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Guess what?

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John J

  • Hero Member
Guess what?
« on: August 04, 2012, 05:23:31 PM »
As activity on the forum seems to have gone into a bit of a summer slumber I thought the experts might like a bit of a teaser.
I acquired this plant about 15 years ago and I keep it in a pot as it can in no way be described as Mediterranean. In fact in its native area it's wild status is described as indeterminate. The flowers are beautiful but, unfortunately, after the first couple of years I have not been able to persuade it to flower again. The foliage is also attractive, my photo not doing them justice, with silver patterning on the upper surfaces and  deep wine coloured backs.
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Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

Alice

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2012, 01:23:22 AM »
Cordyline terminalis (Ti plant) perhaps?
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Amateur gardener who has gardened in north London and now gardens part of the year on the Cycladic island of Paros. Conditions: coastal, windy, annual rainfall 350mm, temp 0-35 degrees C.
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John J

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2012, 05:14:50 AM »
Sorry, no.
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Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)
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MikeHardman

  • Hero Member
    • www.mikehardman.com
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2012, 09:07:59 AM »
Calathea? ...perhaps C. ecuadoriana or lietzei?
or Maranta?

Both wonderful plants for variety of variegation (often with reddish undersides to the leaves):
Google images:
- Calathea
- Maranta
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Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England

pamela

  • Sr. Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2012, 09:42:38 AM »
Canna?..or Arum?
« Last Edit: August 05, 2012, 09:48:14 AM by pamela »
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Jávea, Costa Blanca, Spain
Min temp 5c max temp 38c  Rainfall 550 mm 

"Who passes by sees the leaves;
 Who asks, sees the roots."
     - Charcoal Seller, Madagascar
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Miriam

  • Jr. Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2012, 10:02:29 AM »
Musa ensete " Rubra"?
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agronomist from Rehovot, Israel
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oron peri

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    • http://www.greentours.co.uk/Leader/Oron-Peri/
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Re: Guess what?
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2012, 10:29:38 AM »
is it A.c?
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Garden Designer, Bulb man, Botanical tours guide.
Living and gardening in Tivon, Lower Galilee region, North Israel.
Min temp 5c Max 42c, around 450mm rain.

pamela

  • Sr. Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2012, 12:07:46 PM »
Is it a member of the Lily family?  This is quite intriguing.......I am sure I have seen this plant before. It reminds me a bit of the renga renga lily.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2012, 06:25:31 PM by pamela »
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Jávea, Costa Blanca, Spain
Min temp 5c max temp 38c  Rainfall 550 mm 

"Who passes by sees the leaves;
 Who asks, sees the roots."
     - Charcoal Seller, Madagascar
*

John J

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2012, 02:12:06 PM »
Wow! this seems to have stirred up a bit more activity than I expected. Where to start?
Mike, I can see the resemblance to the Marantaceae but they mainly have more distinct patterning, so no.
Canna, Arum, Musa, all no.
I believe the renga renga lily is Arthropodium cirratum from NZ? Too far south and east. Although it isn't a lily, as with many plants the word lily does appear in some of its common names.
Oron, if your A c is the above then, no, if not it's also no, I'm afraid.
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Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

Alice

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2012, 02:49:39 PM »
Zingiber malaysianum?

If Oron has not identified it correctly, what chance do mere mortals stand?
« Last Edit: August 05, 2012, 06:15:25 PM by Alice »
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Amateur gardener who has gardened in north London and now gardens part of the year on the Cycladic island of Paros. Conditions: coastal, windy, annual rainfall 350mm, temp 0-35 degrees C.
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oron peri

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    • http://www.greentours.co.uk/Leader/Oron-Peri/
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Re: Guess what?
« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2012, 03:12:38 PM »
John
By saying A.c. i meant Alpinia caerula 'Red Back'. Curcuma is another option...
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Garden Designer, Bulb man, Botanical tours guide.
Living and gardening in Tivon, Lower Galilee region, North Israel.
Min temp 5c Max 42c, around 450mm rain.
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John J

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2012, 05:15:11 AM »
Well done Alice & Oron, you've pinned down the Family, now you just need the genus.
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Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

pamela

  • Sr. Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2012, 06:04:09 AM »
Costus laevas?
« Last Edit: August 06, 2012, 09:08:10 AM by pamela »
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Jávea, Costa Blanca, Spain
Min temp 5c max temp 38c  Rainfall 550 mm 

"Who passes by sees the leaves;
 Who asks, sees the roots."
     - Charcoal Seller, Madagascar
*

Alisdair

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #13 on: August 06, 2012, 07:43:53 AM »
Hedychium greenii?
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Alisdair Aird
Gardens in SE England (Sussex); also coastal Southern Greece, and (in a very small way) South West France; MGS member (and former president); vice chairman RHS Lily Group, past chairman Cyclamen Society
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John J

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what?
« Reply #14 on: August 06, 2012, 08:39:47 AM »
Sorry, Pamela, wrong part of the world. We're looking at SE Asia (India to Southern China, via Thailand and Malaysia).
I've had these plants for 15 years, Alisdair, and I only acquired my Hedychium greenii in May of this year, so no, I'm afraid.
I wish I could provide a photo of the flower but I haven't been able to persuade them to flower for 12 years now and I can't find any that I took at that time. They are produced on short stems close to the ground before the leaves appear.
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Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)
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