Re: Strange Plant - Ledebouria socialis
Hi Charles -
This plant is Ledebouria socialis - formerly known as Scilla socialis or
S. violacea. The form you have is L. socialis 'Violacea', the most
commonly grown form of this interesting plant (there is also a form grown
without the deep wine-red leaf undersides and bulb coloration). I've put
up a page of information about this guy, which can grown out-of-doors in a
mediterranean climate:
http://www.support.net/Medit-Plants/plants/Ledebouria.socialis.html
Your plant looks like its been grown indoors - outside they are far more
compact and 'tight', depending upon exposure (they always appreciate some
shade, even 'bright' shade). This is a favorite plant of mine though I do
not grow it at the moment. I planted some at the succulent garden here on
Lake Merritt, but the cats & squirrels dug them up and people walked off
with them. A few are left, hidden among various other plants, but they are
almost impossible to see in the beds due to their drab coloration! Much
better as a specimen pot plant.
Regards,
Sean O.
At 11:14 AM 4/14/00 -0700, Charles Dills wrote:
> While this missive is not concerned with either bromeliads or
> mediterranean plants, I'm impressed with the wide range of plant people
> that can be contacted on these two lists. I got the inquiry below and
> thought I would make his photos available to these two groups to see if
> anyone can come up with some ideas about the identity of the plant. I
> will put them on the "Other Pictures" page
> at http://www.charlies-web.com/assorted_pics/contentszz.html. They were
> sent by the following! "mayflower" <mayflower@copperhill.com>
>
> One of the things I like about my web page is that it seems to
> attract questions about and pictures of strange plants. ---Chas---
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> I have a houseplant that grows on top of the soil. The leaves
> are about 4" to 6" long and about 1/2" wide. They are speckled like a
> trout; however, the trout lily has a different bloom than this
> plant. This one has a bloom that is very insignificant and the bloom
> appears on a long shoot, much like a spider plant. The bloom reminds me
> of coral belles.
>
> I believe they are a light pink or white and make a cluster on
> the end of the shoot. The plant has roots that grow in the dirt;
> however, it also has a bulb looking thing that sits on top of the
> soil. Reminds me of the way peperomia grows. The plant itself grows
> about 8 to 10 inches tall with smaller ones growing from it. I believe
> it could be some kind of succulent, but not sure.
Sean A. O'Hara sean.ohara@groupmail.com
h o r t u l u s a p t u s 710 Jean Street
'a garden suited to its purpose' Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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