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11-14-2001, 09:15 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Southern Missouri
Posts: 817
| |  Need help with plant ID
A friend gave me this plant.... It starts with a round potato looking lump that puts out a shoot, whether or not it is in dirt. If you stick it in dirt, it grows great big, ivy like leaves. And it grows fast. I have measured it at up to 6 inches per day.
It sends shoots off it's long tendrils, winds it's way through the mini-blinds, like and ivy. The leaves are really huge though. Heck, I should take a picture of it...
At any rate, it is now growing those bulb things along the tendrils and I imagine that is the way it reproduces.
Anyone have any ideas? I think it was from Florida. |
11-15-2001, 11:58 AM
|  | ChefTalk Moderator Culinary Experience: Culinary Instructor | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: CT.
Posts: 5,090
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Nancya,
At first I was thinking forced paper whites,
But as I read on thats can't be it.
any indication of flowering yet?
That might help me research this for you
cc
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Baruch ben Rueven / Chana
"If the sun refused to shine, I will still be lovin you. Mountains crumble to the sea, it will still be you and me" |
11-15-2001, 12:57 PM
|  | ChefTalk Moderator Culinary Experience: Professional Chef | | Join Date: May 2001 Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,748
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Even though I tend to have a black thumb (I unintentionally kill any plant I get), I'll take a stab based on previous experience: sound like a Jerusalem Artichoke (also known as Sunchoke). I just remember that back when I still used to try to grow plants, I put one in a milk-carton with dirt, and in about 3 days it was bumping the ceiling. And jerusalem artichokes DO look sort of potato-y. Small potatoes, that is.
BTW: there's a new book of short stories out, by a writer named (I think) Jim Crace, titled The Devil's Larder. Jerusalem artichokes play a role in one of the stories -- all of which are rather bizarre. |
11-15-2001, 01:17 PM
| | ChefTalk Moderator Culinary Experience: Culinary Instructor | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: CT.
Posts: 5,090
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Nancya,
I think suzanne has something here.
I looked it up in some of my books and it sounds similar to what you describes.
My Mother in Law is a horniculturist so I will also run it by her,
Thanks Suzanne
cc
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Baruch ben Rueven / Chana
"If the sun refused to shine, I will still be lovin you. Mountains crumble to the sea, it will still be you and me" |
11-15-2001, 02:27 PM
|  | Registered User Culinary Experience: Professional Chef | | Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,567
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If it is jerusalem Artichokes they need a lot of heat.
I have a couple in my Jungle. Maybe I shall take a picture of them to post it to you Nancy.
"BTW: there's a new book of short stories out, by a writer named (I think) Jim Crace, titled The Devil's Larder. Jerusalem artichokes play a role in one of the stories -- all of which are rather bizarre".
Dear Suzanne. What's this?
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"Muabet de Turko,kama de Grego i komer de Djidio", old sefardic proverb ( Three things worth in life: the gossip of the Turk , the bed of the Greek and the food of the Jew) |
11-15-2001, 02:33 PM
| | Registered User Culinary Experience: Professional Chef | | Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,567
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If it is jerusalem Artichokes they need a lot of heat.
I have a couple in my Jungle. Maybe I shall take a picture of them to post it to you Nancy.
"BTW: there's a new book of short stories out, by a writer named (I think) Jim Crace, titled The Devil's Larder. Jerusalem artichokes play a role in one of the stories -- all of which are rather bizarre".
Dear Suzanne. What's this?
__________________
"Muabet de Turko,kama de Grego i komer de Djidio", old sefardic proverb ( Three things worth in life: the gossip of the Turk , the bed of the Greek and the food of the Jew) |
11-15-2001, 03:20 PM
| | ChefTalk Moderator Culinary Experience: Professional Chef | | Join Date: May 2001 Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,748
| | See the board on BOOKS
Athenaeus: I'll put up information about that book on the board on "The Bookshelf." |
11-15-2001, 03:34 PM
| | Registered User Culinary Experience: Home Cook | | Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 159
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Do the leaves have a dark purple color?
I'm thinking ornamental sweet potato vine.
good luck,
H. |
11-15-2001, 08:24 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Southern Missouri
Posts: 817
| |
Thanks for the input...I went and searched on Jerusalem Artichokes, and nope...that's not it.
The leaves are big and heart shaped. Kind of a medium green. No purple.
I will take my camera to the office tomorrow and take a stab at a photograph.
Oops, and no flowers. |
11-19-2001, 01:50 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Southern Missouri
Posts: 817
| | Bad Photos! Guess the Plant!
I took some not great photos of the plant in question, keep in mind that it has wound it's way through the mini blinds and is a little hard to photograph.
It looks a little like a large philodedron in the pictures. Janet tells me that one day, it'll just die - no warning. It's got a couple yellow leaves but I'm hoping it lives til it's babies are ready to plant. |
11-19-2001, 01:52 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Southern Missouri
Posts: 817
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Apparently, one can only do one attachment per post...so here is another picture. I recognize the mother-in-law's tongue, so don't worry about that one... |
11-19-2001, 01:54 PM
| | Registered User Culinary Experience: Professional Chef | | Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,567
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Well Nancy.
I think that it's potato. I have an identical in my office and mine is potato 
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"Muabet de Turko,kama de Grego i komer de Djidio", old sefardic proverb ( Three things worth in life: the gossip of the Turk , the bed of the Greek and the food of the Jew) |
11-20-2001, 08:59 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Southern Missouri
Posts: 817
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Well, Athenaeus, I can guarentee it's not a potato as I know them...I sure wouldn't want to eat that lump.
But I wonder if it could be in the potato family? |
11-20-2001, 11:50 AM
|  | Registered User Culinary Experience: Culinary Instructor | | Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: MO
Posts: 2,491
| | Plant Identification
Try posting your question here: Name that Plant!
I'm sure if you describe it well enough, someone will know for sure. If you can take a picture of it, you can upload it there when you post your question and I would bet someone would definitely know.
Good luck. |
12-05-2001, 09:35 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Southern Missouri
Posts: 817
| |  Reply from the plant people
Thanks for the link cchiu - I finally got around to posting it there. Athenaeus gets a high five for placing it in the potato family. Quote: Hi Nancy, that's Dioscorea bulbifera 'air potato' actually a kind of yam (but not edible), it's a horrible, horrible weed in Florida.
Bigfoot_Liz | Nancy | |
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