PlantStuff: Introduction to Plant Morphology!

 Check out the next installment in PlantStuff! Here, we discuss (2.1) what is plant morphology and (2.2) the basic parts of the plant- all in the style of Paper Mario.


Most Popular Plants

Barringtonia asiatica (Barringtonia)

Image
TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0101 Botanical Name: Barringtonia asiatica   Common Name: Barringtonia, Fish Poison Tree, Putat, Botong (Pilipino name), Shaving Brush Tree Cultivar: N/A Family: Lecythidaceae Barringtonia asiatica Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: South Pacific, Taiwan, and Zanzibar  Landscaping Information Plant Type : Tree Texture: Dense Form: Upright-broad  Height (on average, in landscape use): 25'-45' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:2 Growth Rate:   Medium Landscape Values: Street Tree, Shade, Specimen, Windbreak, Erosion Control Outstanding Quality: Flowers, Foliage Characters, Fruit Barringtonia asiatica at UH Manoa Photo by Matthew Gaston Botanical Descriptions Flowers: 5"-7" wide, white to cream petals. White to light pink stamens are abundant. The two-lobed calyx and pistil remain attached to the tree, while petals and stamens fall below. Flowers open at nig...
Read More»

Graptophyllum pictum (Caricature Plant)

Image
T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0002 Botanical Name: Graptophyllum pictum Common Name: Caricature Plant Cultivars: 'Igneum', 'Lurido-sanguineum', 'Tricolor'/'Waimea', 'Eldorado' Family: Acanthaceae  (Acanthus Family) Graptophyllum pictum   Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Igneum'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Lurido-sanguineum'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Eldorado'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Tricolor' (believed to be the same as Graptophyllum pictum 'Waimea') Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: New Guinea Landscaping Information
Read More»

Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia (Wax Fig)

Image
T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0016 Botanical Name: Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia Common Name: Wax Fig, Taiwan Ficus Variety: crassifolia Family: Moraceae Native To: Southern Taiwan Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia leaves. Note the bronze to bright yellow-green young leaves.  Photo by Matthew Gaston Landscaping Information Plant Type : Shrub Texture: Dense Form: Mound, Cushion Height (on average, in landscape use): 1.5' - 4' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:2 Growth Rate: Fast Landscape Values: Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge, Indoor, Lanai, Patio, Space Division, Groundcover, Specimen Outstanding Quality: Foliage and Form; often used for Bonsai  Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia  as a hedge/groundcover below a tree  Photo by Matthew Gaston Botanical Descriptions Flowers/Fruits: paired figs, sessile, 0.2"-0.4" long, glabrous, purple to black when ripe...
Read More»

Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii (Variegated False Eranthemum)

Image
T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0005 Botanical Name: Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii (syn. Pseuderanthemum reticulata) Common Name: Variegated False Eranthemum, El Dorado, El Dorado False Eranthemum, El Dorado Eranthemum, Yellow Veined Eranthemum Variety: carruthersii (See Additional Notes at the bottom of the page) Family: Acanthaceae Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii  Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To:   Melanesia   Landscaping Information Plant Type : Shrub Texture: Dense Form:   Upright-broad Height (on average, in landscape use):   4'- 6' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 Growth Rate: Medium Landscape Values: Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge (large one really), Mass, Screen, Space Division Outstanding Quality: Foliage Characters Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii growing tightly between a walkway and a wall.  Ph...
Read More»

Ficus benjamina (Benjamin Fig)

Image
TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0049 Botanical Name: Ficus benjamina  Common Name: Benjamin Fig, Weeping Fig, Weeping Chinese Banyan Cultivars: 'Exotica' is discussed in this post, but several cultivars exist. Family: Moraceae Native To: India, Southern China, and the Solomon Islands. Ficus benjamina Photo by Matthew Gaston Landscaping Information Plant Type : Tree  Texture: Dense, Open Form: Weeping/Pendent  Height (on average, in landscape use): 45'- 60' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:2 Growth Rate: Medium Landscape Values: Background, Border, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge, Indoor, Lanai, Patio, Screen, Shade, Sculptural Form, Specimen, Erosion Control Outstanding Quality: Form/Silhouette, Foliage Characters  Ficus benjamina Photo by Matthew Gaston Ficus benjamina at the UH Manoa Campus Photo by Matthew Gaston Botanical Descriptions Figs: 0.25"-0.75...
Read More»

Azadirachta indica (Neem Tree)

Image
TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0082  Botanical Name: Azadirachta indica Common Name: Neem Tree, Indian Lilac, Nim Tree Cultivar: N/A Family: Meliaceae Native To: India Azadirachta indica Photo by Matthew Gaston Landscaping Information Plant Type : Tree Texture: Dense, Coarse Form: Upright-Broad to Weeping/Pendent Height (on average, in landscape use): 30'-50'' Height to Spread Ratio: 2:1 Growth Rate: Rather Fast Landscape Values: Accent, Street Tree, Background, Mass, Shade, Sculptural Form, Specimen, Windbreak, Erosion Control Outstanding Quality: Form/Silhouette, Foliage Characters Azadirachta indica   Photo by Matthew Gaston Botanical Descriptions Flowers: Small, white, (allegedly) fragrant flowers arranged on an axillary panicle.   Azadirachta indica inflorescence Photo by Matthew Gaston Azadirachta indica inflorescence Photo by Matthew Gaston Frui...
Read More»