme cases, typically a biennial.
Root System: A deep taproot extends 60 centimeters (24 inches) into the soil and is 15 centimeters (6 inches) wide at the crown.
Family: Apiaceae
Subspecies: none

Tolerates: most fires, due to its extensive taproot and crown
Problems (major): Very, very toxic – see “Poisonous:” below
Problems (minor): very few, Giant Hogweeds are considered “weeds”
Poisonous: EXTREMELY – the sap, which appears on the leaves and pretty much everywhere else on the plant, is highly toxic, can cause dermatitis, painful blisters and sores, long-term rashes, scarring, burns, and potentially blindness. If the sap is on your skin and comes into ultraviolet light (from the sun), which it will, immediately contact the authorities and your doctor or physician. Keep exposed areas in the dark as much as possible, and wash with COLD water.

Soil requirements: moist, fertile, well-drained soils with a neutral to acidic (5.6) pH promote growth
Air Requirements: moderately tolerant of pollution
Watering requirement: medium/moderate
Sun requirement: full sun (optimal growth) to part-shade, survives in almost full shade

Leaf shape: tenate-compound, deeply cut, basal leaves
Leaf size: up to 1 meter (3 feet) long
Flower structure: Produces an “umbel” (a large inflorescence spreading out from a center) anywhere from 3-4.5 meters (10-15 feet) tall in the second (potentially third) year of development. This inflorescence can produce as many as 20,000 seeds (one was recorded to set roughly 52,800 seeds). Even though the mother plant dies off (this type of plant is known as “monocarpic” for this reason – some offshoots/offsets may survive, however), thousands of new plants may germinate anywhere from 1 year to 20 years after dispersal. The flowers are white, and pollinated by a variety of insects.
Flowering frequency: blooms in June and July, lasts anywhere from 36 to 60 days, disperses seeds in August (dispersed either by wind or water, potentially birds or cattle), stratification necessary for seed germination
Bulb/tuber: neither, uses as a crown as its center of root development
Monocot/Dicot: dicot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: biennial (some perennials are believed to be 25 years old)

Notable characteristics:
The sap Giant Hogweed produces, when in contact with ultraviolet light from the sun, leads to VERY SERIOUS problems. The reaction between the sap and sunlight is called “phytophotodermatitis”, and it causes extremely painful blisters, rashes, and potentially blindness.

Uses:
Don’t grow this. Cattle and pigs eat this, without any apparent symptoms, but they are still extremely harmful to humans. Some middle-eastern cultures use the seeds as a spice.

Sources used:

• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d265
• https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=HEMA17
• Gucker, Corey L. 2009. Heracleum mantegazzianum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2014, April 19].
• http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/herman/all.html
• http://folk.uio.no/stephanf/baerklau/aqua012.html
• http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/72934.html
• http://www.cipwg.uconn.edu/pdfs/USDA_Giant_Hogweed_Poster.pdf
• http://ohioline.osu.edu/anr-fact/hogweed.html

A mature plant, roughly 2.5 meters (8 feet) tall in Tampere, Finland (this photograph’s rights belong to Teemu Mäki)

A mature plant with a prepared umbel (uploaded 7 July 2007 by Fritz Geller-Grimm)

A close-up of the enormous inflorescence

Several seeds of H. mantegazzianum (uploaded 31 July 2007)

A close-up of the foliage, stem, and petioles (uploaded 13 June 2005)

Two emerging plants in April in Witten, Germany (uploaded 5 April 2006 by Spantax)

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

Heracleum_mantegazzianum_image_sources

Phyllostachys edulis (Moso Bamboo, Tortoise Shell Bamboo, Mouso Chiku)

Growing up to 1 meter (~3.2 feet) per day at its peak, bamboo are truly incredible. Despite being a species of grass, some Phyllostachys edulis have been recorded to reach up to 30 meters (98 feet) tall. Many colors and varities of culm, the stalk or stem, exist, ranging from goldish-yellow to gray to light-green. The flowering pattern of these giants is extremely peculiar and not fully understood. Once even 50 to 100 years or so, almost all bamboo of a particular species will spend almost all of their reserves into flower and seed production. This kills off many bamboo, although some do survive. The accuracy, in terms of timing, these bamboo have is truly astonishing, especially since they will still flower at a set interval even if moved far away. Bamboo have been an icon in eastern culture, and for good reason. Bamboo have been used for everything from furniture production to a popular springtime food to producing bows. Even though some of these can be invasive with their enormously rapid growth and quick spreading of their rhizomes, these are highly valued across the globe.

 

Phyllostachys edulis (Moso Bamboo, Tortoise Shell Bamboo, Mouso Chiku) [also known as P. heterocycla]
Deciduous: no
Hardiness Zones: survives 6b-10a, prefers 8a-9b
Height: up to 15 meters (49 feet) tall, some reports claim larger sizes in favorable conditions (some claim to reach 30 meters (98 feet) tall
Diameter: Some stems (known as culms) can reach 8 inches in diameter; the spreading rhizomes around 30 feet from each above-ground stalk.
Growth Rate: Enormously quick, this species has been reported to grow up to 120 centimeters in one day.
Age: anywhere from 40-150 years
Root System: A dense rhizome system typically lies within the top 12 inches of soil, the newest roots are white whereas older roots may appear a rustic-orange color.
Family: Poaceae
Subspecies: ‘Moso’, ‘Bicolor’, ‘Heterocycla’

Tolerates: moist soils, high humidity
Problems (major): Some fungi and bacteria can be quite detrimental in excessively moist conditions.
Problems (minor): aphids and scale, particularly on new growth
Poisonous: Oxalic acid, homogentisic acid, and glycosides (one of these being cyanide) occur in larger numbers as these plants develop.

Soil requirements: requires moist, loam soil anywhere from highly acidic to slightly alkaline
Air Requirements: not sufficiently researched (I have yet to find information regarding pollution tolerance.)
Watering requirement: Moderate, keep soil moist.
Sun requirement: full sun or part-shade

Leaf shape: lanceolate, much longer than wide
Leaf size: up to 10 centimeters in length but less than 2 centimeters in width
Flower structure: Monoecious flowers contain male and female organs and are wind pollinated. The flowers are small and white, not unlike other grasses.
Flowering frequency: Rare, anytime from 50-100 years since the last flowering. It seems that some forms of bamboo undergo enormous flowering, all around the same time, which subsequently kills most plants due to severely diminished resources. Some plants do, however, survive this. The process by which so many bamboo flower at the same time is not fully understood.
Bulb/tuber: neither, spreads by rhizomes
Monocot/Dicot: monocot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: perennial

Notable characteristics:
The thickets or canopies these bamboo produce almost always crowd out other plant life. Those that frequently produce rhizomes are
sometimes considered “weedy”. For reasons we do not yet understand, entire species of bamboo will flower all at the same time. This is particularly intriguing, as they will do this even if moved far away from others. Some plants survive this mass flowering, although most are killed off due to fatally reduced resources.

Uses:
After thorough cleaning and cooking, the new shoots can be eaten. In Japan, this a very popular food, especially in the spring. The stems have been used for a wide assortment of purposes, ranging from making bows to crafting furniture. These may prove very useful for bio-fuels, but more research is still needed.

Sources used:

• http://botanyboy.org/moso-japans-giant-bamboo-phyllostachys-edulis/
• http://www.bamboobotanicals.ca/html/bamboo-species/phyllostachys-edulis-moso.html
• http://www.bamboobotanicals.ca/html/bamboo-species/phyllostachys-edulis-bicolor.html
• http://www.bamboobotanicals.ca/html/bamboo-species/phyllostachys-edulis-heterocycla.html
• http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=phed4
• SelecTree. “Phyllostachys edulis Tree Record.” 1995-2014. Apr 18, 2014. < http://selectree.calpoly.edu/treedetail.lasso?rid=1011 >
• http://www.aces.edu/timelyinfo/ForestryWildlife/2011/March/TIS-Update-Bamboo.pdf
• https://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/documents/W220.pdf
• http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Phyllostachys+edulis
• http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db/www/imp08002.htm
• Went, F. W. “The Quest for Clues to Growth.” The Plants. New York: Time, 1963. 100. Print.

Bamboo foliage with black petioles, implying that these are from P. nigra (uploaded 13 September 2004)

A bamboo forest, presumably P. edulis

P. edulis ‘Bicolor’ (uploaded 9 October 2010)

An emerging culm (shoot or stem) from a rhizome (photo taken by ひでわく, uploaded 30 April 2011)

Several light-green to gray-green stems (photo uploaded 21 July 2010, rights belong to Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên)

Multiple stems and corresponding foliage (photo uploaded 21 July 2010, rights belong to Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên)

Light-green flowers from an unspecified species of bamboo (picture uploaded on 14 April 2007, picture belongs to Mogens Engelund)

Bamboo foliage with yellow petioles, implying that these are from P. aurea (uploaded 13 September 2004)
I do not own the rights of these images; all credit goes to its original creator(s).

Phyllostachys_edulis_image_sources

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (Peony)

Native to China, these are some of the most gorgeous flowering plants I’ve encountered. The flowers of ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ are double flowers (making them much larger) and monoecious (making them easier to pollinate). They can be left alone for years at a time and aren’t particularly fond of being transplanted. The foliage is attractive and colorful, although often home to hungry ants. Ants typically “invade” peonies while their flower buds develop due to the abundance of nectar present. They show up so frequently that some thought that they were required to open the flowers. The ants are, for the most part, harmless though.
Although I’ve seen these all my life, I only recently discovered what they were. These have been left alone in my yard for years, at least before I took a deep interest in them. It is true that ants adore these, and they typically require some care to remain healthy over the years (or any care for that sake). Although not openly stated, I’m inclined to believe that they are drought tolerant. The ones close to me have been around for quite some time and were neglected from manual watering until about last year. Weekly watering and removing the foliage once it dies off helps overall health.

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (Peony)
Deciduous: yes
Hardiness Zones: 3-8
Height: 2.5-3.0 feet tall
Diameter: 2.5-3.0 feet spread
Growth Rate: fairly slow
Age: perennial, typically up to 50 years, sometimes up to 100 years
Root System: Not too extensive, primarily consists of a crown. The roots are sometimes used in “Four Things Soup” in China as a “woman’s tonic”. The roots are occasionally used to help with stomach problems, ulcers, fevers, and various other medicinal issues. When the entire root is harvested at once, it is called “Chi Shao Yao”.
Family: Paeoniaceae
Subspecies: ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ among many others

Tolerates: rabbits and deer, mostly pest resistant, being left alone for a significant duration of time
Problems (major): Borytis mold, a type of fungus, is the most common ailment to peonies. This produces a gray mold on flowers and dark blotches on leaves.
Problems (minor): Botrytis blight, Phytophthora blight, strong rain can force entire plants to the ground, peony wilt, honey fungus, and bud eelworms. Will not flower if recently transplanted into a slightly different soil depth.
Poisonous: Consumption leads to indigestion and stomach pains.

Soil requirements: Rich, fertile, well-drained preferred; grow in normal, sandy, or clay (preferred) soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). To ensure flowering, place the crown around 2 inches below the soil’s surface (transplating is best done in October, once these plants have gone dormant).
Air Requirements: not sufficiently researched (I have yet to be find anything regarding pollution tolerance or humidity preferances.)
Watering requirement: medium
Sun requirement: full sun or part-shade

Leaf shape: dark green, somewhat lanceolate to oblong
Leaf size: The stems grow up to 90 centimeters (3 feet) tall, presumably no more than 4 inches in length and 1 inch in width
Flower structure: Blossoms are double flowers (the carpels and stamens are entirely changed into petalodes, the guard petals do not distinguish between these). The flowers are fairly enormous (up to 6 inches across), a sweet pink color, and are very fragrant. Ants are frequently attracted to the opening flowers due to high nectar concentration along the flowers.
Flowering frequency: Flowers in May and June
Bulb/tuber: crowns (contain pink buds (“eyes”) on top)
Monocot/Dicot: dicot
Annual/Biennial/Perennial: perennial

Notable characteristics:
Annual fertilization of 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 mixes improves growth once these are a few years old. Ants frequently visit peonies, especially when they are preparing to flower, although they do almost no harm to the plants. Although picky about planting depth, peonies are surprisingly fine with being left alone for years at a time (maintenance does help, though).

Uses:
The roots are sometimes used for medicinal purposes (primarily in China). These are frequently grown for their outstanding flowers and attractive foliage.

Sources used:

• http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Paeonia+lactiflora
• http://www.peony.co.il/page.asp?id=30
• http://www.weekendgardener.net/perennial-flowers/plantpeony-100810.htm
• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=q400
• http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1371
• http://www.perennials.com/plants/paeonia-lactiflora-sarah-bernhardt.html
• http://www.pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=659
• http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-76.pdf
• http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PALA27
• http://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/peony.aspx
• http://acreage.unl.edu/peony

A full double-flower Peony in bloom (uploaded 9 July 2006)

Full double-flowers, buds, and foliage all present on P. lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (Uploaded 15 June 2007 by Mike Bowler)

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

Paeonia_lactiflora_image_sources