MWP Quiz 27

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MWP Quiz 27

Post by MWP admin »

Fruiting in Sep-Oct
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Not the size of a pumpkin!!!
Not the size of a pumpkin!!!
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Stephen Mifsud
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Post by Sdravko »

actually fruiting throughout the year. you should give them some hint
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Post by jackpot »

MWP: the leaves are edible!
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Post by MWP admin »

I do not know, but the family it belongs too is notorious for being poisonous!
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Post by jackpot »

with "edible" I did not say for whom or how often :D :D I just tried to tease out a hint from you ... :lol:
ok- I was on the wrong tack, I hoped you would protest with "there are no leaves" :lol: because I had Cuscuta campestris in my mind...
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Post by jackpot »

hupps... sorry, submit came to early- ...
I thought the green leaves belong to a host of Cuscuta and you have changed something with the colour and tiny branches... :shock:

so, we are waiting for more hints :roll:
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Post by MWP admin »

I have not changed any colour or modifications in the pic. The plant has leaves (numerous) and stems are green. Does the sepals say something? Fruit opens radially to gives 6 crescent seeds. I would not tell anyone to eat it, and who would eat 2-3m fruits?

I think these hints are enough for now!
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Post by MWP admin »

everyone gives up?
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Post by robcar »

I cannot speak for everyone but I speak for myself - Yes, I give up
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Post by Sdravko »

at least the family is obvious
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Post by jackpot »

I follow robcar :cry:
For me, sepals, carpell-number, fruit size, seeds, leaves and inflorescence are not compartile with "notorious for being poisonous". :evil:
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Post by jackpot »

compatible
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Post by MWP admin »

JP, to be correct I said the family is known to be poisonous. The plant could be an exception (as Sdravko is saying) - have not checked that up.

Obvious correction of my text - fruits 2-3mm not 2-3m

The small flowers are inconspicuously green, but elegant on a closer look.
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Post by Sdravko »

have pity with us poor non-native speakers.
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Post by MWP admin »

Quoting:

"
A trailing or ascending, small, glabrous plant which forms several basal branching stems that grow between 10-15cm long, sometimes even up to 25cm. Well-nutrified plants form so much branches that can be described as a small sub-shrub. This member of the -- :booty: -- family is a monoecious plant - forming seperate male and female flowers on the same plant.

The <b>leaves</b> are alternate and evenly spaced along the stems, held to by a tiny (1-2mm) petiole. They are broad oval in shape (broadest at the upper half), 5-8mm long (up to 10mm not including the petiole), greyish-green and with a smooth margin. Stipules are very small and silvery grey colour.

The short-stalked <b>flowers</b> grows from the axils of leaves as a unilateral raceme along the upper half of stem; occasionally found solitary. The male and female flowers are found separetely on the same stem, but often at different periods. Male and female flowers are actinomorphic structures but inconspicuous both in colour (green-yellow) and in size (4-6mm). The <b>calyx</b> is probably the most attractive part of the small flowers. It consists of 5 (or 6) rounded, lance-shaped, spreading out sepals which are pale green in colour with an elegant white margin.


<b>Male flowers</b> have 5-6 sepals and 5-6 alternating green petals, both about 2mm long. They have same number of erect stamens around a much-reduced, functionless ovary. There are glandular nectaries at the base of the stamens. Anthers yellowish-brown. <b>Female flowers</b> same as male but lack stamens and petals and have a larger 3-parted central ovary with 3 free, filiform, short styles. The ovary is divided into 3 locules with two ovules each. In some cases there is a partial connate morphology in the free perianth segments and male reproductive organs.

The fertilized ovary enlargens itself to a 3mm sub-spherical, glabrous, greyisg-green, <b>fruit capsule</b> which stores a maximum of 6 seeds. Seeds become brown when ripe. They are 2mm long, triquetrous in shape (triangular cross section) with the outer side rounded. It can be imagined as one of the parts when a spherical structure is divided into 6 radially-equal parts.
"



More help than that could not be, probably the most descriptive text about this plant in the world!
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Post by Sdravko »

wow, a new profile? or where did you get that from? i like long descriptions.
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Post by MWP admin »

Shall I reveal this small plant? - I could not give more details than that above. When it is revealed you will agree that the Family is notorious for poison !
:P
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Post by MWP admin »

Well nobody can guess it so click here for the species name ! ! ! 8)
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