Psiguria umbrosa- It is a host, nectar, AND pollen source!

(I posted this in the vine forum, but it is just as appropriate here, so hope no one minds...)

This is a psiguria umbrosa vine that I got from my friend at the botanical gardens. She/they had it growing two stories up into the upper balcony in the glass conservatory/butterfly exhibit. (The glass two story conservatory has since been torn down and they are re-doing it to make it more accessible to the handicapped.)

Notice the little cutie pie bug on it, posing! It kinda looks like he's smiling! lol...

here is a great informative article about psigurias. This is the orange one(psiguria umbrosa), and the red version is psiguria triphylla.
http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/psiguria/

Hey, seedpicker!
Hard to get a bug to pose but you did it :)
If you decide to part with seeds at some time, please let me know. I found the info on your link really interesting what with height factors for certain blooming, etc. Cool.

Sue

Thanks, Sue!
I think it is a pretty neat vine, and really interesting reading, on that link.

You think if I get that bug trained I could have a real "flea circus"? lol...
-T

It looks very pretty. Are the blooms really small? I'm not sure but seemed like they weren't sure if it was a host plant for the Postman butterflies. ? I think the Postman butterflies are in S. America, so I don't think you'll have them eating it. (except maybe that little bug)

Yes, they are pretty small. It is in the same family as cucumbers(in fact the pods look like little cucumbers) and the flowers are about the same size as cucumber flowers.

Just one flower isn't that spectacular, but they are really bright orange, and in mass, are actually pretty. I wanted to grow it more for the benefit to the butterflies than for "its beauty"...lol...

Yes, these grow in abundance in South America(they call them "jungle cucumbers" because they crawl up into the trees and dangle their "cucumbers"), and are usually enjoyed by the tropical butterflies, but other butterflies benefit, as well...

I was told that many migratory butterflies suffer from not finding enough of their preferred sources during their migration. I was also told that if enough people started growing this vine, it would really help the butterfly population...

I'm curious to see if you actually have any butterflies use it as a host. I'm sure that any nectar source does help the butterflies, but I'm not sure if they were saying that by planting it you'll attract S. American species. ?? lol

I was thinking about this after I got off line last night. What botanical gardens did you go to and see it? I have only been to the Dallas Arboretum and the Discovery Gardens in Dallas. I don't know about any other place. I might need to make a trip, when it cools off OF COURSE.

Konkrete-
Trust me, I have no grand illusions of a south american butterfly appearing in my garden, lol...

It only now just started blooming and I doubt the entire plant has even been in my garden long enough to really be discovered...It took a few years for the butterflies to even find my passies...

I just grew it for the "butterfly benefit" factor(in general), and out of pure curiosity to see what It might attract or help...

It was in the two story glass house on the grounds of the discovery gardens. It isn't there, now, as they are tearing/have torn, it down. They are rebuilding it, to make it more handicap accessible...it won't be ready again for another few years...

Oh really? I'll be ready to revisit it by time it gets ready. So you bought the vine there? Did you go to their annual plant sale? I'm just thinking how attentive you were to notice this plant in that steamy building! lol That is where I first noticed the Pigeonberry (Duranta repens I think it is) and fell in love with it. I'm interested in seeing your vine grow and all those tropical butterflies you will be raising! ;) Are you going to be growing any jungle cucumbers??

Actually, she just gave it to me. We did a really large, and really fun trade. I had some things she wanted, and naturally, she had great stuff I wanted. It was a really fun day. She just saw all those pods as messy. I saw them as little gold nuggets, lol...

I guess I noticed it, because I love vines. I mean LOVE vines. I currently grow over 200 different kinds(last I counted) and am always searching for, and collecting new ones. I was having fun naming all the vines in there, to my husband,(I even pointed out one of theirs was mislabelled, lol), and then realized I'd never ever seen this one, and my curiosity was peaked. When you think you have them all, and discover one you've never even heard about before, it is exciting(at least to me.)

I was always amazed at the stuff they had in there...They had a variegated abutilon in there that was a TREE. I didn't even recognize what is was because it was so big.. Yes, it was a little warm in there, but they were catering more to the butterflies and plants, than the humans, lol...

Konkrete--I love duranta erecta too (I have sweet memories).

Seedpicker--How are you growing all those vines? Do you have a special way you've "harnessed" the vertical space? I'm always looking for ideas for a "suburban" limited space yard...ahhhh so many plant wants, so little space?

Debbie

Debbie

200!! Oh my! You are a true addict! I love vines, but just don't have room for that many, I don't think. I have one passionvine, lots of Morning Glories and Hyacinth beans now, and some Moonvines growing good. I did have a big Crossvine but I cut it down last year. Little did I know it comes back from any root. I have 3 small Clematis. All 3 have died, and 2 have come back. I'm figuring the 3rd might do the same. Not sure what is up with them! Oh yes, and I have Cypress vines and one Cardinal Climber. Hey, want some Cypress vines?! lol I have this BLOB of them that I just can't bring myself to pull up. I have to do something with it tho because it's starting to grab onto other things. So let's see some pics of those vines! Do I need to venture over to the vine forum for that?

LoL...No vertical object is safe in my garden! lol..everything gets a vine. They are crawling/sprawling through rose bushes, up birdhouse poles, up mailboxes, gutter downspouts, up arbors, up walls of lattice, up the poles of the porch, up the poles of the garden room, ...you get the idea!~ lol...

Konkrete-sounds like you might be a future addict yourself, lol...it always starts with just one! lol...Yes, the vines and climbers forum is the forum I frequent the most. I mostly post my pictures in the vines and climbers forums, but have started to post a few pictures in the pdf, (but not really very many at all, yet)...I think I'll be able to post more in the winter when I have more time...
-T

...and guess what! That 3rd dead Clematis has sprouted and grown a lot in the last few days. Oh my...I don't know what I'm going to do with them all!

Actually I think clematis goes dormat somewhat in the Texas heat and returns in the fall...is this true? Maybe the rains prompted yours into returning.

I understand what you mean by no vertical space is safe! LOL

Taylor do you know the hardiness of this vine. I grew one from seed and it is big enough to pot or plant in the ground. I am in zone 8b

Pot, (not in the ground)...these are native to Southern America and grow in places like Costa Rica.

I tried one in the ground last year, just to check, and sure enough, they didn't make it through the winter. It was huge and well-established, too...

Glad to hear you started those seeds, and now have a plant. Ü

Thanks Taylor. Good info on the link you provided