Mystery plant (Lenophyllum texanum - serious pest)

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ralphrmartin
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Mystery plant (Lenophyllum texanum - serious pest)

Post by ralphrmartin »

I found this growing all by itself in the bottom of one of my trays, which mainly has Crassulaceae in it and a few cacti. Having grown on a bit, it now appears like nothing I have in that tray.

Can anyone ID it, or even make a suggestion? I suppose it could be a hybrid of some sort.

Perhaps I'll have a clearer idea when it flowers.
IMG_20210616_110123.jpg
Last edited by ralphrmartin on Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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MikeT
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Re: Mystery plant

Post by MikeT »

Lenophyllum?
If it is, easy to introduce as a single leaf hiding in a pot of something else.
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edds
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Re: Mystery plant

Post by edds »

It almost has elements of Lenophyllum, but not quite guttatum.

Sorry Mike you posted that as I was typing!
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Re: Mystery plant

Post by David Neville »

Yes, no idea of the correct name, but this THING is as bad as Oxalis, and definitely worse than Bryophyllum sp in the glasshouse, and I would recommend urgent removal and eradication. I have found it to be frost hardy in rural Hampshire for at least the last 10 years! DESTROY !!!!
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Re: Mystery plant

Post by Stuart »

Yes, thoroughly agree with David, it grows on aluminium staging, concrete flooring, anywhere a leaf drops. It's just about indestructible, unaffected by glyphosate sprayed under the staging. Pull a plant out without too much care and it sheds leaves everywhere, the leaves blend in well with top dressing and take some removal if growing at the base of a spiny cactus. I've seen nurseries covered in it! As David said - exterminate.

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Re: Mystery plant

Post by MikeT »

I had Lenophyllum texanum at one time. Under the staging it's a straggly, scruffy looking plant. In full sun, it can make quite an attractive, compact, silver coloured specimen.

The International Crassulaceae Network comments about texanum
Note :
In the greenhouse this plant can become very invasive, and nurseries consider it a pest. Leaves and bracts detach and root easily and produce multitudes of new plantlets.


Despte my positive comment about how it can make an attractive plant, I eventually took exactly the approach suggested by Stuart and David. This involved quite a lot of effort, but I did succeed in eradicating it. That was in a 6' x 8' greenhouse. Multiply the effort involved by whatever size greenhouse it's been allowed to spread around.
Last edited by MikeT on Fri Jun 18, 2021 10:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Mystery plant

Post by Pattock »

MikeT wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:39 am This involved quite a lot of effort, but I did succeed in eradicating it.
I do appreciate it when "eradicate" is used in line with its etymology, derived from "root out" in Latin.
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Re: Mystery plant

Post by ralphrmartin »

MikeT wrote: Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:42 pm Lenophyllum?
Yes, I was reminded of that. I have L. guttatum and L. reflexum, and find neither specially easy to grow.

Perhaps it did come in from elsewhere, but I repot plants as I acquire them, so it is unlikely to have come in unnoticed except as a seed. If so - why would it be in the bottom of the tray? I think its more likely a hybrid of a couple of things I already have, and a ripe seed dropped into the tray.

Edited: forget the above, and read on...
Last edited by ralphrmartin on Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Mystery plant

Post by ralphrmartin »

David Neville wrote: Thu Jun 17, 2021 8:01 pm Yes, no idea of the correct name, but this THING is as bad as Oxalis, and definitely worse than Bryophyllum sp in the glasshouse, and I would recommend urgent removal and eradication. I have found it to be frost hardy in rural Hampshire for at least the last 10 years! DESTROY !!!!
Gulp. Quarantined, before it can flower. It is in bud...
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ralphrmartin
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Re: Mystery plant

Post by ralphrmartin »

Yes, seems to be Lenophyllum texanum.

Its problem is that the leaves fall of at the slightest touch.
I think I got them all when removing it. :shock:

Thanks for the warning, everyone.
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Members visiting the Llyn Peninsula are welcome to visit my collection.

Swaps and sales at https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/forsale.php

My Field Number Database is at https://www.fieldnos.bcss.org.uk
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