Need Help With Plant I.D.s - Orchid Board

Junebug · #1 (**permalink**) 09-20-2009, 11:03 PM

A friend of mine gave me this plant yesterday. I don't know what it is...looks a bit like a Hosta, and a bit like an Aroid. I was told it's a shade lover. It has beautiful coral/peach stems and the roots have balls

if that helps.

The next photo is a huge bloom/pitcher thing... a variety of Nepenthes I think. It's bigger than my outstretched hand and my friend plucked it off the dense vine it was growing on and gave it to me. I'd love to get a start of this plant and I plan to.

It's just awesome. Does anyone know the name of this guy?

kavanaru · #2 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 03:37 AM

don't remember the name of the first one, but the second is not related to Nepenthes at all... that's an Aristolochia (most probably Aristolochia grandiflora)

Junebug · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavanaru

don't remember the name of the first one, but the second is not related to Nepenthes at all... that's an Aristolochia (most probably Aristolochia grandiflora)

Thank you for your help. I mistakenly thought it was a Nepenthes because of the pitcher on the back. So this one is not carniverous and is designed for pollination. I did some on-line research and found conflicting descriptions for the Lottoralis, Gigantea, and Elegans. There were a few vendors who describe the scent as lemony, but other sites describing a short lived dead flesh scent.

I detected no odor from the actual blooms on the plant during my morning visit. Perhaps it releases it's scent during mid-day. The owner of the plant didn't mention an odor, but was calling it a Cigar Plant. Right idea but wrong terminology. I think he meant pipe. He mentioned that it's a favorite of the Monarch Butterfly and her offspring. He makes a habit of hand picking the worms from the foliage and I suggested he introduce a bird bath and feeder to his garden area. I tried this when my Passifloras were getting chewed up and it worked like a charm. I still have the butterflies but no more worms.

camille1585 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 05:10 PM

The first plant is a Chlorophytum amaniense. I used to have one several years ago, but it's one of the plants my mother killed after I left for college!

Swamper · #5 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 06:48 PM

weird and beautiful

Junebug · #6 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamper

weird and beautiful

I agree. The Aristolochia is wickedly cool looking.

Junebug · #7 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camille1585

The first plant is a Chlorophytum amaniense. I used to have one several years ago, but it's one of the plants my mother killed after I left for college!

Thank you, Camille. I really appreciate your help. I'm sorry to hear your mother killed your specimen.

I picked up a Copper Leaf Plant too. It's in quarantine now, recovering from a bad case of Mealy Bugs. When healthy it will make a nice complimentary companion to the Chlorophytum.

kavanaru · #8 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 04:58 PM

funny to read that with "Cigar Plant"

it is also known as pipe flowers as you mentioned... the fragrance depends on the species... most of them smell very had, but some can be odorless or have a "nice" fragrance too...

Junebug · #9 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavanaru

funny to read that with "Cigar Plant"

it is also known as pipe flowers as you mentioned... the fragrance depends on the species... most of them smell very had, but some can be odorless or have a "nice" fragrance too...

Thank you again. I would have responded sooner but new posts to previous threads are no longer showing up as pink envelopes on my screen. For the last few days I've had to search each thread to find new responses.