Re: Trandescantia??? identify if poss?

Sean, John, Wim

Many thanks for replies.  I beleive it is indeed Spironema fragrans sym.
Callisia fragrans. See email below to John McGregor (sorry, I forgot to
copy the board with my reply).  I doubt it would have any invasive
potential in my garden!!  Much of my garden is clay which hardens like
concrete in the Summer heat (35C+).  What are your winter lows?  I am
not sure that I have an ideal spot in my garden - sufficient water and
some shade.  Cheers, Maria

===========================
Hi,

Joe Seals suggested a Callisia or Rhoeo discolor.

I found this photo on the Internet last night which most resembles my
plant.  I haven't had the chance yet to compare my plant with any of the
photos.

http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/12626/

This particular photo does not show the plant in good condition and does
not look particularly attractive!! I will keep it potted with some
protection over Winter.

Many thanks,  Maria

Wet and cold
Costa Blanca, Spain

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John MacGregor" <jonivy@earthlink.net>
To: <wimvanputten@mail.telepac.pt>; <marianoo@wanadoo.es>;
<medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: 08 December 2003 20:31
Subject: Re: Trandescantia??? identify if poss?
===========================

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sean A. O'Hara" <sean@support.net>
To: <marianoo@wanadoo.es>; <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: 09 December 2003 02:50
Subject: Re: Trandescantia??? identify if poss?


Hi Maria -

I think that the plant you're talking about might be Spironema fragrans
(it
has several synonyms: Callisia fragrans, Rectanthera fragrans,
Tradescantia
dracaenoides).  This is a true 'pass-along' plant - since it makes
numerous
new little plantlets of runners, people are always giving them to their
friends, or selling them events such as where you bought yours (as a
teenager, I found my first Spironema at a church fund-raising
bazaar).  This plant is actually on various invasive lists for tropical
or
moist sub-tropical climates.  I've had it survive an occasional winter
out
of doors here in the Bay Area of California, but with our dry summers, I
would be shocked if it ever showed invasive potential.  Here are some
images on the web of this plant:
http://www.washjeff.edu/greenhouse/Cfragrans/ (a web page with photo &
information)
http://www.only-zuul.com/porch_plant1.jpg (in a hanging pot)
http://hortiplex.gardenweb.com/plants/jour/p/43/gw1006643/260191984425177.jpeg
(large image)

An interesting plant, to be sure.  It always drew attention from even
the
more 'non-plant-types' when I grew it!

Regards,
Seán O.

At 06:04 AM 12/6/2003, you wrote:
>Hi everyone,
>Another query.
>The plant is single rosette on single stalk, mid green leaves with
narrow
>band of red/purple at leaf edge about 2 inches at its widest.  (It
looks
>like a bromeliad!!)  It has a couple of runners/stems about 6" long at
>present growing from main stem.
>I got it recently at a garden fair, nobody knew what it is.  Is it a
broad
>leafed tradescantia or .......  Any ideas from my limited
>description.
>Thanks,  Maria
>Zone 9, Spain.

h o r t u l u s   a p t u s     -    'a garden suited to its purpose'
Seán A. O'Hara   sean@support.net   www.hortulusaptus.com
1034A Virginia Street, Berkeley, California 94710-1853, U.S.A.
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