Log in

View Full Version : I have no idea what this is.....


Lilith
08-09-2007, 10:57 AM
I am hopeful somoene can say what this may be.
I got this plant a few years ago as a trade. It was SUPPOSED to be Ensete maurellii Red Abyssinian banana. But, because I have grown that particular plant for about 10 years and have 3 to compare this one to, I know that its not Red A.

It does look like it may be some sort of Ensete.

I have had it planted outside through 2 winters. It comes back from being knocked to the ground but never gets much bigger than knee high. I am going to dig it up and containerize it and put it in the greenhouse for the winter this fall to see if it will grow larger.

This plant is interesting because it has black striations on the stem, and also on the leaves. There is also some true white VARIEGATION that occurs on some leaves, its not really pronounced like on an Ae Ae but definitely there...I have tried to show it in the 3rd photo.

Any ideas?
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/v466/Bihai/DSCN5306.jpg

Lilith
08-09-2007, 10:58 AM
leaves showing striations
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/v466/Bihai/DSCN5307.jpg

Lilith
08-09-2007, 10:59 AM
leaf showing small amount of white variegation
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/v466/Bihai/DSCN5308.jpg

bigdog
10-02-2007, 06:48 PM
Lilith, that is a sick Ensete ventricosum. The variegation isn't from disease, just the plant overall looks pretty sad. I have an E. ventricosum that looks very similar, variegation included. It burns in full sun, and the leaves look black and funky like the one in your pics does too. I blame it on a bad TC culture.