Serissa

Serissa foetida variegata is a member of the Rubiaceae family. Originating in Japan and China, this plant has green leaves with white margins and small white flowers.

Hatiora salicornioides

The bottle-shaped branchlets of the Hatiora give this member of the Cactaceae family the nickname of "Drunkard's dream". Originating in Brazil, this epiphytic tree dweller produces flowers which are salmon on the outside and yellow on the inside.

Passiflora 'Lady Margaret'

Passiflora 'Lady Margaret'
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

This member of the Passifloraceae family is a hybrid of P. coccinea X P. incarnata. These sub-tropical vines are native to S. America. Religious symbolism has been connected to the spectacular flowers.

Pinwheel geranium

Pinwheel geranium
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Close up of a Pinwheel geranium flower. This plant is a member of the Geraniaceae family.

Euphorbia pseudocactus

Originating in Natal of South Africa, the "Yellow Euphorbia" is adorned with small yellow flowers. This member of the Euphorbiacea family is a thorny succulent shrub.

Clivia miniata

Clivia miniata is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family and is a cultivar of the Natal native Kafir lily. These plants flower in the spring but must be extremely pot-bound in order to do so. The bases of the leaves in the Clivia expand to form imperfect bulbs.

Clivia miniata close up

Clivia miniata
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

This is a close shot of the flower of Clivia miniata.

Cymbidium orchid

Cymbidium orchid
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Cymbidium orchid.

Malpighia glabra

Malpighia glabra
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

A member of the Malpighiaceae family, this plant is native to Southern Texas and Northern South America. Commonly known as "Barbados cherry", the clawed flower petals produce edible red fruit.

Crassula argentea

Crassula argentea or "Jade plant" as it is commonly known, originated in So. Africa and Natal. It tolerates full sun or shade and dry conditions, although pads will wrinkle if not watered for long periods of time. Easily propagated from leaf or stem cuttings.

Plumeria rubra

Plumeria rubra
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Native to Mexico and Central America, Plumeria rubra have dark green leaves which tend to fall during dry periods. The flowers, shown here, have a yellow center and rose edges. Commonly known as "West Indian jasmine", this plant is a member of the Apocynaceae family.

Zygocactus truncatus

Zygocactus truncatus, or "Thanksgiving cactus" is named for the holiday it chooses for its blooming time. A member of the Cactaceae family, these epiphytes can withstand a fair amount of neglect and still thrive.

Hoya carnosa

Hoya, or "Wax plant" as it is commonly known, is a member of the Asclepiadaceae family or Milkweed family. Flowers are pinkish white with a red cental crown. They are fragrant and should not be removed after they pass as new blooms appear on old spurs, year after year.

Erythrorhipsalis pilocarpa

A native of Brazil, "Bristle-tufted twig cactus", as Erythronorhipsalis is known, is a member of the Cactaceae family. The white flowers produce wine-red fruit while the areoles produce white hair-like bristles. Full sun and infrequent, thorough waterings will be appreciated by this pendant, epiphytic cactus.

Aristolochia

Aristolochia paraguensis, or "Pipevine" is native to South America and the southern United States. The flowers are very unique and consist of a limb, throat, tube and an inflated chamber (utricule) containing the gynostemium.

Hylocereus undatus

Hylocereus
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

This member of the Cactaceae family is a night-blooming variety. The "Honolulu Queen", as the Hylocereus undatus is also called, is native to Brazil and has three-angled clamberers. The plant is epiphytic and produces red fruit.

Hylocereus closeup

Hylocereus closeup
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

This is a closeup of the flower of the Hylocereus undatus.

Ipomoea

Ipomoea
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Ipomoea, or "Morning Glory" as it is commonly called, is a member of the Convolvulacea family. The seeds of this plant contain ergot alkaloids which are hallucinognes.

Anthurium

Anthurium
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Anthurium is a member of the Araceae family. Requiring high humidity and tolerating low light, these plants are also known as "Tail flowers" due to the spathe and spadix shown here.

Scilla violacea

Scilla violacea
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Scilla Violacea is a member of the Liliaceae family. Native to South Africa, this plant is nicknamed "Silver squill". The leaves grow atop swollen bases in this bulbous plant.

Maranta leuconeura

Maranta leuconeura
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Maranta leuconeura is a low growing plant and a member of the Marataceae family. Native to Brazil, it is also known as "Prayer plant" or "Rabbit's tracks".

Centranthus ruber

Centranthus ruber
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Centranthus ruber 'Coccineau' is a member of the Valerianaceae family. This perennial, also known as "Jupiter's Beard, is frequently confused with Valerianan officinalis which is a sedative and used for anxiety.

Hippeastrum

Hippeastrum
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Hippeastrum vittatum is a member of the amaryllidaceae family. Flowers have hollow stalks, differing it from the true Amaryllis. A native of the Peruvian Andes, the leaves appear with or after the flowers.

Setcreasea purpurea

Setcreasea purpurea originates in Mexico. Commonly called "Purple heart", this member of the Commelinaceae family bears orchid colored, three-petaled flowers. Cuttings are easily rooted in moist perlite or can even be inserted back into the soil of the original plant for bushy growth.

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora

"Blue ginger", as this native of Brazil is called, is a member of the Commelinaceae family. It is a herbaceous plant with deep blue flowers and yellow anthers.

Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'

A native of South Africa and Natal, "Sprengeri fern" as this species of Asparagus is known, is a member of the Liliaceae family. Originating from large tuberous roots, fluffy branchlets are covered with soft needle-like cladodes. The true leaves on this plant take the form of thorns. Small white flowers develop into red berries. Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' can be a bit messy from dropping cladodes.

Capsicum annuum conoides

Capsicum annuum conoides is also called "Christmas pepper". A member of the Solanaceae family, the small white flowers develop into ornamental yellow fruit which turn to bright red when ripe. If kept watered and in a sunny location, this plant will continue to flower and produce fruit year after year.

Withania somnifera

Withania somnifera, also known as "Ashwagandha", is a member of the Solanaceae family. Roots are used medicinally as an aphrodisiac and to calm the nerves. The leaves are used to treat alcoholism, asthma, and inflammation. The seeds act as a diuretic. Ashwagandha appreciates sun and moist but well-drained soil. This specimen was donated by David Janas, Class of 2003.

Hoya carnosa (in bloom)

Blooms of Hoya carnosa almost appear to be made of wax, hense the common name of "Wax plant".

Clerodendrum

Clerodendrum thomsonae, also called "Bleeding-heart vine", has quilted, papery leaves. The flowers have an inflated calyx and a red corolla. This plant is a member of the Verbenaceae family and originates in Tropical West Africa and the Congo.

Ornithogalum caudatum

Flowers of Ornithogalum (Liliaceae family) are white with a green median stripe.

Phalaenopsis Sonata Spots

This Phalaenopsis orchid is easy to care for if given low light, warm temperatures and high humidity.

Phalaenopsis "Brother Golden Ember's orchid"

This "Moth orchid" member of the Orchidaceae familiy has beautiful blooms of yellow with maroon markings and a scarlet lip.

Calliandra emarginata closeup

Calliandra emarginata closeup
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

This is a close-up photo of the inflorescence on the Calliandra emarginata.

Calliandra emarginata

Calliandra emarginata
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Calliandra emarginata is a member of the Leguminosae family. The "miniature powder puff", as it is called, has inflorescence that, when pollinated, produce beans.

Euphorbia milii

Euphorbia milii
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

This yellow-flowering "Crown of thorns" is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family which originates in Madagascar.

Brighamia

Brighamia citrina, once thought to be a member of the Lobeliaceae family, is now identified as belonging to the Campanulaceae family. This change was made due to the pollen being ready before the stigma is viable, as is true of the Campanulaceae group.

Streptocarpus

Streptocarpus is a member of the Gesneriaceae family and is also known as "Cape primrose".

Calliandra haematocephala

Calliandra haematocephala, or "Pink powder-puff", is native to So. Brazil and is a member of the Leguminosae family. Known for its crimson stamens, this plant blooms from December to April.
Donated by Del Nickerson of Wellesley College.

Stapelia

Stapelia
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Stapelia is a member of the Asclepiadaceae family. This species has very small flowers compared to that of others, some blooming to a size of 40 cm across. Having flies as pollinators, the flowers give off the odor of rotting meat.

Stapelia closeup

Stapelia closeup
Originally uploaded by Jane Young

Here is a close-up of the flower of Stapelia.

Coleus

Coleus is a member of the Labiatae family and is known for its colorful foliage. Flowers are frequently removed to keep the foliage brilliant. Pinching is required to keep plants bushy.

Ceropegia debilis

A member of the Asclepiadaceae family, Ceropegia debilis originates in Rhodesia, Zambi, and Malawi. The narrow succulent leaves lends the common name of "Needle vine". Small inverted trumpet-like flowers appear year round.

Peperomia rubella

Peperomia rubella, a member of the Piperaceae family, orginates in Mexico and Orizaba. Although at first glance as dissimilar to other Peperomias, the tiny "rat tail" structures bearing the bi-sexual flowers are an immediate clue to Piperaceae affiliation.

Asclepias curassavica

Asclepias curassavica, from Tropical America, is known commonly as "Blood-flower" or "Yellow blood-flower", depending on the color of the inflorescence. This tropical member of the Asclepiadaceae family is one of the many "Milkweeds" which bloom from June to September.
Donated by Professor Scott Shumway.

Pelargonium

Pelargonium or Geranium is a member of the Geraniaceae family and are subtropical herbs from semi-arid areas of South Africa.

Peperomia obtusifolia

"Baby rubber plant", as this member of the Piperaceae is known, has bisexual flowers borne on catkin-like spikes.

Pilea depressa

Originating in Puerto Rico, Pilea depressa belongs to the Urticaceae family. This "Miniature peperomia" creeps along the soil, sending out new roots at the nodes. Flowers are greenish and insignificant.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Regius Maximus'

Orginating in India to China, this "Chinese hibiscus" has single scarlet flowers, with a blackish center. The long staminal column has golden anthers.

Begonia coccinea

Begonia coccinea or "Angelwing begonia" is a member of the Begoniaceae family which blooms consistently.

Adromischus cristatus

A So. African succulent member of the Crassulaceae family, Adromischus has red hair-like aerial roots and wedge shaped leaves. Flowers are tubular.

Catharanthus roseus_closeup

A closeup of Catharanthus flowers.

Spathiphyllum 'Clevelandii' (kochii)

Spathiphyllum 'Clevelandii' (kochii), commonly called "White flag" or "Peace lily", is a member of the Araceae family. A shade lover that only needs water when foliage begins to wilt makes this plant a favorite of beginner. The ease of care is the reason that Spathiphyllum is frequently found in shopping mall displays where regular care can be infrequent. Flowers appear as a papery spathe containing the white spadex.

Spathiphyllum clevelandaii closeup

This is the white spathe on a Spathiphyllum surrounding the club-shaped spadix. The spadix is covered with minute flowers which set seed when pollinated.

Euphorbia splendens

The Spurge or Euphorbiaceae family claims the "Crown of thorns" as a member. A native of Western Madagascar, this spiny shrub has blooms of salmon-red which form in the spring.

Breynia nivosa roseo-picta (phyllanthus)

A member of the Euphorbiaceae family, the Breynia or "Snow bush" as it is commonly called, originated in the South Sea islands. The small, green flowers can be easily missed amongst the variegated white and green leaves.

Begonia semperflorens 'Luminosa'

Begonia semperflorens 'Luminosa' is also known as "Wax bedding begoinia". The green, waxy leaves will turn red if grown in the sun.

Ceropegia woodii

Originating in Rhodesia, Transvaal and Natal, Ceropegia woodii or "Rosary vine" is so nicknamed for the small gray tubers that form on the vine's internodes. Purple flowers are lantern shaped, although small and easily missed amoung the heart-shaped bluish leaves. Well-drained soil and a few hours of sun per day will keep this plant healthy and vigorous. Ceropegia is a member of the Asclepiadaceae or Milkweed family.

Peperomia scandens variegata

Peperomia scandens 'Variegata', also known as "Variegated philodendron leaf", is a member of the Piperaceae family. A hanging variety of Peperomia, this plant has the characteristic rat-tail structure which bear the flowers.

Spathiphyllum 'Clevelandii'(kochii)

Spathiphyllum 'Clevelandii' (kochii), commonly called "White flag" or "Peace lily", is a member of the Araceae family. A shade lover that only needs water when foliage begins to wilt makes this plant a favorite of beginner. The ease of care is the reason that Spathiphyllum is frequently found in shopping mall displays where regular care can be infrequent. Flowers appear as a papery spathe containing the white spadex.

Catharanthus roseus "Madagascar Periwinkle"

Catharanthus roseus or "Madagascar Periwinke" or "Vinca rosea" is in the Apocynaceae family. The plant is a natural source of a cure for Hodgin's Disease. It is best grown in the greenhouse environment if out of its natural habitat of Java to Brazil. Full sun, warmth and even moisture will keep this plant healthy and in bloom for 10 months per year.