Homalocladium platycladum

Homalocladium platycladum, from the Buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).

As I was leaving the greenhouse, Karen asked if I found anything interesting. I certainly did! This plant, country of origin Solomon Islands, Papau New Guinea, has thin, flat “stems” … hence the common names!

Taxonomy, http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HOMAL2
Kingdom Plantae – Plants
» Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
» » Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
» » » Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
» » » » Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
» » » » » Subclass Caryophyllidae
» » » » » » Order Polygonales
» » » » » » » Family Polygonaceae – Buckwheat family
» » » » » » » » Genus Homalocladium (F. Muell.) L.H. Bailey – homalocladium
» » » » » » » » » Species Homalocladium platycladum (F. Muell.) L.H. Bailey – ribbonbush
Common names: ribbonbush, ribbon plant, tapeworm plant

Species page at PhytoImages, http://phytoimages.siu.edu/cgi-bin/dol/dol_terminal.pl?taxon_name=Homalocladium_platycladium&rank=binomial

Taken at SIUC’s PLB Greenhouse, http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/facilities/plant-biology-facilities/greenhouse/index.php

One year ago (“Where the kitchen ‘help’ slept”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-03-04
Two years ago (“An $8,000 shot”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-03-04

[Tara]

This is so cool - the plant with its segmented body and your focus is wonderful. Nicely composed too. Tapeworm plant is the perfect common name.

[Ruth Moucharafieh]

What an interesting leaf! beautifully shot Thom.

[Rick Schies]

Gorgeous green

[Thom Mitchell]

@ruthmouch Three leaves, but the main part that's vertical -- and flat -- is actually the stem or stalk! That's what makes this so unusual (I'm guessing!)

[Ruth Moucharafieh]

Aha....got it!

[Lisa Pouncy]

Isn't this lovely. I'm not surprised it's known as tapeworm plant. I thought it was some sort of caterpillar from the thumbnail :o) xx