The MGS Forum

Miscellaneous => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: John J on August 04, 2012, 05:23:31 PM

Title: Guess what?
Post by: John J 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.

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: Alice on August 05, 2012, 01:23:22 AM

Cordyline terminalis (Ti plant) perhaps?

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: John J on August 05, 2012, 05:14:50 AM

Sorry, no.

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: MikeHardman 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 (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Calathea&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch)
- Maranta (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Maranta&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch)

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: pamela on August 05, 2012, 09:42:38 AM

Canna?..or Arum?

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: Miriam on August 05, 2012, 10:02:29 AM

Musa ensete " Rubra"?

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: oron peri on August 05, 2012, 10:29:38 AM

is it A.c?

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: pamela 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.

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: John J 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.

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: Alice on August 05, 2012, 02:49:39 PM

Zingiber malaysianum?

If Oron has not identified it correctly, what chance do mere mortals stand?

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: oron peri on August 05, 2012, 03:12:38 PM

John
By saying A.c. i meant Alpinia caerula 'Red Back'. Curcuma is another option...

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: John J on August 06, 2012, 05:15:11 AM

Well done Alice & Oron, you've pinned down the Family, now you just need the genus.

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: pamela on August 06, 2012, 06:04:09 AM

Costus laevas?

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: Alisdair on August 06, 2012, 07:43:53 AM

Hedychium greenii?

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: John J 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.

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: Alice on August 06, 2012, 01:56:16 PM

Kaempferia (K. rotunda)?

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: JTh on August 06, 2012, 02:06:06 PM

Etlingera elatior?

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: John J on August 06, 2012, 02:08:28 PM

Spot on, Alice, Kaempferia rotunda it is.

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: Alice on August 06, 2012, 03:28:18 PM

Exciting little quiz, John. Thank you.

Title: Re: Guess what?
Post by: Alisdair on August 07, 2012, 07:25:35 AM

Yes, that was a terrific quiz John, thanks! And brilliantly solved by Alice.