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Need help with plant ID

post #1 of 15
11/14/01 at 7:15pm
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #2 of 15
11/15/01 at 9:58am
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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post #3 of 15
11/15/01 at 10:57am
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.
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post #4 of 15
11/15/01 at 11:17am
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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post #5 of 15
11/15/01 at 12:27pm
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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post #6 of 15
11/15/01 at 12:33pm
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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post #7 of 15
11/15/01 at 1:20pm

See the board on BOOKS

Athenaeus: I'll put up information about that book on the board on "The Bookshelf."
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post #8 of 15
11/15/01 at 1:34pm
Do the leaves have a dark purple color?

I'm thinking ornamental sweet potato vine.


good luck,
H.
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post #9 of 15
11/15/01 at 6:24pm
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #10 of 15
11/19/01 at 11:50am
Thread Starter 

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.
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post #11 of 15
11/19/01 at 11:52am
Thread Starter 
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...
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post #12 of 15
11/19/01 at 11:54am
Well Nancy.

I think that it's potato. I have an identical in my office and mine is potato :rolleyes:
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post #13 of 15
11/20/01 at 6:59am
Thread Starter 
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?
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post #14 of 15
11/20/01 at 9:50am

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.
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post #15 of 15
12/5/01 at 7:35am
Thread Starter 

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.

Nancy
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