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.

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

08-31-2007, 11:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,004 BananaBucks : 968,683 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 218 Times Was Thanked 1,790 Times in 504 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Another variegated weed. What is it? 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.

09-01-2007, 08:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 330,113 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Another variegated weed. What is it? 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!

09-01-2007, 08:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,004 BananaBucks : 968,683 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 218 Times Was Thanked 1,790 Times in 504 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Re: Another variegated weed. What is it? 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

09-02-2007, 01:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kylie2x Senior Member Kylie2x's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,225 BananaBucks : 183,857 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 313 Times Was Thanked 269 Times in 165 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 160 Times	Re: Another variegated weed. What is it? Almost looks like a verigated spinach vine.. But I don't think there flowers are pink.. Kylie

09-02-2007, 04:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
the flying dutchman the flying dutchman's Photo Gallery Location: HOLLAND Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Ron Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,031 BananaBucks : 182,598 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 48 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Another variegated weed. What is it? Frank, could it be a Hemigraphis specie. It looks very much like hemigraphis 'colorata' from wich I have submerse plants in my aquarium. Ron

09-02-2007, 06:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,004 BananaBucks : 968,683 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 218 Times Was Thanked 1,790 Times in 504 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Re: Another variegated weed. What is it? 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'?

09-02-2007, 07:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
the flying dutchman the flying dutchman's Photo Gallery Location: HOLLAND Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Ron Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,031 BananaBucks : 182,598 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 48 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Another variegated weed. What is it? I would call it Hemigraphis sp. 'Bigdog' Cheers Ron

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