varig8

Ive seen plenty of Zebrina mats that size. Years ago when I visiting Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida, there was a mat of similar looking bananas planted behind a pond. It really looked just like Zebrina-tall and thin with the maroon undersides and 'blood spots' on the tops. I noticed one unusual thing-the flowers were a very intense orchid/purple and I think bloomed sideways and not so much pendulous. A very unusual intense color that I hadnt seen before or since. I didnt think it was Zebrina and never found out what it was. I believe I had asked while I was there and no one knew. Fortunately I was on a trading/collecting trip from the Caribbean and was able to trade some native orchids for some suckers. After a year or so I had a large mat blooming. I never did find out exactly what variety it was. I have seen probably about 6 similar colored varieties to Zebrina, 2 or 3 short fat leaved (Dwarf Cavendish types), and 2 or 3 tall, thin, and long leaved types. So I know there are more than just Zebrina, True Sumatrana, Rosacea, Zebrina X Rojo, and the Puerto Rican Rojo. Maybe some are man made hybrids, or others natural hybrids? I know Bill Lessard crossed Sumatrana with Gran Naine years ago and produced a plant with the short fat wide leaves and the color characteristics of Sumatrana-it also produces edible seedless fruit and flowers at no taller than 5'.