It’s time to play ‘name that plant’

Today, three readers ask the columnist to play “name that plant.”

My neighbor picked this plant up years ago from a golf course in South Florida. It’s dormant in the winter but bounces back quickly in the spring and blooms profusely through the summer. It also multiplies rapidly. Invasive? What’s the name?

Margie Schlageter

Daytona Beach

This is a Jatropha multifida or commonly called the coral plant, physic nut or Guatemala rhubarb. It is not invasive but it is sensitive to cold weather and freezes. Great specimen!

I was wondering if you could tell me what this plant might be. It started growing out of a potted pineapple plant. At the moment it is a bit less than 1 foot tall and very thorny.

Carmen

Looks like spiny Amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus) to me. Also known as hogweed, spiny pigweed or stickerweed. This is in the pigweed family.

The state and/or city have planted some interesting very tall palms in the median of Beville Road (State Road 400) between Williamson and Clyde Morris boulevards. The fronds are tied up so it’s difficult to see what they are, other than appearing to be a pinnate palm. What kind of palms are they?

Phil Ehlinger

Daytona Beach

That would be Acoelorrhaphe wrightii commonly known as Paurotis palms. I would be surprised if they make it here through the freezes as they are zoned for South Florida. Go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st058 for more information.

Karen Stauderman is commercial horticulture agent for the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension. Reach her at 3100 E. New York Ave., DeLand, FL 32724-6497, 386-822-5778 or email kstauderman@co.volusia.fl.us.