I found this plant in the market....and it has been blooming...I thought. Well, it has been budding for about 3 months, and today I noticed that it has small tiny flowers coming out. THEN...I noticed puffs of smoke...yes, smoke!!! Not airborne seeds, didn't look like pollen, but looked just like little puffs of smoke rings (yes, rings)...about one or two from each umbel every minute. Wierd. Has anyone else noticed this...and can you tell me what in the heck is it smoking?????
Any help would be more than welcome... Want a picture?
It is also called Trailing Watermelon-begonia.
Smoking Pellonia daveavana / Elatostemma repens ?
I have this plant, too, Carol....and to the best of my knowledge it has never smoked!
You sure *you*aren't the one smokin' somethin'?! lol!! (Just kiddin' you m'dear!)
I'll have to watch mine more closely!
I know that the Pilea commonly called 'Artillery Plant' disperses it's seeds, often said, in a 'cloud of dust/smoke'....I wonder if they're related and it's dispersing seeds?
Flash back from the 60's!!!!!!
Mary Jane who!!!!LOL!
Try putting a towel over your head and the plant,and inhale!!!
Sorry couldn't help myself.
Common name Puff the magic dragon!!!
Yes I'd love to see a picture!!!
I've seen that happen w/ Morels as they release spores but never a rooted plant.
Here's a blurb on them and their releasing of pollen.
I'm betting that's what you saw.
http://www.sciscoop.com/story/2005/1/21/6357/89184
Or it is HI maybe you're over a newly forming volcano?
Ric ;)
Interesting link, Ric....thanks.
BTW...24 hours later...the flowers are GONE...the 'buds" are gone and no smoke. Now, my first thought was pollen....but I saw the smoke rings rise and then dissapate...like smoke...very 'smokey' and no particles like I thought pollen usually has. Wierd. Will send photo of the plant and the spent umbels....tomorrow.
Really strange....gotta pursue this.
Thanks, All,
Carol
Sounds so interesting, Carol.
UPDATE...the plant was mislabeled. It is Pilea...also called the Gunpowder Plant.
Carol....that *is* Pellionia dauveana!
sheepishly grinning.... OH?
You mean the picture is or the Pilea is?
Someone was smoking something! LOL
The plant is a shingler also if given a place to climb it will grow flat to a tree trunk or wall. Pretty nice looking plant mine are flowering also.
Will it change form if it shingles?
Ric
Who's on first?
lol!!
The one you've pictured is, indeed, the P. dauveana.
??
Is the one pictured the one you're speaking of that's 'smoking'??
The plant
Another cool, variegated looking plant!
:) Donna
Yes....seems the Pellionia and the Pilea I spoke of are syn. And the 'smoking' comes from the flower's stamen being rolled up really tight and then it releases and the pollen is blown out of the plant.... At last I had a name to look up the information.... LOL
Carol
Pellionia daveauana is the right epithet, I think. And the genus is related to Pilea, but I'm not sure they're synonymous....
Thanks! We have lots of trees I can grow it up...I love that shingle look. Shade?
here it is shingling.
How neat!!!! Thanks so much!!
About the 'shingling' effect....this plant doesn't actually have tendrils/suckers or aerial roots, so doesn't it do more of a 'hugging the surface' kinda thing?
Or....am I wrong....does it grow aerial roots for those of you who don't grow it in a hanging basket as I do?