Plants 57-65

1. Let's begin with the Aspidistra elatior, whose colorful name means "shield-like taller plant." In fact, this hearty and tough plant, pictured here, is called the "cast iron plant" because of its legendary toughness. It, like some people, can endure nearly any kind of treatment. Here is another picture, showing that its glossy green leaves with pointed tips that sometimes droop rather than climb.

2. The date palm most known by people on the West Coast of the USA is the Phoenix canariensis, or Canary Island date palm, pictured here. More than 200 of these line Palm Drive at the majestic entrance of Stanford University. But the WSU Phoenix is the Phoenix roebelenii or Pygmy date palm. The WSU site helpfully has three pictures including one of its habit and a "close-up" of its distinctive leaves. Carl Roebelen (b. 1855) collected orchids mostly in SE Asia, and also, I suppose, had a great interest in palms. This site tells us it is one of the most widely used landscape plants in the US. Why? Well, possibly its "small stature, slow growth, easy care and graceful crown..."

3. Let's return to the aroids and come to the Syngonium podophyllum, sometimes known popularly as the Nephthytis plant. Here is another picture, which shows its notched leaves which remind us of Caladiums, Alocasias, some Philodendrons, and Xanthosomas. It is also known as the arrowhead vine. The name means "united ovaries," but I don't think that helps us at first glance.., while podophyllum, "thick leaf," is useful. Again, plants are sometimes like people--this one requires little care and always looks good. A bit of history will help us here. Since the 1850s, according to one site, the plant has had at least 25 botanitcal names, principally because it was found at different locations at different times of maturity. The great German botanist Heinrich Wilhelm Schott named it Syngonium podophyllum in 1851, but he also used the name Nephthytis to describe it in an 1857 publication. The latter name is derived from an Egyptian goddess, Nephthys, who was a goddess of many areas, including the household, in ancient Egypt. As luck would have it, Nephthytis was the name picked up for it in the horticulture world, but when the 20th century taxonomists got around to the subject, they decided the "true" name was the first correctly published name--in 1851. I think the plant is easier to manage than the history of its names...

4. The Zamioculcas zamifolia is popularly known as the ZZ plant, and is pictured nicely here. The opposite, nearly ovid glossy green leaves running up the several upright stalks in 20 or so pairs is the distinctive feature. It was named from the apparent similarity of the plant in appearance to the Zamia genus, which is fully unrelated. The species name continued the problem--by saying that its leaves were "zamia leaves." Here is another picture of it from Dubai, UAE. No cold problems there...

5. I suppose we have to go to the Zamia exemplar next, and we have a Zamia furfuracea, known as the "Cardboard Palm." The Zamioculcas is an Araceae while the Zamia is from the Zamiaceae family. The name Zamia was given by Linnaeus himself in the 1760s, and one suggestion of its derivation is that it means "pine cone" in someone's language! I can see how the Zamia pumila, pictured here, may have been mistaken for the Zamioculcas, but not the furfuracea. Well the Zamia also superficially resembles a palm. Here is a description: "they produce spirally arranged, pinnate leaves which are pubescent, at least when young, having branched and simple, transparent and colored leaves." The furfuracea is pictured here; it really is a very beautiful plant, though the leaves are distinctively different from the Zamioculcas.

6.-7. The Ficus pumila ("dwarf" Ficus) is known as the Creeping Fig. So, the benjamina is not the only Ficus that crawls, though I suppose the latter is said to "weep" and not crawl. The WSU site lists also the 'Sunny' cultivar. This isn't a very impressive plant, though it is hardy, shiny, can be sued to climb walls and other objects, and thus is a very useful Ficus. There are so many glossy ovate or cordate green leaves on plants; how will one ever make the proper distinctions among them?

8.-9. Let's close this essay with the other two Ficuses: maclellandii 'Alii' and retusa. The former is known as the Banana Leaf ficus; picture is here and here. It prefers a warmer climate. A wimpy example of the retusa, also known as the Indian Laurel, is here. You wonder for a moment why anyone in any office would have this one as an interior plant. The answer is that possibly people don't care, and they just want something "alive" to put against the wall. The leaves, pictured here, aren't that distinctive either. Sorry I had to end this essay with a whimper..

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