Re: Ti Plant? (not)
- To: Tony & Moira Ryan
- Subject: Re: Ti Plant? (not)
- From: M* F*
- Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 13:00:20 -1000 (HST)
On Thu, 21 Dec 2000, Tony & Moira Ryan wrote:
>
> In fact as Olwyn pointed out "Ti" is also the generalized name for a
> Cordyline in Maori as well as Haiwaian. These two languages are
> surprisingly quite closely related and hint at a common origin way back
> in time when one party presumably went north and the other south.
>
> As Sean indicates the Polynesian Ti tree (C.terminalis) from Haiwaii has
Actually now the accepted name is C. fruticosa. I was going to jump in
sooner as this photo doesn't really look like any of the sports or hybrids
I have seen in Hawaii. All sorts of colors, leaf forms (compact, long
lanceolate, etc). I couldn't see from the photo if its leaves unfurl
(like a banana) or fall from the terminal from a spiral).
If they unfurl I would be more inclined to go with cordyline, but if they
are in a spiral and don't unfurl I would go with Dracean. They actually
remind me of D. indivisa. I had a flat once and never got to plant them
out. Seemed to have the same kind of leaves, can't say on the stem.
A botany friend of mine indicated that much of the indigenous NZ language
is similar to that of Hawaii. Additionally much of the flora is similar
indicating possible origins (i.e. Metrosideros)
> wider leaves than the plant in the pic., as do
all the NZ speces bar
> one, C pumilio. However this does not otherwise resemble Chas' plant as
> it has no appreciable stem.
>
> There is a hybrid of C pumilio with C banksii (" Red Fountain") which
> has both narrow leaves and a short trunk but its leaves are a vivid
> purple red.
Also in NZ were the "cabbage trees". They were also a Cordyline species
(I foreget which one and was studying them as a model for mycoplasma like
organisms being transmitted to Hawaii's native plants
MTF
>
> Moira
> --
> Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
> Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
>
