TopTropicals Plant Catalog

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The leaves have an oblong shap.The seeds are contained in a cotton-like envelope. Dark, maroon flowers are formed in terminal panicles. The leaves and stems are covered with soft, bristly hairs that are extremely irritating to the touch.

Also placed in Malvaceae ssf. Sterculioideae.

This plant is most interesting because, its maroon venation marking its glossy green leaves, makes it an attractive foliage in hanging baskets.

Alstroemeria psittacina is a parent of many of the spectacularly colorful Alstroemeria hybrids. The flowers are crimson on the outside with light lemon-lime shades at the petal tips and on the inside. The interior of the flower is streaked with greenish-black.
Parrotlily has escaped cultivation and naturalized in many parts of the world, including the southeastern U.S.
Parrotlilies like rich, slightly acidic soils (pH 5.8 -6.8). Grow in full sun where summer temperatures are moderate. High or partial shade is preferred in hot climates.

Amorphophallus species are herbs with an underground storage organ. This is usually a tuber. One single leaf emerges from the tuber, consisting of a vertical petiole (stalk) and a horizontal leaf-blade. The latter is dissected into few or numerous small leaflets. Once plants are mature an inflorescence may develop. The inflorescence may replace the leaf in one season, or develop alongside it. From winter dormant tubers emerge an umbrella like plant with beautiful speckled stems. Large flowers will emerge from mature plants in the spring. When the spathe opens the female flowers are receptive and must be pollinated that same day. The opening inflorescence emits an attractant scent. In Amorphophallus this scent has diversified considerably. In most species the scent is anything but pleasant, and reminds one of varieties of death, decay, sewage, gas and the like. A few species develop a scent that is actually pleasant to the human nose (e.g. carrot-like, anise, chocolate, fruity, lemon). After successful pollination most parts of the spathe wither and drop off, after which the individual female flowers develop into berries, containing the seeds. These berries are usually red or orange-red, but occasionally blue, white, or yellow-and- white. Amorphophallus thrives in a rich loamy soil in partial shade. Compost should consist of 2 parts loam to 1 part peat moss to 1 part sand. Keep the plant evenly moist all through the growing season. Keep dry during dormancy, keep moist during growing period. Fertilize monthly with a houseplant fertilizer. Water should be gradually withheld starting in October until the leaf withers. Store corms at a temperature above 50 degrees. They can be brought into active growth in late March. If the corms are strong enough, a blossom will soon be produced. The leaf follows soon afterwards. A. bulbifer definitely dislikes low humidity - the leaflets may partially desiccate; this seems to be more pronounced in low light. Also, in low light, the leafes become exceptionally dark green, with nicely contrasting pink margins. Such plants have to be moved to brighter light very gradually. In bright light, the leaves are bright green, with pinkish margins less pronounced. Other species: konjac, titanum, and much more...

Flower-stalk height and colour of kangaroo paws, flowers varies between the species. Many new forms have also arisen as the result of deliberate hybridisation. The shape of the flowers and the position of the pollen-bearing anthers is a feature which allows pollen to be deposited on the head of feeding birds. Different species usually deposit pollen on different areas of the birds' head. This means that pollen from one species is unlikely to be deposited in the flowers of another species. Anigozanthos species are commonly propagated from seed. In general kangaroo paws grow best in well-drained soils in a sunny position. Well-composted organic matter will improve growth. Most species are dormant over winter (some die back completely) and it is important not to over-water at this time.