In Congo, parrots are flowers

Species name: Impatiens niamniamensis

Common name: parrot plant, congo cockatoo

Location: UWO Greenhouse

The parrot plant, as its other common name may suggest, is native to Central Africa in the very small remains of what used to be a vast tropical rainforest. There haven't been any biodiversity studies recently that examine this species, but due to the rate of deforestation and the spreading drought in the area, I can imagine this species is probably at risk in its native range. Fortunately, this plant is readily propagated in the greenhouse so if rehabilitation studies were ever performed there is a genetic bank from which to select plants to recolonize the area. Due to its seed dispersal mechanism it may become invasive in some areas.

Like in the touch-me-nots (which are in the same genus; you can read all about them HERE), the seed pods of this species are like little seed grenades. When mature, even the lightest touch will cause the seed pods to explode and seeds go flying in all directions. An excellent dispersal mechanism, especially because these plants thrive in tropical climates. Here, the soil very quickly loses its organic nutrients in the top layers of soil and so plants need to disperse great distances from the mother plant in order to be able to successfully root and grow in the soil. Most greenhouses that propagate and sell the parrot plant don't even bother collecting the seeds, since the plant is so easily propagated from cuttings. When you do a cutting of a plant, usually you need to dip the exposed cut into a rooting compound which is full of plant hormones that signal the maturation of root cells from the plant's stem cells (in plants we call these meristematic cells). The plants are then placed in a soil substitute that is very porous, allowing for easy extraction of the plant from the medium to be planted in soil once the roots start to develop. This plant is even easier than that: cut a small piece off the end of a stem, put it in a cup of water and wait a few days. Sometimes it also helps to place a clear plastic bag upside down over the plant; this causes the environment around the plant to be very humid and warm, but air can very easily enter and exit through the bottom of the bag. After a few days, you'll start to see small roots form at the bottom of the stem. Put the stem in some soil, and there you go. A new plant! This is the way that one of my former students gave me my parrot plant about 4 years ago. I still have it, and while sometimes it just looks like a stick in the ground, it produces a new flush of flowers a couple of times a year. I have yet to see one of the fruit grenades produced, though.

The flowers of this plant are very well protected from predation, while at the same time attracting all different kinds of pollinators. Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds will be attracted to the flowers which produce a huge amount of nectar, as well as insects that have the ability to chew through the walls of the flower; since it's difficult for them to reach the bottom of the flower via the opening, they just bite through the outside and get their nectar reward by cheating. The protection of the flowers doesn't actually come from the flowers themselves, but from the stem of the plant while the flowers are developing. The plant produces large amounts of oxalic acid that are stored in crystals on specialized hairs on the stem right above the developing flowers. If a herbivore tries to come along and chew off one of the flowers, they will be instead rewarded with a mouthful of calcium oxalate crystals that will completely destroy their digestive system. Cats and dogs seem to have some sort of ability to sense this toxin produced by plants; I've never heard of a cat trying to eat through rhubarb leaves which have the same oxalic acid. Small children aren't so smart! It won't greatly harm a small child, but it will destroy your sense of taste for a good couple of days, as well as potentially making your mouth bleed quite a bit so parents of small children beware. The flowers of this plant can be interpreted as candy by small children so this plant shouldn't be within arms' reach.

The plant version of bubble wrap

Blog update: My apologies for not posting as regularly during the month of December as I usually do. I have been running close to the end of the photos I took on my last plant photography bonanza in September, and couldn't come up with an idea for where to go to take pictures of plants to blog about during the winter months that would look like more than just sticks. Then the idea hit me. The greenhouse on campus! Starting tomorrow I have a whole bunch of tropical species to blog about, courtesy of the UWO greenhouses. Very few if any of them will be native species, but some of them are incredibly interesting and unusual (I've been doing my homework!) so I think you'll all enjoy learning about them. I will also be running a series of blog posts about "How to Identify Sticks" once the winter really sets in, so stay tuned for how to identify woody plants during the winter months.

Species name: Impatiens glandulifera

Common name: Himalayan balsam

Location: Ontario

The Himalayan balsam, as the name suggests, is originally from the Himalayan region in Asia. The plant is a temperate plant, growing very happily on mountain sides up to the tree line, but preferring areas closer to the base of the mountains. Unfortunately, it is one of the most dangerously invasive plants in North America and Europe, where its introduction (sometimes purposely as an ornamental and/or medicinal plant, other times by accident) has completely destroyed the understory of many forests previously dominated by native species. This plant can grow so large so fast that even garlic mustard (which you can read all about HERE) has a rough time competing with it. The stems of this plant are incredibly unusual; they are hollow between the nodes and completely filled with fluid. More on this later...

Another unfortunate characteristic of this plant is the seed dispersal mechanism contained in the ripe fruit. There's a good reason why this plant is called the "touch-me-not," and it has nothing to do with it being toxic on the skin. The fruits have a ballistic mechanism that forcibly discharges the seeds when touched (and when the fruit is ripe). This isn't an unfortunate characteristic for the plant itself; it actually ensures for incredibly successful seed dispersal. This is an unfortunate characteristic for environmental health in areas where the plant is not native. Have you ever had the opportunity to play with the fruits and get them to release their seeds?! If not, it's quite the experience. You touch it and it feels like something just exploded in your hand and seeds go flying everywhere! It's fantastic! And that's the exact reason why it's so unfortunate: in populated areas, the main reason for successful seed dispersal is due to...children! It's just as entertaining for kids (and some adults. Guilty as charged) to force the plant to release the seeds as it is to give them a sheet of bubble wrap and watch them occupy themselves for hours.

Once established, this plant is incredibly difficult to eradicate but there's a company in Germany that just might have found the secret to getting rid of it. They are busy developing a wide array of products made from the flowers of the plant, in hopes that the picking of the plant for profit will eventually contribute a financial means for its eradication. A brilliant idea, and I hope it works out for them. We could definitely use something like that in southern Ontario!

Apparently all parts of this plant (including the flowers, which are incredibly attractive) are edible. I've never tried it, but I have seen flowers of this species adorning wedding cakes. I haven't actually seen anyone try to eat them, usually they're picked off and left on the plate as a non-edible decoration. I have, however, greatly enjoyed the medicinal use of this plant on many occasions. The liquid contained in the stems is incredibly effective at soothing itchy, dry skin due to any cause. It will take away the itch associated with a poison ivy rash almost instantly (which even calamine lotion can't do!), relieve the itch of mosquito bites, take away the sting from bee and wasp stings, moisturize dry skin, and soothe the itchy pain of sunburns. Because the plant is non-toxic, it's even safe to use on your face, but make sure you don't get it in your eyes. Just because it's safe for your digestive tract doesn't mean it won't irritate the sensitive tissues of your eyeballs! And, like with all plants, before you consume or otherwise use this plant in any way, make sure you are absolutely certain of the correct identification. The leaves look slightly like stinging nettle leaves; you would NOT want to confuse the two in an attempt to soothe a poison ivy rash!