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View Full Version : What are your most Rare, Unusual, or Favorite Plants? Pictures Welcome!!!!


Jananas Bananas
06-10-2011, 06:59 PM
I think this might be a fun thread. I know a lot of you guys have some really Unusual, Rare and Favorite plants and many of us would sure like to see them! :) It doesn't have to be your photo if you have an internet shot, but please tell us about it!

Here's one of mine. It is an Ice Cream Bean tree Inga Edulis.

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110605082.jpg

Mine is just a baby, but they are fast growing trees and the cotton candy like filling surrounding the beans are said to taste like vanilla ice cream. Here's a couple of interesting links about them.

Growing The Ice Cream Bean Tree (Inga Edulis) (http://www.thewisegardener.com/index.php?page=articles&aid=160)

ice Cream Bean tree - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=ice+Cream+Bean+tree&hl=en&rlz=1C1AVSX_enUS387US387&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=XKjyTaIdisSBB6m5uN4L&ved=0CCIQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=799)

~JaNan

The Hollyberry Lady
06-10-2011, 07:03 PM
Oh la la is that ever cool, JaNan!


I just might have to steal a cutting from you some year. :ha:


Great thread! I'll post shots of some of mine soon...


: )

john_ny
06-10-2011, 07:51 PM
I think this could be quite an interesting thread. That's a cool plant, Jan. I have some lists somewhere of interesting plants that I have grown/would like to grow. Many are not at all rare, but are just something that most people (at least around here) have not seen. Example: I've had people ask me, when they see my bananas, "What kind of palms are they?"

Jananas Bananas
06-10-2011, 08:30 PM
John, that's the kind of things I was hoping for. Plants that are common and easy to get for me here are not in the North East or North West. Plants that are common to you are very hard to get here. And it seems like we are ALL prone to Zone pushing. We always want what we don't have! Thanks for the reply! :)

Sherry, you know if I can keep it alive you will get a cutting of it! :giveflowersnana:

~JaNan

palmtree
06-10-2011, 09:45 PM
I definitely think this is a cool thread! I dont have too many rare plants. Probably the most rare of my palms would be my Chamaedorea microspadix and Chamaedorea tepejilote. I also have lots of plumerias which are very rare around here (not even available locally), but they are very common in the tropics.

Jamacian Pointettas seem pretty rare and I have one of those. They arent great potted plants, but they did survive being indoors and I got some blooms from it last fall.

Stromanthes are common, but they seem to be kind of rare at large sizes and mine is a really big clump! Its about 7 years old and has grown a lot from the 1 gallon plant it was when I got it. I wish I had some pics to share right now, but I'll post them soon!

The Hollyberry Lady
06-10-2011, 10:21 PM
Ok here are a couple of my plants that are rare for around here:


White & fuzzy succulent...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/3rd%20album/100_0269.jpg


And my "stinky stars" succulent plant from Turkey...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/3rd%20album/100_0195.jpg


: )

Richard
06-10-2011, 11:58 PM
The Ice Cream Bean Tree (Inga edulis (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?20082)) is a perennial member of the bean family Fabaceae (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/family.pl?440) and genetically placed in the tribe Ingeae (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/family.pl?1560). It is native to equatorial America where its seeds are a primary source of flour and the flesh is eaten for the vanilla-like flavor. It has an extremely wide canopy and is grown commercially for shade in coffee plantations. It also grows well in temperate subtropical climates including right here in San Diego, California.

saltydad
06-11-2011, 12:49 AM
Eryngium agavofolium, Sea Holly
http://www.robsplants.com/images/portrait/EryngiumAgavifolium040623.jpg

saltydad
06-11-2011, 12:51 AM
Crinum x Powellii Album
http://www.bulbsdirect.com/ShopImages/product/11051WH.JPG

saltydad
06-11-2011, 01:27 AM
http://www.viveroseljardin.com/catalog/images/brillantaisia%20ulugurica.1JPG%20%28426%20x%20568%29.jpg

Brillantaisia subulugarica

orinoko
06-11-2011, 02:04 PM
I am waiting for this plant to pop.

It was discovered high in the alpine ski-zone of the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus where it is the earliest Arabis.

http://www.katecorner.com/flora/arabispurpuria.gif

Apparently its a bit slow to pop, two days now.

:waving::waving:

Rmplmnz
06-12-2011, 09:53 AM
Wow…Janan…you continue to impress me!!

Ice Cream beans are awesome!

I remember eating them growing up in Florida and Central America..but alas it has been over 35 years since I have tasted this fruit. We do have a tree growing; but last year’s horrific winter froze it to the ground. The stump sent out dozens of shoots, we have been trying to cultivate a central stem and are hopeful for a comeback.

I think this might be a fun thread. I know a lot of you guys have some really Unusual, Rare and Favorite plants and many of us would sure like to see them! :) It doesn't have to be your photo if you have an internet shot, but please tell us about it!

Here's one of mine. It is an Ice Cream Bean tree Inga Edulis.

Mine is just a baby, but they are fast growing trees and the cotton candy like filling surrounding the beans are said to taste like vanilla ice cream. Here's a couple of interesting links about them.

Growing The Ice Cream Bean Tree (Inga Edulis) (http://www.thewisegardener.com/index.php?page=articles&aid=160)

ice Cream Bean tree - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=ice+Cream+Bean+tree&hl=en&rlz=1C1AVSX_enUS387US387&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=XKjyTaIdisSBB6m5uN4L&ved=0CCIQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=799)

~JaNan

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43448&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43448)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43449&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43449)http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43450&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43450)

Richard
06-12-2011, 09:10 PM
http://www.bananas.org/f8/carissa-spinarum-one-worlds-most-nutritious-4144.html#post165367

Jananas Bananas
06-15-2011, 09:26 PM
This is a Adenium obesum aka Desert Rose with four different colors of leaves

Solid White:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110601004.jpg

Half White half Green:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110601003.jpg

White outline on green leaf:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110601005.jpg

Solid Green:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110601001.jpg

The graft shows pretty well in this picture:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20100603104.jpg

~JaNan

saltydad
06-15-2011, 10:49 PM
I love Desert Roses, and that one's amazing. Must cost a pretty penny.

Jananas Bananas
08-02-2011, 12:50 PM
This is commonly called Tree Spinach or Chaya:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110802044.jpg

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110802045.jpg

This has lots of health benefits eating the leaves and drinking tea made from the leaves.

~JaNan

Jananas Bananas
09-18-2011, 03:30 PM
OK so more of mine!

Cherimoya (Custard Fruit, Custard Apple):

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110918048.jpg

Annona squamosa (Sugar Apple, Sweetsop):

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110918044.jpg

~JaNan

nannerfunboi
09-18-2011, 03:50 PM
jananas..interesting plant the "tree spinach/chaya"
i drink alot of tea..always on lookout for something i havent
tried..
you have made tea from your plant?
do you make from green leaves..dry leaves 1st?
i'll have to check it out..
thanks..

Jananas Bananas
09-18-2011, 04:01 PM
Nannerfunboi, I made mine from fresh green leaves. I just went and picked one good size leaf from the tree (larger than my hand). I cut it up into my cup and poured the boiling water over it. I sweetened it that first time. But now because of the flavor of the leaves, I use a bit of salt instead which makes it more like a spinach soup I guess instead of a tea. So I personally didn't like it as a tea per say. Just my opinion though. I drink a lot of different teas also.

~JaNan

saltydad
09-19-2011, 06:14 PM
http://apps.acesag.auburn.edu/projects/plants/photos/4c8a626abd51f8.03272913/cache/512_768_4c8a6373b2e1f3.07202480-IMG0027_-_firmiana_simplex.jpg

Chinese parasol tree (Firmiana simplex)

saltydad
09-19-2011, 10:44 PM
RE- the chaya or tree spinach (Cnidoscolus chayamansa and acontifolius). Folks should know that the raw leaves can be toxic. They have a high hydrocyanic acid content. It is thought that cooking reduces this to safe levels.

1aday
09-27-2011, 10:40 AM
Fun thread! We have a Chinese Parasol tree too, and love it!

This is Frankincense, Boswellia sacra
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45961&ppuser=2096><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45961&size=1 border=0></a>

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45962&ppuser=2096><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45962&size=1 border=0></a>

And this is Myrrh, Commiphora myrrha
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45963&ppuser=2096><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45963&size=1 border=0></a>

It's kind of a scraggly shrub, but I love the exfoliating bark:
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45964&ppuser=2096><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45964&size=1 border=0></a>

Now all I need is the GOLD!!! :ha::ha::ha::ha:

stevelau1911
09-27-2011, 07:21 PM
I gotta go with my moso bicolor running bamboo. This guy has feathery delecate leaves, and it's still getting bushier going into fall. I'm a bit surprised that it only made shoots once in the spring however I'm not too disappointed as it's rhizome growth has been pretty impressive. This is a must get for bamboo lovers.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6080/6114159380_7cc442a24f_b.jpg

The Hollyberry Lady
12-11-2011, 03:33 PM
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/3rd%20album/IMG_3353.jpg



Currently my favorite plant..."Marble" from Janan. ;)


: )

Jananas Bananas
12-19-2011, 12:46 PM
Beautiful shot Sherry!

This is the "rarest" of my African Violets. I love it because it is "variegated" and I love it because under good light the variegation is pink!

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20111219089.jpg

~JaNan

The Hollyberry Lady
12-19-2011, 12:54 PM
Is that ever different, Janan!


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/2.gif


Wherever do you find these beauties?


: )