Tradescantia spathacea – Moses in a basket

Posted on September 1, 2012 by bassmansam

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 purple undersurface. Continue reading →

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Saccharum officinarum – Sugar Cane

Posted on September 1, 2012 by bassmansam

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 Andropogoneae and has C4 photosynthesis which suits it to high light conditions.  Continue reading →

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Carica papaya – Papaya

Posted on August 28, 2012 by bassmansam

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 including around 20 species but a paper in 2002 suggests that the splitting of Carica subgenus Vasconcella into a separate genus should be recognised based on AFLP data. It is not clear whether further phylogenetic research will support this. Continue reading →

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Canna iridiflora – Peruvian canna

Posted on August 28, 2012 by bassmansam

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 height of Canna indica, at 5m!  It is sometimes grown outside in the U.K. during the summer months. Continue reading →

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Canna indica – Indian shot

Posted on August 27, 2012 by bassmansam

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 pellets or ‘shot’. Continue reading →

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Camellia sinensis – Tea

Posted on August 26, 2012 by bassmansam

Tea drinking in Europe appears to have started in Portugal and was only adopted much later in Britain however Britain is now thought of as the tea drinking capital of Europe. This is reflected in our culture, with tea becoming a staple beverage for many British members of the public and for many around the world. Continue reading →

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Asplenium nidus – Bird’s nest fern

Posted on August 25, 2012 by bassmansam

Of the Aspleniaceae family, from Australia and Asia, this fern grows to a large size! Up to 2m in diameter, and occurs commonly as an epiphyte on large trees.  It is sometimes called a litter basket fern because it’s cone shaped leaf rosette collectes leaf litter from the tree canopy above it.  This leaf litter then  rots down to provide the compost on which the plant grows.  Asplenium nidus is one of a complex of closely related species from South East Asia. Continue reading →

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Chlorophytum comosum – Spider plant

Posted on August 25, 2012 by bassmansam

Within the glasshouse we have two variegated forms of Chlorophytum comosum. C.comosum ‘Vittatum’ with mid-green leaves and a broad central white stripe and C.comosum ‘Variegatum’ with darker green leaves and a white margin. Continue reading →

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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 on spider plants refer to the general species page.

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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 tolerance of moderate cold.  In frost free areas it can be grown outside.

This is one of two spider plant cultivars we grow.  See the species page for fuller details.

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