RE: more taxonomy
- To: p*@librs6k.vatlib.it
- Subject: RE: more taxonomy
- From: B*@monterey.edu (Barry Garcia)
- Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 02:53:42 -0800
puglisi@librs6k.vatlib.it writes:
>Yes. Tough little thing with the strongest root system on earth. Try to
>weed
>a garden that is almost all made of ancient walls and rockeries, where the
>thug has had a hold for about 100 years! Teh roots reach down as deep as
>the Antipodes, for what I know (which would be New Zealand). And my head
>gardener is teribly allergic to it. But I can say at least two nice things
>about this plant: first, as a child I used to press its leaves on my
>clothes
>and they would stay, creating wonderful decoration. This si due to their
>hairy, sticky lower side of the leaves, and all children learn this trick
>very son. Second, traditionally the whole plant (stems and leaves) was
>used
>to wash and polish bottles and glasses, and it really works marvelous!
>This
>explains the local name of "erba vetriola" (glass grass).
There is one of those in front of a house in a parking strip. Tough thing,
it withstands neglect and always manages to send up flowers. I always
wondered why the leaves were the inspiration for the tops of corinthian
columns........
