Author Archives: bassmansam

Persea americana – Avocado

The Avocado is native to Mexico but cultivation has spread to many countries around the world.  This large tree is a member of the Lauraceae.

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Ficus pumila – Creeping fig

The creeping fig, Ficus pumila, is a commonly grown houseplant but has no tolerance of drying out of the soil.  If given space and time it will not only creep, but climb, and this is when the true nature of … Continue reading

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Piper apiculatum

I’m somewhat mystified as to why we have been growing Piper apiculatum and there is very little published on it.  However the discovery of a chromosome count for the species by Rosabelle Samuel in Kew Bulletin citing her address as … Continue reading

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Plumeria rubra – Frangipani tree

Plumeria rubra is a fast growing and soft stemmed tropical tree with highly scented flowers.  It loses its leaves each year exposing the plump green stems.  The flowers, when formed, are highly fragrant as well as very colourful.

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Coffea arabica – Coffee

Our coffee plant is one of the few individuals we did not uproot and move during the greenhouse renovation.  The plant happened to be in just the right place.

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Tradescantia spathacea – Moses in a basket

Tradescantia spathacea (also known as Rhoeo spathacea and Rhoeo discolor) has the common name Moses-in-a-Basket due to the shape of the bract arounf the inflorescences.  This distinctive Mexican species has dark green upper surfaces to the leaves and a bright … Continue reading

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Saccharum officinarum – Sugar Cane

Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) originates in New Guinea but the genus Saccharum has a wider origin including areas of South and Southeast Asia and much cultivated sugar cane is of hybrid origin.  Saccharum officinarum is a grass species in the tribe … Continue reading

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Carica papaya – Papaya

Papaya is the fruit of the species Carica papaya, the widely cultivated species in the genus Carica. This tropical American native was first cultivated in Mexico before the emergence of classic civilisations.  The genus Carica has traditionally been treated as … Continue reading

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Canna iridiflora – Peruvian canna

The largest of the two species of the genus Canna in the display is Canna iridiflora and differs by having pendant flowers.  This species originates from Peru, Colombia and Costa Rica. It has the ability to grow to double the … Continue reading

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Canna indica – Indian shot

This is one of the two species of Canna in the display. Despite being called Indian shot this species originates from the South Americas and Caribbean. It’s name comes from the resemblance that it’s small hard seeds have to shotgun … Continue reading

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