Saturday, May 29, 2010

house plants

My Zebra Plant (Haworthis attenuata ssp) is doing quite well in one of my two dining room windows. This succulent originates from the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It sprouted a flower stalk the last time I posted something about this plant. Now that stalk has reached over a foot long. The common name, Zebra Plant, comes from the marking on the succulent's leaves.
The flower stalk has reached over to the nearby pineapple plant (Ananas comosus). The latter plant has grown quite nicely too. I started it last year from the grown on a pineapple fruit. That crown quickly rooted in water and was then planted in soil in the pot you see. Below is a better view of the pineapple plant which originates from the South American country of Paraguay. This plant is a member of the Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae) family. The name Ananas comes from the Tupi word for pine, Nanas, as recorded by Andre Thevenet in 1555. The word comosus means "tufted" and refers to the stalk. So now this plant with its edible fruit is better associated with Mexico and Hawaii than its original habitat, Paraguay! - V

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