View Full Version : Another variegated weed. What is it?
bigdog
08-31-2007, 11:13 PM
Found this one a couple of months back, and have had it in a pot since then. Originally this was a cultivated plant, grown for some reason at the Botany greenhouses on campus where I work at UT. My professor, the greenhouse boss guy, can't remember what it is or why he had it though. One thing is certain, it is HIGHLY invasive! I pull this out of almost every pot, crack, and crevice in one of the greenhouses. It is probably an Acanth, maybe a Ruellia. Any ideas? The "regular" form is dark green, purplish backsides to the leaves, and a creeping, prostrate stem. The flowers are very small and a very light pink color, only blooming in the morning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/bigfish5791/100_0001_2-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/bigfish5791/100_0003_2.jpg
Bananaman88
09-01-2007, 08:25 AM
Frank,
I'd venture a couple of guesses. It could be a ruellia. I have one that is pretty prostrate/creeping, purple flowers that only open in the morning, but it looks quite different from this, not even taking the variegation into consideration. My second guess would be Ajuga, though I don't really think that's what it is either. I have seen variegated forms of Ajuga, but I thought they normally bloomed bluish-purple. Are you going to keep it and see what it does? Hopefully it you won't find it spreading all over your yard in a few weeks!
bigdog
09-01-2007, 08:44 AM
Brent, it's not Ajuga, but the foliage is similarly colored. The flowers are completely different though. I do plan to keep it for awhile and see how it does, despite being an extremely invasive plant. I think (hope) that it won't survive in my zone over the winter, if any seedlings pop up in the yard soon. This latest heat spell has done a number on it, but I probably had it in too much sun (those pics are old). Thanks!
Frank
Kylie2x
09-02-2007, 01:06 PM
Almost looks like a verigated spinach vine.. But I don't think there flowers are pink..
Kylie
the flying dutchman
09-02-2007, 04:05 PM
Frank, could it be a Hemigraphis specie. It looks very much like
hemigraphis 'colorata' from wich I have submerse plants in my
aquarium.
Ron
bigdog
09-02-2007, 06:16 PM
Ron, I think that's it!! The flowers and inflorescences are identical. Thanks a bunch! Now I can actually name the thing. Hemigraphis sp. 'Variegata'?
the flying dutchman
09-02-2007, 07:49 PM
I would call it Hemigraphis sp. 'Bigdog'
Cheers
Ron
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