This is an interesting plant. Both sides of the leaves and stems have spines, also produces an edible fruit.
Some more info. here: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57815/
A forum member was kind enough to send me seed 8)
They are quite small,
After an overnight heated soak, they had all swelled up & sank. They were planted, and the first to show just 3 days later.
Steve
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These have cool flowers, remind me of the Castor Bean plant
What a treat to not wait months and months for germination!
8) Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Here are a few pics of my bed of nails plants. Sorry about the out of focus one. My camera is a cheapo. The seedlings are about 5 weeks old. They are slow to start but once they get going, look out! They really take off. They seem to like a LOT of nitrogen, too. They start to yellow quickly if they are not fed. The larger plants are from a few years ago. Not sure how old they are in the pic. A couple months I'd guess. Oh, they like a lot of light, too. The larger ones were growing under a 400W metal halide.
Happy growing.
Barb,
It's a treat to see immediate results. I try to start a lot going into the winter, will have something germinating every week or two till spring 😀
Patrick,
Thanks for the photos, I hope mine do as well as yours!
Steve
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I'm sure they will, Steve. 😉
Happy growing.
I would say about 90% of these have germinated now 8)
Steve
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Great germination rate.
Delicate looking things.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Some newer photos,
Steve
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they look at bit dangerous to me. kind of like a snake, you need to keep your eye on them all the time when you are walking around them.
Kent in Kansas
where it's cold in winter (always)
and hot in summer (usually)
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Hi Kent, I missed your reply, not a good idea to be treading on the fallen leaves with bare feet either 😀
Just noticed some fruit has set on them 8)
Steve
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indubidubly
Kent in Kansas
where it's cold in winter (always)
and hot in summer (usually)
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A little larger now 8)
Steve
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Quite the growth rate...
Hope they don't naturalize ... flat tires all over Kansas 😆 😆
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Was more interested in collecting seed, so I let the fruits over ripen till they dropped.
Been collecting plenty of seed over the winter 8)
Steve
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Steve
Very cool plant, I have never seen that one before.
Paul
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