Let's play a Game: Guess the fruit.

[plane]

My son just brought home a really cool tropical plant that I had never seen before. It's about six feet tall, has dark green leaves and is kind of oily. I've never seen anything like it. He's been trimming it and drying out the leaves. Why he's doing that, I have no idea???? Apparently, it doesn't grow very well because he's spent probably $500 for professional grow lamps in our basement. Any ideas?

[rmodys]

Originally Posted by plane

My son just brought home a really cool tropical plant that I had never seen before. It's about six feet tall, has dark green leaves and is kind of oily. I've never seen anything like it. He's been trimming it and drying out the leaves. Why he's doing that, I have no idea???? Apparently, it doesn't grow very well because he's spent probably $500 for professional grow lamps in our basement. Any ideas?

Marijuana?

[plane]

Originally Posted by rmodys

Marijuana?

Aloe Vera.


(Don't do drugs- Drugs waste you).

[Kennyboy]

Originally Posted by rmodys

Marijuana?

Did somebody say Marijuana??????

Just Joking

[Kennyboy]

Wait...

Me thinks it's called Abiu. I think I had some at trader joes.

[Kennyboy]

Wait...

Me thinks it's called Abiu. I think I had some at trader joes.

[mikmak]

I cant remember the links that got me to Bitch Slap Barbie. Now you all think I'm a perv!
And Kennyboy, we know its for your cat

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by plane

My son just brought home a really cool tropical plant that I had never seen before. It's about six feet tall, has dark green leaves and is kind of oily. I've never seen anything like it. He's been trimming it and drying out the leaves. Why he's doing that, I have no idea???? Apparently, it doesn't grow very well because he's spent probably $500 for professional grow lamps in our basement. Any ideas?

That's a very (like abnormally) large aloe vera. They don't actually have leaves as such. They have big fleshy arms like little shop of horros. He isn't feeding it blood is he?

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by Kennyboy

Wait...

Me thinks it's called Abiu. I think I had some at trader joes.

From Cape Trib exotic fruit farm:

Comes from the Amazon. Round to oval in shape, sometimes pointed, with smooth bright yellow skin. Has creamy sweet, succulent flesh which tastes like Creme Caramel.

These guys are in Queensland as well. Just a short 22 hrs north.

[DanCBJMS1988]

Kennyboy, you got it first. As well as you mikmak. So both of you should work together on this one.

[Ming]

One of my favorite topics, as I have about 40 unusual fruit trees in my yard, here are some that I grow - please use the common names, I used the latin or Japanese (!) names to mess with cheaters, hehe:

Hint: All can be grown in zone 8 (not tropical, can tolerate freezes).

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.

[DanCBJMS1988]

2. kiwifruit (aka Chinese gooseberry)

[Ming]

Originally Posted by DanCBJMS1988

2. kiwifruit (aka Chinese gooseberry)

Nope - if you're looking at my post. Its a bit more obscure. A variety of a more common fruit. And not so good for eating from what I understand, mine's still too young to fruit.

[plane]

Originally Posted by mikmak

That's a very (like abnormally) large aloe vera.

Two words.....

M I R A C L E
.
.
G R O W

[Ming]

SInce I doubt anyone will guess it without taking a peek at the URL source, #2 is a Texas Persimmon.

Texas Persimmon grows in a grove has many basal stems and is rhizomatous. It is an evergreen shrub with a thick canopy reaching six to ten feet in height. It grows in sandy shallow and rocky soils of the South Texas Plains and the Edwards Plateau. Flowers bloom from February to June. Texas Persimmon provides food for deer and insects. Livestock browse this plant occasionally and the fruit is used by humans birds and small mammals. The canopy provides shelter for birds and small mammals. Black dye can be created from the fruit and the wood is used for manufacturing tools and engraving. It is a popular ornamental plant in urban landscaping.

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:...4&client=opera

This link says that it is "popular" in landscaping, but I rarely see it in the trade, and only found it offered at one or perhaps two nurseries here in Houston. Perhaps it is more popular in other parts of Texas.