Plantsoma

Here's a few Solanaceae plants i have taken photos of this week. First flowers on my Brugmansia 'flava' taken a few days ago. and a night exposure. Duboisia myoporoides. Corkwood. From the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney last week.

New word: Park.

Sorry to hear of your story, sounds like a tough life. I'm glad you've found plants as healers, mentally and physically. Keep up the reading about botany and horticulture, we were all where you were at one stage. In my experience the learning process is healing in itself. While you can't afford books, the net is still a great resource and i'm sure all here will lead you in the right direction wherever possible.

Of course you're allowed to ask for an ID here. But back in the days before the internet, one would have to do a bit of their own research rather than just asking for specific ID's without evidently even studying a basic botany book. Dude, their is a wealth of information on the internet and i think it would benefit your knowledge base to do a bit or background reseach so you have a bit of an idea of the anatomy of plants at least. Members here are always willing to help, but you'll find if you do as much research as you can before posting, you will probably get a lot more specific information if the obvious basic knowledge is known already. Can you send me your ID book to borrow please. If you're willing to spend the time and petrol/transport costs looking for these plants, i don't see why spending $15-20 on your own ID book would be unreasonable. You really should own at least one already. I mentioned this book in another thread to someone else, the best book i think would benefit you is: Native Plants of the Sydney District- Fairley A. & Moore P. 1995 Kangaroo Press http://www.amazon.co.uk/Native-Plants-Sydn...n/dp/0864172613 I can't find it available on amazon in Australia, but a lot of bookstores will have it or order it for you. A lot of librarys in the region have copies too. There is a paperback as well as hardcover. It has all the basic botany key information right up to detailed species information. Its also reasonably priced. You will learn a lot from this book and you can take it in the field with you.

I think you're looking at longifolia or var sophorae as previously mentioned. You gotta stop guessing dude and get an ID book and learn some basics.

Interesting note on Quetiapine. I was telling my GP the other day how much my memory capabilities had improved since stopping taking Clonezapam 12 months ago. I've been taking Quetiapine for sleep for the last 6 months and over that time my memory has improved further than what it was before i started taking medications. She said she has had quite a few people taking Quetiapine express the same feeling of increased memory function. Seems strange to me that an anti-psychotic drug would have this effect? My mind is extremely active and i don't suffer from Quetiapine hangover etc, but most people experience a lot of negative side effects that i don't so it works for me. (except for RLS, but what ya gonna do?)

Astrophytum myriostigma

Great. Thanks for the info Torsten.

Without a photo at least, i don't think anyone here would be confident of an accurate ID. It is highly likely though that the poppys are Papaver setigerum. These pods are usually too small to bleed, but 10 or more pods on one plant is not uncommon. Possibly useful for teas where legal. I remember reading (but can't recall the reference) that this species and some hybrids have higher levels of Thebaine than other active Papaver species.

Does anyone know what this plant is? I got cuttings from my mum so it must be fairly common. Grows profusely and has hairly leaves. Looks a bit like a Tradescantia but i can't find a species to fit it. ?

No sorry Torsten, nothing new to add on this species. It was a species i was interested in researching when i was starting out, though i never actually researched much as the plant does not grow in my area. I have some seed though. I always thought N-methyl-tetrahydro harman was worthy of further research. T, have any assays been posted on this one?

Yes. Although not as much as a tea, smoking will produce strong effects. Atropine and Scopolamine are the alkaloids present in the plant responsible for the effect you experienced. Do your homework before playing with these alkaloids.

Here's one of mine that flowered this morning. Echinopsis. (if anyone knows the species please let me know)

I've just finished flicking through the PDF. Very thorough and the photos are excellent. A must for the bookshelf, i will be ordering this one also.

hehehe.

Very nice time lapse. My massive scops still have never flowered

A good book i would reccomend to you would be: Native Plants of the Sydney District- Fairley A. & Moore P. 1995 Kangaroo Press http://www.amazon.co.uk/Native-Plants-Sydn...n/dp/0864172613 I can't find it available on amazon in Australia, but a lot of bookstores will order it for you. A lot of librarys in the region have copies too. There is a paperback as well as hardcover. It is thorough, and explains the basic keys neccesary when identifying a plant right up to detailed descriptions and keys for accurate ID. A must for bush regenerators and serious native ID'ists.

Being a coastcare group, these Acacia are probably all indigenous to your area (presuming you live in the same location of said nursery) so all would make great regeneration plants or garden plants for your property. I particularily like Acacia suaveolens for its waxy grey/blue phylloides and seed pods which lather up like soap when unripe. In an 'ethnobotanical' sense you may be most interested in reseaching complanata and maidenii.

It sure smells minty. I don't doubt it's a mint, it would be great if it was Mentha australis Do you have any pics? Or does it grow green like mine?

Back when i was a youngster, we'd get a cheap bulbinator from vinnies and screw in about 6 bulbs each and take the lot in one go. seemed to do the trick back then. Haven't tried it since.... wonder why

I have a cutting of mint from my mum that she knows as 'Aussie Mint'. I couldnt find reference to this as a common name via google etc, and it doesn't look like any mint ive seen photos of. The leaf shape is a lot like River mint but the only decent sized photo on google images shows the leaves to be purple shaded and of a different sort of green. Does anyone know if this mint is related? Or what it may be?

Birds eye cultivar? Sorry i can't find any information on this. Im interested. I've grown Ficus coronata before, i occurs naturally around here. Can be found at a lot of native nurserys.

Could it be a type of orchid? Any ideas appreciated.

Have you looked into Petalostylis cassioides? This grows in Alice Springs. I read there was alkaloid content in the leaves, can't recall the reference but i can dig it up if you have no luck with google etc. I always wanted to grow this plant, but even the native specialist nurseries were unable to source me seed or plants, probably because of my geographical location. Heres a link for the cultivation: http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/communit...ylis_cassioides

Heres a better photo of the flower if it helps anyone ID...