“Purple Passion”

These were popular in dorm rooms when I was in college, so if you were drawn by the title, you may have given away your age … if just a little bit.

I noticed one in the greenhouse some time ago, but not until the last week or so had I ever seen one “in flower.” Its more common common-name is “Purple Velvet”; its scientific name is “Gynura aurantiaca.” According to Dave’s Garden, another scientific name by which it may go is “Cacalia aurantiaca.”

Oh, as pretty as the leaves are, and as pretty as this flower will become? Apparently the flowers are pretty foul smelling!

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

Photo taken at SIUC Plant Biology Greenhouse, http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/facilities/plant-biology-facilities/greenhouse/index.php

1 year ago (“Be careful trimming bushes!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-05-23
2 years ago (“Encore (River Walk; San Antonio, Texas)”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-05-23
3 years ago (“‘ClubAcela’: 30th Street Station, Philadelphia”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-05-23

[Rick Schies]

Never lived in a dorm so I guess I missed out on this opportunity