Creating the Tropical Look: Low-Care Tropicals for the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Creating the Tropical Look: Low-Care Tropicals for the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas Creating the Tropical Look: Low-care tropicals for the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas Galveston County Office Dickinson, Texas Gracious thanks is extended to Dr. William M. Johnson Galveston County Extension Agent - Horticulture for his invaluable technical assistance and review of this publication. All photos were taken by Galveston County Master Gardeners and are the property of the Galveston County Master Gardeners Association. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without written permission from the Galveston County Master Gardener Association. Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin. Creating the Tropical Look: Low-care tropicals for the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas EDITORS PHOTOGRAPHERS Mary Yurkovich, MG 1999 Herman Auer, MG 1983 Marge Jenke, MG 2005 Larry Baker, MG 1992 Deborah Repasz, MG 2003 Laura Bellmore, MG 1992 Alcestis Cooky Oberg, MG 2002 Raford Brister, MG 2004 GRAPHIC ARTIST Helle Brown, MG 2008 Sandra Devall, MG 1998 Margaret Canavan, MG 2003 WRITERS Lillian Canouet, MG 2006 Larry Baker, MG 1992 Sandra Devall, MG 1998 Pam Barton, MG 2005 Yvonne Enos, MG 2008 Anne Baugh, MG 2006 Billy Jenke, MG 2006 Jan Brick, MG 2001 Marge Jenke, MG 2005 Camille Goodwin, MG 2008 Gloria Johnston, MG 2008 Candice Hawkinson, MG 2006 Ted Landry, MG 2005 Clyde Holt, MG 2005 Karen Lehr, MG 2008 Dawn Hoyle, MG 2002 Alcestis Cooky Oberg, MG 2002 Marge Jenke, MG 2005 Sam Powers, MG 1987 Trish McDaniel, MG 2001 Mona Ray, MG 1987 Alcestis Cooky Oberg, MG 2002 Deborah Repasz, MG 2003 Mona Ray, MG 1987 Linda Steber, MG 1991 Judithe Savely, MG 2005 Judithe Savely, MG 2005 Eileen Storey, MG 2006 Eileen Storey, MG 2006 Sara Thompson, MG 2006 Mary Yurkovich, MG 1999 Diana Wozniak, MG 2006 Mary Yurkovich, MG 1999 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Gingers . 07 Chapter 2 Hibiscus . 17 Chapter 3 Bromeliads . 25 Chapter 4 Orchids . 33 Chapter 5 Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes & Tubers . 43 Chapter 6 Flowering Vines . 55 Chapter 7 Tropical Foliage . 61 Chapter 8 Flowering Shrubs . 77 Chapter 9 Flowering Trees . 85 Bibliography . .95 Introduction To enjoy lush, colorful foliage and dramatic floral displays, gardeners along the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas are lucky. They can add to their gardens tropical- looking plants that grow in temperate, subtropical and tropical climates. All plants described in this book are available locally and require no, little or manageable cold-weather protection. The USDA plant hardiness zones for the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas are generally recognized to be zones 9a and 9b. Zone 9a cold-weather temperatures are 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit; zone 9b, 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Although these zones help as guidelines, many local gardeners have learned that in some areas of the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas, such as Galveston Island, the temperature more closely conforms to zone 10a, 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Further, as our climate warms, winters are shorter than they used to be. The first freeze in this area occurs around the middle of December. The last freeze date occurs about the middle of March. Gardeners use this knowledge to judge when to set out warm-weather plants and when to protect them. Our Master Gardeners and other local gardening experts also are knowledgeable about natural microclimates and how to create them or take advantage of them. A warm-temperature plant can survive on the south side of the house or next to a brick wall. But in the open or on the north side of the house, that plant will surely freeze. Temperatures in Dickinson, League City, Santa Fe, San Leon, or Galveston Island all vary slightly, and a difference of two to three degrees Fahrenheit can affect the survival of a plant. By learning the native origin of the plant, its growing requirements, and where to place it in the garden, gardeners along the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas can confidently grow any of the plants discussed in this book. 6 1Gingers Humans have had a connection with gingers for thousands of years. Zingiber officinale has been cultivated for at least 2,000 years, and is included in 2nd century BC Roman books of cooking and farming. It has always been considered a highly valued spice. Turmeric spice evolved from Curcuma longa ginger, and has an even longer history — over 4,000 years. These two ginger species alone have provided edible, folkloric, herbal, and medicinal value for most of the recorded history of mankind. In Victorian England, gingers were grown for their flamboyant and sometimes beautifully perfumed flowers in greenhouses, but in time the plants fell victim to increased heating costs, ending the tropical plant craze. Recent interest in tropical plants has once again brought gingers to the forefront. This versatile group can be used in many different tropical-style settings. They can be an accent in woodland gardens, around ponds, in borders, with shrubs or under trees. Gardeners in the Upper Texas Gulf Coast of Texas are fortunate to be able to cultivate an amazing array of gingers. 7 Alpinia Alpinia (Al-PIN-ee-uh) Named in honor of the 16th century botanist Prospero Apinio, Alpinia is the largest genus in the Zingiberaceae family, with more than 230 species. Most species originate in Southeast Asia, and most varieties are tropical and sensitive to cold. Alpinias bloom in the second year of growth, but even if the bloom is absent, the foliage is striking. Shell Ginger A. zerumbet (zer-UM-bet) Shell ginger is the largest of the root-hardy Alpinias, growing to eight to 10 feet. It blooms on the previous year’s canes. The foliage, noted for its beauty, is often aromatic. Shell ginger requires light sun to shade and adequate moisture. Variegated shell ginger is grown as a foliage plant and is the most popular variegated ginger. A dwarf version is also available. Shell Ginger Variegated Shell Ginger 8 Costus Costus (KOS-tus) Costus, with at least 70 species, is the largest of the Costaceae family. These plants have leaves arranged in a spiral around a stem that grows from six to 10 feet tall. Some varieties attract hummingbirds, and oth- ers attract bees. Costus gingers need three to five hours of direct sun, along with fertile, organic, moist, and well-drained soil. They do not like standing in water. Costus is the only ginger that can be propagated by stem cuttings. However, the most common way is by rhizome divi- sion. Crepe Ginger Crepe Ginger C. speciosus (spee-see-OH-sus) There are two distinct varieties of crepe ginger. One has a red/bur- gundy pinecone-shaped flower at the top. Another is called variegated crepe ginger and has white blooms resembling crepe fabric. Crepe Ginger can also be grown as a container plant, growing five to seven feet and producing its best blooms in full sun. Red Tower C. barbatus (bar-BAY-tus) This plant produces a combination of red bracts and yellow flowers. It blooms in the spring. It can grow in filtered shade, reaching a height of seven feet and is sensitive to frost. Spiral Ginger Red Tower C. woodsohii (wood-SO-nee) This spiral ginger grows to 24 to 36 inches tall in sun or partial shade and blooms all year. Flower tips produce a honey-like ginger nectar attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. This plant is cold hardy to 30°F. Spiral Ginger 9 Curcuma Curcuma (KER-koo-muh) Native to Southeast Asia, curcumas, also called hidden gingers, are used as spices, vegetables, coloring agents, perfumes, oils, and medicines. They are also widely grown as ornamentals. There are spring and summer curcumas. The spring variety blooms before the leaves appear. The summer curcumas bloom from summer until early fall and has leaves taller than the flower stem, obscuring the flower. Curcumas are superb foliage plants, with tough, banana-like leaves that turn yellow and begin to drop in the fall. Curcumas foliage can be protected from the sun by planting it in light shade. Keep the soil evenly moist, and plants will grow from one to seven feet tall. Most Alimanda propagation is by rhizome division. Alimanda C. alimanda (al-ih-MAN-da) This hidden ginger has a reddish/orange bloom and prefers shade. It is an excellent cut flower and stays fresh for an extended period. Purple Prince C. ‘Purple Prince’ Curcuma ‘Purple Prince’ is a hybrid and grows two to three feet tall. It prefers light shade to some sun and produces beautiful foot-long flower stalks with maroon bracts and smaller flowers in late summer. Giant Plume Ginger Purple Prince C. elata (el-AH-tuh) The flower stalk develops into a brilliant bright pink torch before the banana-like leaves emerge. At heights up to eight feet, this is the tallest and one of the hardiest curcumas cultivated. Bright filtered light and well-drained soil are recommended. Giant Plume Ginger 10 Globba Globba (GLAH-buh) The genus consists of 40 to 100 species. Globbas are rarely more than 24 inches tall, with inch-long flowers. The plant is quite distinc- tive and ornamental as the dangling flowers swing and sway in even a light breeze, appearing to be dancing. Globbas require moisture and a well-drained soil. They prefer shade or part shade, though some have been seen blooming and thriving in full sun. They die to the ground in the fall and don’t re-emerge until late spring. Propagation is by stem cutting (place it horizontally in a vase of water and watch for emerging sprouts), clump division during the growing season, and by cutting and planting dormant rhizome pieces.
Recommended publications
  • TAXON:Costus Malortieanus H. Wendl. SCORE:7.0 RATING:High Risk
    TAXON: Costus malortieanus H. SCORE: 7.0 RATING: High Risk Wendl. Taxon: Costus malortieanus H. Wendl. Family: Costaceae Common Name(s): spiral flag Synonym(s): Costus elegans Petersen spiral ginger stepladder ginger Assessor: Chuck Chimera Status: Assessor Approved End Date: 2 Aug 2017 WRA Score: 7.0 Designation: H(HPWRA) Rating: High Risk Keywords: Perennial Herb, Ornamental, Shade-Tolerant, Rhizomatous, Bird-Dispersed Qsn # Question Answer Option Answer 101 Is the species highly domesticated? y=-3, n=0 n 102 Has the species become naturalized where grown? 103 Does the species have weedy races? Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) - If 201 island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute "wet (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) (See Appendix 2) High tropical" for "tropical or subtropical" 202 Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) (See Appendix 2) High 203 Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility) y=1, n=0 n Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or 204 y=1, n=0 y subtropical climates Does the species have a history of repeated introductions 205 y=-2, ?=-1, n=0 y outside its natural range? 301 Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Appendix 2), n= question 205 y 302 Garden/amenity/disturbance weed n=0, y = 1*multiplier (see Appendix 2) n 303 Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed n=0, y = 2*multiplier (see Appendix 2) n 304 Environmental weed n=0, y = 2*multiplier (see Appendix 2) n 305 Congeneric weed 401 Produces spines, thorns or burrs y=1, n=0 n 402 Allelopathic 403 Parasitic y=1, n=0 n 404 Unpalatable to grazing animals 405 Toxic to animals y=1, n=0 n 406 Host for recognized pests and pathogens 407 Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans y=1, n=0 n 408 Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems y=1, n=0 n 409 Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle y=1, n=0 y Creation Date: 2 Aug 2017 (Costus malortieanus H.
    [Show full text]
  • MEDICINAL HERBS and FLOWERING PLANTS GARDEN in VIGNAN's CAMPUS Objectives: 1. to Grow and Maintain the Flowering and Medicinal
    MEDICINAL HERBS AND FLOWERING PLANTS GARDEN IN VIGNAN’S CAMPUS Objectives : 1. To grow and maintain the flowering and medicinal important herbs in the vicinity of Hanuman Statue to bring elegance to the campus. 2. To design compost units and develop organic manure for the cultivation of herbs. 3. To prepare herbal decoction, syrup and infusions using roots, leaves, stem of propagated medicinal herbs both standalone and combinatorial mixtures. 4. To train students in the identification and taxonomy of medicinal herbs and extraction procedure, to screen secondary metabolites. Rationale: As our lifestyle is now getting techno-savvy, we are moving away from nature. However, we cannot escape from nature for we are part of nature. Natural herbal flora withstood the vagaries of climatic changes through the ages of earth. In addition, they are endowed with safe compounds preferably positive health benefits and hence they are comparatively safer and eco- friendly. Traditionally there lots of herbs are in use to relieve humans and livestock from the ailments. Therefore, there is a need to promote them to save human lives. These herbal products are today are the symbol of safety in contrast to the synthetic drugs, that are regarded as unsafe to human beings and environment. Although herbs had been priced for their medicinal, flavoring and aromatic qualities for centuries, the synthetic products of the modern age surpassed their importance, for a while. It is primarily because of the marketing strategies adopted to promote synthetic products. It’s time to promote and propagate the various species of medicinal plants globally particularly among students and woman folk to appraise their value in healthcare.
    [Show full text]
  • Alpinia Galanga (L.) Willd
    TAXON: Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. SCORE: 5.0 RATING: Low Risk Taxon: Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. Family: Zingiberaceae Common Name(s): false galangal Synonym(s): Languas galanga (L.) Stuntz greater galanga Maranta galanga L. languas Siamese-ginger Thai ginger Assessor: Chuck Chimera Status: Assessor Approved End Date: 16 Jun 2016 WRA Score: 5.0 Designation: L Rating: Low Risk Keywords: Rhizomatous, Naturalized, Edible, Self-Compatible, Pollinator-Limited Qsn # Question Answer Option Answer 101 Is the species highly domesticated? y=-3, n=0 n 102 Has the species become naturalized where grown? 103 Does the species have weedy races? Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) - If 201 island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute "wet (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) (See Appendix 2) High tropical" for "tropical or subtropical" 202 Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) (See Appendix 2) Low 203 Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility) y=1, n=0 y Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or 204 y=1, n=0 y subtropical climates Does the species have a history of repeated introductions 205 y=-2, ?=-1, n=0 y outside its natural range? 301 Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Appendix 2), n= question 205 y 302 Garden/amenity/disturbance weed n=0, y = 1*multiplier (see Appendix 2) n 303 Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed n=0, y = 2*multiplier (see Appendix 2) n 304 Environmental weed n=0, y = 2*multiplier (see Appendix 2) n 305 Congeneric weed n=0, y = 1*multiplier (see Appendix 2) y 401 Produces spines, thorns or burrs y=1, n=0 n 402 Allelopathic 403 Parasitic y=1, n=0 n 404 Unpalatable to grazing animals 405 Toxic to animals y=1, n=0 n 406 Host for recognized pests and pathogens y=1, n=0 n 407 Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans y=1, n=0 n Creation Date: 16 Jun 2016 (Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd.) Page 1 of 15 TAXON: Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Alocasia (Araceae: Colocasieae) for Thailand Including a Novel Species and New Species Records from South-West Thailand
    THAI FOR. BULL. (BOT.) 36: 1–17. 2008. A review of Alocasia (Araceae: Colocasieae) for Thailand including a novel species and new species records from South-West Thailand PETER C. BOYCE* ABSTRACT. A review of Alocasia in Thailand is presented. One new species (A. hypoleuca) and three new records (A. acuminata, A. hypnosa & A. perakensis) are reported. A key to Alocasia in Thailand is presented and the new species is illustrated. INTRODUCTION Alocasia is a genus of in excess of 100 species of herbaceous, laticiferous, diminutive to gigantic, usually robust herbs. The genus has recently been revised for New Guinea (Hay, 1990), Australasia (Hay & Wise, 1991), West Malesia and Sulawesi (Hay, 1998), the Philippines (Hay, 1999) while post main-treatment novelties have been described for New Guinea (Hay, 1994) Borneo (Hay, Boyce & Wong, 1997; Hay, 2000; Boyce, 2007) & Sulawesi (Yuzammi & Hay, 1998). Currently the genus is least well understood in the trans-Himalaya (NE India to SW China) including the northern parts of Burma, Thailand, Lao PDR and Vietnam with only the flora of Bhutan (Noltie, 1994) partly covering this range. In the absence of extensive fieldwork the account presented here for Thailand can at best be regarded as provisional. STRUCTURE & TERMINOLOGY Alocasia plants are often complex in vegetative and floral structure and some notes on their morphology (based here substantially on Hay, 1998) are useful to aid identification. The stem of Alocasia, typically of most Araceae, is a physiognomically unbranched sympodium. The number of foliage leaves per module is variable between and within species and individuals, but during flowering episodes in some species it may be reduced to one.
    [Show full text]
  • Alphabetical Lists of the Vascular Plant Families with Their Phylogenetic
    Colligo 2 (1) : 3-10 BOTANIQUE Alphabetical lists of the vascular plant families with their phylogenetic classification numbers Listes alphabétiques des familles de plantes vasculaires avec leurs numéros de classement phylogénétique FRÉDÉRIC DANET* *Mairie de Lyon, Espaces verts, Jardin botanique, Herbier, 69205 Lyon cedex 01, France - [email protected] Citation : Danet F., 2019. Alphabetical lists of the vascular plant families with their phylogenetic classification numbers. Colligo, 2(1) : 3- 10. https://perma.cc/2WFD-A2A7 KEY-WORDS Angiosperms family arrangement Summary: This paper provides, for herbarium cura- Gymnosperms Classification tors, the alphabetical lists of the recognized families Pteridophytes APG system in pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms Ferns PPG system with their phylogenetic classification numbers. Lycophytes phylogeny Herbarium MOTS-CLÉS Angiospermes rangement des familles Résumé : Cet article produit, pour les conservateurs Gymnospermes Classification d’herbier, les listes alphabétiques des familles recon- Ptéridophytes système APG nues pour les ptéridophytes, les gymnospermes et Fougères système PPG les angiospermes avec leurs numéros de classement Lycophytes phylogénie phylogénétique. Herbier Introduction These alphabetical lists have been established for the systems of A.-L de Jussieu, A.-P. de Can- The organization of herbarium collections con- dolle, Bentham & Hooker, etc. that are still used sists in arranging the specimens logically to in the management of historical herbaria find and reclassify them easily in the appro- whose original classification is voluntarily pre- priate storage units. In the vascular plant col- served. lections, commonly used methods are systema- Recent classification systems based on molecu- tic classification, alphabetical classification, or lar phylogenies have developed, and herbaria combinations of both.
    [Show full text]
  • The Molecular Phylogeny of Alpinia (Zingiberaceae): a Complex and Polyphyletic Genus of Gingers1
    American Journal of Botany 92(1): 167±178. 2005. THE MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF ALPINIA (ZINGIBERACEAE): A COMPLEX AND POLYPHYLETIC GENUS OF GINGERS1 W. J OHN KRESS,2,3,5 AI-ZHONG LIU,2 MARK NEWMAN,4 AND QING-JUN LI3 2Department of Botany, MRC-166, United States National Herbarium, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 USA; 3Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303 China; and 4Royal Botanic Garden, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, Scotland, UK Alpinia is the largest, most widespread, and most taxonomically complex genus in the Zingiberaceae with 230 species occurring throughout tropical and subtropical Asia. Species of Alpinia often predominate in the understory of forests, while others are important ornamentals and medicinals. Investigations of the evolutionary relationships of a subset of species of Alpinia using DNA sequence- based methods speci®cally test the monophyly of the genus and the validity of the previous classi®cations. Seventy-two species of Alpinia, 27 non-Alpinia species in the subfamily Alpinioideae, eight species in the subfamily Zingiberoideae, one species in the subfamily Tamijioideae, and three species in the outgroup genus Siphonochilus (Siphonochiloideae) were sequenced for the plastid matK region and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) loci. Parsimony analyses of both individual and combined data sets identi®ed six polyphyletic clades containing species of Alpinia distributed across the tribe Alpinieae. These results were supported by a Bayesian analysis of the combined data set. Except in a few speci®c cases, these monophyletic groupings of species do not correspond with either Schumann's (1904) or Smith's (1990) classi®cation of the genus.
    [Show full text]
  • Leaf Variegation in Caladium Steudneriifolium (Araceae): a Case of Mimicry?
    Evol Ecol (2009) 23:503–512 DOI 10.1007/s10682-008-9248-2 ORIGINAL PAPER Leaf variegation in Caladium steudneriifolium (Araceae): a case of mimicry? Ulf Soltau Æ Stefan Do¨tterl Æ Sigrid Liede-Schumann Received: 27 November 2007 / Accepted: 25 February 2008 / Published online: 6 March 2008 Ó Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008 Abstract The leaves of Caladium steudneriifolium (Araceae) of the understorey of a submontane rainforest in the Podocarpus National Park (South East Ecuador, 1,060 m a.s.l.) are plain green or patterned with whitish variegation. Of the 3,413 individual leaves randomly chosen and examined in April 2003, two-thirds were plain green, whereas one third were variegated (i.e., whitish due to absence of chloroplasts). Leaves of both morphs are frequently attacked by mining moth caterpillars. Our BLAST analysis based on Cytochrome-c-Oxidase-subunit-1 sequences suggests that the moth is possibly a member of the Pyraloidea or another microlepidopteran group. It was observed that the variegated leaf zones strongly resemble recent damages caused by mining larvae and therefore may mimic an attack by moth larvae. Infestation was significantly 4–12 times higher for green leaves than for variegated leaves. To test the hypothesis that variegation can be interpreted as mimicry to deter ovipositing moths, we first ruled out the possibility that variegation is a function of canopy density (i.e., that the moths might be attracted or deterred by factors unrelated to the plant). Then plain green leaves were artificially variegated and the number of mining larvae counted after 3 months.
    [Show full text]
  • Plant Life Magill’S Encyclopedia of Science
    MAGILLS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE PLANT LIFE MAGILLS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE PLANT LIFE Volume 4 Sustainable Forestry–Zygomycetes Indexes Editor Bryan D. Ness, Ph.D. Pacific Union College, Department of Biology Project Editor Christina J. Moose Salem Press, Inc. Pasadena, California Hackensack, New Jersey Editor in Chief: Dawn P. Dawson Managing Editor: Christina J. Moose Photograph Editor: Philip Bader Manuscript Editor: Elizabeth Ferry Slocum Production Editor: Joyce I. Buchea Assistant Editor: Andrea E. Miller Page Design and Graphics: James Hutson Research Supervisor: Jeffry Jensen Layout: William Zimmerman Acquisitions Editor: Mark Rehn Illustrator: Kimberly L. Dawson Kurnizki Copyright © 2003, by Salem Press, Inc. All rights in this book are reserved. No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner what- soever or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy,recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address the publisher, Salem Press, Inc., P.O. Box 50062, Pasadena, California 91115. Some of the updated and revised essays in this work originally appeared in Magill’s Survey of Science: Life Science (1991), Magill’s Survey of Science: Life Science, Supplement (1998), Natural Resources (1998), Encyclopedia of Genetics (1999), Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues (2000), World Geography (2001), and Earth Science (2001). ∞ The paper used in these volumes conforms to the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, Z39.48-1992 (R1997). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Magill’s encyclopedia of science : plant life / edited by Bryan D.
    [Show full text]
  • Leaf Blotching in Caladium
    HORTSCIENCE 44(1):40–43. 2009. (Deng and Harbaugh, 2006; Wilfret, 1986). The presence of leaf spots is controlled by a single locus with two alleles that are inherited Leaf Blotching in Caladium (Araceae) independently from leaf shape but closely linked with the color of the main vein (Deng Is Under Simple Genetic Control and et al., 2008). Another major foliar trait in caladium is Tightly Linked to Vein Color leaf blotching, the occurrence of numerous irregularly shaped color areas between major Zhanao Deng1 and Brent K. Harbaugh veins on leaf blades. Leaf blotches may University of Florida, IFAS, Environmental Horticulture Department, appear singly or coalesce to large areas of Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, 14625 County Road 672, coloration, up to several inches on mature leaves. This pattern of coloration in combi- Wimauma, FL 33598 nation with bright colors has resulted in Additional index words. Caladium ·hortulanum, leaf characteristics, inheritance, breeding, attractive, highly valued and desired cala- ornamental aroids dium cultivars, including Carolyn Whorton and White Christmas. With large pink or Abstract. Cultivated caladiums (Caladium ·hortulanum Birdsey) are valued as important white blotches, ‘Carolyn Whorton’ and pot and landscape plants because of their bright, colorful leaves. Improving leaf ‘White Christmas’ have been the most pop- characteristics or generating new combinations of these characteristics has been one of ular fancy-leaved pink or white cultivars the most important breeding objectives in caladium. A major leaf characteristic in (Bell et al., 1998; Deng et al., 2005). Interest caladium is leaf blotching, the presence of numerous irregularly shaped color areas in incorporating this coloration pattern into between major veins on leaf blades.
    [Show full text]
  • New Orleans Botanical Garden Plant Sale Saturday September 14, 2013 Pelican Greenhouse 9-12
    New Orleans Botanical Garden Plant Sale Saturday September 14, 2013 Pelican Greenhouse 9-12 Fence Row Plectranthus Mona Lavender Greenhouse Row Split Leaf Philodendron Philodendron bipinnatifidum Crepe Ginger Costus speciosus Chinese Rain Bells Strobilanthes hamiltoniana Velvet Stepladder Ginger Costus malortieanus Dwarf Elephant Ear Colocasia fallax ‘Silver Dollar’ Costus erythrophyllus Imperial Taro Colocasia antiquorum ‘Illustris’ Costus ‘Green Mountain’ Angel Trumpet Brugmansia ‘Charles Grimaldi’ Orange Tulip Ginger Costus curvibracteatus Little White Soldiers Drimiopsis maculata Turmeric Costus longa Dorstenia contrajerva Curcuma hybrid ‘Choco Zebra Red’ Dusty Thalia Thalia dealbata Curcuma ‘Ribbon’ Chinese Taro Alocasia cucullata Curcuma ‘Purple Garden’ Indigo Indigofera decora Curcuma ‘Emperor’ Valerian Valerian officinalis Yellow Dancing Girl Globba schomburgkii Variegated Peppermint Scented Geranium Strap-leaf Ginger Stahlianthes involucratus Pseuderanthemum ‘Texas Tri-Star’ Purple Globe Ginger Globba globulifera Cocoa Plant Theobroma cacao Cat Palm Chamaedorea cataractarum Oyster Plant Tradescantia spathacea Assorted Ti Plants Red Buckeye Aesculus pavia Basket Plant Callisia fragrans Dianthera Dianthera nodosa ‘Pretty in Pink’ Asian Crocus Kaempferia rotunda Cuban Oregano Plectranthus amboinicus Aspidistra Milky Way Aspidistra elatior ‘Milky Way’ Southern Swamp Lily Crinum americanum Perilla ‘Magilla’ Bush Willow Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ Mickey Mouse Taro Xanthosoma atrovirens Indigo Spires Sage Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’
    [Show full text]
  • Towards Resolving Lamiales Relationships
    Schäferhoff et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2010, 10:352 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/352 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Towards resolving Lamiales relationships: insights from rapidly evolving chloroplast sequences Bastian Schäferhoff1*, Andreas Fleischmann2, Eberhard Fischer3, Dirk C Albach4, Thomas Borsch5, Günther Heubl2, Kai F Müller1 Abstract Background: In the large angiosperm order Lamiales, a diverse array of highly specialized life strategies such as carnivory, parasitism, epiphytism, and desiccation tolerance occur, and some lineages possess drastically accelerated DNA substitutional rates or miniaturized genomes. However, understanding the evolution of these phenomena in the order, and clarifying borders of and relationships among lamialean families, has been hindered by largely unresolved trees in the past. Results: Our analysis of the rapidly evolving trnK/matK, trnL-F and rps16 chloroplast regions enabled us to infer more precise phylogenetic hypotheses for the Lamiales. Relationships among the nine first-branching families in the Lamiales tree are now resolved with very strong support. Subsequent to Plocospermataceae, a clade consisting of Carlemanniaceae plus Oleaceae branches, followed by Tetrachondraceae and a newly inferred clade composed of Gesneriaceae plus Calceolariaceae, which is also supported by morphological characters. Plantaginaceae (incl. Gratioleae) and Scrophulariaceae are well separated in the backbone grade; Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae appear in distant clades, while the recently described Linderniaceae are confirmed to be monophyletic and in an isolated position. Conclusions: Confidence about deep nodes of the Lamiales tree is an important step towards understanding the evolutionary diversification of a major clade of flowering plants. The degree of resolution obtained here now provides a first opportunity to discuss the evolution of morphological and biochemical traits in Lamiales.
    [Show full text]
  • Costus Speciosus: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Therapeutic Potentials Ali Hafez El‑Far, Hazem M
    Pharmacogn. Rev. PLANT REVIEW A multifaceted peer reviewed journal in the field of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products www.phcogrev.com | www.phcog.net Costus speciosus: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Therapeutic Potentials Ali Hafez El-Far, Hazem M. Shaheen1, Abdel Wahab Alsenosy, Yasser S. El-Sayed2, Soad K. Al Jaouni3,4, Shaker A. Mousa5 Departments of Biochemistry, 1Pharmacology and 2Veterinary Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, Egypt, 3Department of Hematology/ Pediatric Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, 4Yousef Abdulatif Jameel scientific chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 5Department of Drug Discovery and Drug Development, Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, New York, USA ABSTRACT Medicinal plants are sources of novel drug discovery targets. Costus speciosus is an important medicinal plant widely used for the treatment of various ailments. The plant has multiple active ingredients and has been found to possess many pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti‑inflammatory, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, steroidogenic, adaptogenic, and antimicrobial effects. This review gives an account of unique studies on C. speciosus phytochemical, toxicological, and pharmacological studies and traditional uses of C. speciosus based on searching the databases of Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Springer Link. The previous studies stated the pharmacological potentials of C. speciosus, but it is still needed for more research efforts concerning molecular basis of its biological activities, especially in vivo models and safety assessment of its different extracts. Key words: Costus speciosus, Islamic traditional medicine, therapeutic potentials COSTUS SPECIOSUS TRADITIONAL USES AND among them being a treatment for pleurisy.
    [Show full text]