Category Archives: Africa

Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Alastair Culham

This is the cultivar with a central green band and white edges.  Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’ has a greater tendency to go brown at the leaf tips than its sister cultivar ‘Vittatum‘ but otherwise seems just as robust.  For fuller information … Continue reading →

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Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Alastair Culham

Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’ is the spider plant with a white stripe down the middle of the leaf.  It is known as a very tolerant houseplant due to the thick fleshy roots that make it resistant to drying out and it’s … Continue reading →

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Water Lettuce

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Alastair Culham

A member of the Araceae, Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is a problem floating plant of tropical waterways.  The native origin and spread of the species is not known but it has been recorded in both the New and Old World … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Australia, Palaeotropics, Pond, Species, Water Plants | 2 Comments

Chaenostoma cordatum

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Alastair Culham

Today, while Sam was investigating pests in the tropical glasshouse he noted that the plant of Chaenostoma cordatum ‘Copia Great Purple’ was suffering from both whitefly and thrips while plants around it were free of both. 

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Cyperus papyrus – Papyrus

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Alastair Culham

We have been growing Cyperus papyrus for many years at Reading University and while the individual shoots grow tall the plants never seem very vigorous.  The opportunity gained by digging the plant up and dividing it has allowed the option of … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Annual Fund, Species | 5 Comments