ever see the flower on Aspidistra elatior ???

[Eric in Orlando]

Yesterday I was digging and moving some <i>Aspidistra elatior</i>, Cast Iron Plant, and happened to spot a flower. They usualy remain underground and grow off the rhizome. Very unusual, looks like an alien creature !

[Breadfruit Bill]

This is on of my favorite plants low in the landscape, tough little bugger. Cool flower!

[fastfeat]

Cool. Any scent/odor? Are they pollinated by terrestrial beetles or something similar?

[Eric in Orlando]

I looked it up and amphipods are the pollinators

[MattyB]

Interesting. What's an amphipod?

[epicure3]

Interesting. What's an amphipod?

It's like an iPod only it's used in amphitheaters.

[MattyB]

[daxin]

One of the Chinese common names for Aspidistra elatior is "Egg-hugging spider plant", and it is specifically referring to its weird flowers. Here is a photo of a fully developed flower:

[NakaB]

Very cool. I had no idea underground flowers existed. Thanks Eric for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

[edbrown_III]

Eric,

Thanks for sharing

you are the ultimate botanist and I enjoy your photos and postings.

Best regards

Ed

[Eric in Orlando]

One of the Chinese common names for Aspidistra elatior is "Egg-hugging spider plant", and it is specifically referring to its weird flowers. Here is a photo of a fully developed flower:

cool ! Thats even weirder !!!!!!!!!!

[Eric in Orlando]

Thanks ! Glad y'all enjoy the photos !

[tjwalters]

Very cool - thanks for posting. That may be the reason I never see any flowers on mine. Your post got me to wondering if there were any other underground flowers. A Google search turned up Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis L.), which produces both aerial and underground flowers.

More info: http://www.caes.uga.edu/Publications/displayHTML.cfm?pk_id=7343