Another "weird" flower... and poisonous!

[cyprusmax47]

I thought I do a little bit more work in my garden as some plants are really out of nice shape. I took the large clippers out pruning one of the two large cyca revoluta and realized that it is blooming this year. Dressed like in Winter with long trousers and top, of course heavy duty gloves, as all parts of this plant are again poisonous and prickly. So first pic shows the plant before starting the job...




and how it looked after coming from the " hair dresser "....



looks quite tidy eh



But the post is about the female flower which appeared first time in 6 years I am here..



The flower is very pilous (not out of focus)



close up of the "hairy bits" (screen shot)



Two years ago I picked seeds from the second cyca which was flowering and put it in pots but to no avail. Obviously one need a male plant nearby to be successful. Anyhow it is much easier to take off side shoots if they grow at the bottom of the trunk and plant them in Winter straight into soil. This way I produced ca 10 plants and gave them away later as presents.

Max

[Bograt]

Lovely pictures again Max. I hope you did not overheat in all your clothes .

The only plant that I knew to be poisonous in Cyprus is the Oleander. Now I learn from Max that this Cyca, and also the Nepal Plum Death Plant, are also toxic and deadly, to coin a phrase from Monsters Inc. Does anyone have any more to add to the list? When we take over our new place in September I am hoping to get the garden sorted out, and do not want to die in the attempt

[cyprusmax47]

Lovely pictures again Max. I hope you did not overheat in all your clothes .

The only plant that I knew to be poisonous in Cyprus is the Oleander. Now I learn from Max that this Cyca, and also the Nepal Plum Death Plant, are also toxic and deadly, to coin a phrase from Monsters Inc. Does anyone have any more to add to the list? When we take over our new place in September I am hoping to get the garden sorted out, and do not want to die in the attempt

What one can see in many gardens here is the Datura plant (angels trumpet) which is quite poisonous in all parts. But one of the even more poisonous plant is growing in many wastelands in Cyprus. Only recently I discovered that. In the past I was collecting the nice looking seeds not knowing that they are very dangerous.
Wiki: " Commonly known as castor oil plant, castor bean and Palma Christi. The seeds contain ricin, an extremely toxic and water-soluble ribosome-inactivating protein; it is also present in lower concentrations in other parts of the plant. Also present are ricinine, an alkaloid, and an irritant oil. According to the 2007 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, the castor oil plant is the most poisonous in the world."

If you are interested there is a link with photos from the shrub and the seeds....

http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds ... mmunis.htm

Max

[cyprusmax47]

Ours flowered with one "cone" three seasons ago, last year we had fronds and this year we have a double cone. I didn't realise it was poisonous so will be extra careful when pruning.

Very nice pic from a MALE plant. Not many often there is a double cone. Do you have also a female plant?

Max

[Dominic]

We've got one in our front garden too. Max had to point it out to me before I realised though! Gardening is not my strong point. I'm good at clearance, I let my wife do the skillful stuff. I am sure she is happy with that arrangement.

[cyprusmax47]

We've got one in our front garden too. Max had to point it out to me before I realised though! Gardening is not my strong point. I'm good at clearance, I let my wife do the skillful stuff. I am sure she is happy with that arrangement.

If you mean with clearance trimming a Oleander hedge for example mind, as the seeds can be deadly if swallowed from animals and dangerous for humans (also the milk of the plant if it comes in contact with a cut on your skin....
Max

[Dominic]

I have nice big gloves.

[Maggie B]

When we lived in Paphos/Anarita - I worked in George's Garden Centre, Timi. I can remember my fingers looking like sausages having had a morning 'trimming the Cycas.' Nasty wee boogers they could be.

However, trimmed they look absolutely beautiful in a vase of flowers.

MB

[cyprusmax47]

Thanks for showing that weird flower Aquila. Nature at it's best.

Max

[Alfie]

How big is that flower? Very weird.

[Alfie]

I had imagined them to be about three to four foot high. That's a relief.