By Tommy Clarkson from the October 2015 Edition Arrow Leaf Elephant Ear, Xanthosoma Sagittifolium Family: Araceae Sub-family: Aroideae (Also known as the Arrowleaf, Yautia, or Malanga) What seems readily apparent upon first seeing an “Elephant Ear” plant, in fact, is not. Just because the plant has big leaves reminiscent of . . . well, elephants […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the September 2015 Edition Miniature Chusan Fan Palm (Trachycarpus wagnerianus) Family: Arecaceae Also known as: Wagner’s Windmill Palm, Waggie Palm or Waggie or Trachycarpus fortunei (dwarf form) (Fully researching this wonderful palm was quite the challenge as differed are the opinions, experiences and first hand awareness/knowledge of it. But, perseverance prevailed […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the September 2015 Edition Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia Family: Vitaceae Also known as American Ivy, five-fingered ivy, five-leaved ivy and woodbine From the outset I gotta’ assert “This is a very flexible plant!” It cheerfully thrives from as far north as Southern Canada, through the U.S. to as far south as […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the August 2015 Edition Torch Ginger, Etlingera elatior Family: Zingiberaceae Also known as: Wax Flower, Porcelain Flower, Red Ginger Lily, Torch Lily, Indonesian Tall Ginger and Philippine Waxflower First, a couple of culinary facts that you might not expect to find at the outset of an article written about such a […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the August 2015 Edition Bromeliads Genera: Tillandsia, Cryptanthus and Billbergia The best known of Bromeliads is, of course, Ananas comosus the Pineapple. But, after some background, let’s discuss the other, approximately 3,500 species (in addition to many hybrids), in eight sub-families and (open to debate as to exact number) twenty different […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the July 2015 Edition Surinam Cherry, Eugenia uniflora Family: Myrtaceae Also known as: Brazilian Cherry or Cayenne Cherry Native to Surinam (well, duh!), Guyana, French Guiana and southern Brazil, this shrub or, maybe, more correctly a tree as it can grow up to twenty-five feet (7.5 m) has slender, multi-trunked, spreading branches […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the July 2015 Edition Family: Leguminosae, Fabaceae, Papilionaceae or Cleomaceae (It sorta’ depends upon which botanist you ask!) (Also known as: Naked Coral Tree, Sunshine Tree or Variegated Coral Tree) The Erythrina genus consists of around 100 various trees and shrubs. The preponderance of these sport spiny trunks and branches with a […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the June 2015 Edition Scientific Name: (Iresine herbstii) Family : Amaranthaceae Also known as: Chicken Gizzard, Beefsteak, Beetroot Plant or Formosa Bloodleaf Beefsteak would be tough enough to be known as if you were, in fact, an attractive, quiet sort of non-threatening plant, but Chicken Gizzard? Ya’ simply gotta’ love any plant […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the June 2015 Edition Family: Asphodelaceae Also known as: (This is a debatable subject!) Let’s start with some Aloe basics. It is a genus of succulent plants originating in the Arabian Peninsula, southern Africa, south western Asia, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. The 450 lily-related members were once considered taxonomically grouped with […]
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By Tommy Clarkson from the May 2015 Edition “They call me ‘Chicken” Alex Banasik is a pal of mine from Clive, Iowa a suburb of Des Moines where he owns and operates the Down Under Bar and Grill. He has a condo here in Manzanillo and comes down to relax when he can find the time to […]
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