Another Mystery Plant from Mexico

Hello all,

I was wondering if I could get some help in
identifying tow semi succulent plants I have in the
garden, but have never been able to get a valid
identification for.    I keep thinking it might be in
the Amaranthaceae family, and perhaps one of the
Iresine species but I don't have any reference books
which list more than just the more commonly grown I.
lindenii and I. herbstii, and I know that squarish
stems aren't the case with I. herbstii. A google
search has also not turned up anything.  I received
this (as a white flowering form), called "Malocotillo"
in spanish.  I am sorry that I am not able to include
a picture, but the Cal Hort plant display forum for
January will have a digital photo of the white
flowered form, panicle only.

A description of the plants:

White flowering form: 
The plant grows well in quite deep dry
shade,(surviving for weeks at a time in a 4 inch pot
in shade with no water in winter!) succulent square
stems to 6 feet tall, opposite simple lanceolate pale
green leaves with smooth edges to 5 inches long and
deeply depressed veins, prominently reddish at nodes,
otherwise the stem is green, and the very airy
flowering panicles can be 2~3 feet long, with very
tiny(practically microscopic) whitish flowers which
need a powerful magnifying glass to see, but in mass
and from a distance are overall showy, and remain in
good condition and appearance for half a year or more,
and appear unchanging in all this time.  Seems quite
tolerant of cool northern California winter conditions
and still heavily blooming at this season.  Easily
propagated from stem cuttings, and has not self-sown
in my garden. Originally received from Bay Area local
grower Jim Denning who I think recived it as seed
labeled as "Malocotillo", and planted out in deep
shade with no summer irrigation in his Oakland garden
where it competes well with greedy surface tree roots.

Red Flowering Form:
This may be another related species, as it has the
same general characteristics but is slower growing,
seems to prefer warmer weather and more fertile
conditions for most rapid growth and flowering, and
the foliage is slightly larger, more succulent and
reddish, as are the flowers.  The plant does not grow
quite as tall,(topping out at 4~5 feet in my garden),
and is  more compact and branching in habit, but
equally drought and shade tolerant.  This plant also
seems slightly less cold hardy, although it did bounce
back from 25F frosts in 1998.  It has done very well
as a container plant with sparse irrigation, in both
full sun and deep shade.  This was collected and
introduced to California by Gary Hammer of Desert to
Jungle Nursery in Montebello, Ca., and originates in
the mountains of southern Mexico, where it is a common
roadside plant in pine/oak forests in summer rainfall
areas, as does the white flowered plant.  Gary was not
sure of the botanical genus either, but introduced it
because he thought it was showy, of lengthy bloom
period, drought tolerant and of easy culture. 

In both plants, the airy flowering panicles remind me
of those feathery/ethereal underwater fan corals. 

Anyone who might be able to help me identify these
plants?  Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards,
David Feix


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