you might get an answer in the tropicals forum ...

one thing for sure.. it isnt a shrub...

there is a term for such.. in the hosta world.. and for the life of me.. its escaping me right now.. and i have seen it in conifers also ... crikey ..

ken

It's called fasciation and happens to almost all plants but no one is exactly sure why. Could have something to do with moisture, could be an organism, could have to do with temperature - I've heard all kinds of theories. Some plants fasciate as part of their regular morphology - Celosia (cox's comb) or Pinus thunbergii 'Ogi' for example.

Sara

thats the word i googled.. and couldnt get the right response..

OMG.... google failed... lol

ken

I just Googled it and it came right up! Another trick if Google isn't recognizing your spelling - go into Wikipedia and use their search bar. Sometimes that works - their algorithms are different. I once Googled 'marcescence' and nothing came up, but I just did it again and got 14,900 hits. Some of it depends on your own habits but if Google is worth its salt it would realize that you are a plant fanatic!

Sara

"One thing for sure.. it isn't a shrub..."

While you're Googling, Ken, try putting in Caesalpinia pulcherrima. It's a shrub or small tree.

Also try looking under 'Pride of Barbados'. ;)

I was expecting Strelitzia and was wondering how they could be growing in Arizona. I'm used to Bird of Paradise growing in Hawaii.

Mike

The trouble with common names!