I. Species Colombia - Periennial or Not - I KNOW!

Well, Ron,
As you know this was one I started last summer. Never did a whole lot of growth so I wasn't surprised to find it had "died" during the fall. Well I have learned never to assume or toss anything that appears dead till the next season. I have an area in the back corner of the yard where I put things that appear dead. I pretty much ignore them for the winter and see what happens by the following spring. Well, anyway, I was out pulling some volunteer tree seedlings from the "Dead" pots and I I came to a pot that had a vine poking up under the seedlings and leaf debris. The tag said I. species colombia.
Woo Hoo! I just cleaned it up and brought it in the garage to view it closer and get some pics. As I'm just as curious as to what takes place below ground as above ground and intend to repot it in better soil, I decided to check out the root systems. Wait till you see what was hiding down there!

First, the 2 vines showing. ( I will get better pics tomorrow when I have more time)

Leaf closeup

Another leaf closeup

And the big surpise. Taa daa! It's a periennial!

This tuber is approx 4 in long and 1.5 in across

Different view of the tuber. What do you think.
BTW, I found another still going from last year but I can't remember the name right now.
I'll check tomorrow.

Oh my god... that is big.. I started one this year and it is really growing fast. just sowed it on 317-07 and it is way over 12 inches long now. This photo is from 3-30 and it has grown more.

These leaves are really long..


edited to add: thanks for posting a photo of the tuber.. wow

This message was edited Apr 4, 2007 7:28 PM

Yep the leaves are long and narrow. Kind of remind me of those long narrow leafed philodendrons. LOL

nice

Wow Budgie .. tuber huh .. think I'm going to need a bigger pot! Looks great!!!

Gourd I'm about a week and a half behind you on mine. The true leaves are just starting to open.

X

Jan - That's certainly great news that this species is a perennial that survived your type of 'winter'...

Post any photos of the leaves of the other one(s) that survived...maybe the leaves will help with the ID...

It certainly is wonderful that there are helpful people who are in a position to grow the rare species out and have the ability to take really nice documentary photos too(!)...

Great(!) team...

TTY,...

Ron

Thanks Ron,
The other one is labeled, just couldn't remember off the top of my head.
I will get a list together tonight of the ones I have that survived from last summer.
There are about 5-6 of them I believe.

Unfortunately, I have to replant 3 that I started this year as the pup decided to play hotchscotch in some of the pots. I've since moved all the MG test pots to a roofless enclosure that is puppy proof. It's 8x16 ft x 7 ft tall with hardware cloth and chicken wire walls for trellis' so they should have plenty of room to grow.