Plant Identification?

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:25 pm

My parents have recently just returned from a holiday from Malta, they both loved the country as well as the fantastic people. On their travels they noticed a plant growing in numerous places with the most fantastic scent coming from its flowers.

My father took one of the fruits from a plant to bring back to help me trying to identifying it.

Pictures are attached

He also has pictures of the flowers which I will send on as soon as I receive them off him.

The Flowers are tubular an brilliant white, the leaves are similar to Magnolia (I think). My parents also mentioned that the leaves were very waxy and tough

The fruit looks similar to a plum or date especially with the crease through the middle of it

If you could help me identify the plant it would be fantastic

Post by **MWP admin** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:44 pm

Photos of flowers would definitely help

What was the size of the fruit (more or less)?

Was it hard to slice open?

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:34 am

Hi thanks for the reply

my father has pictures of the flower an leaves but im waiting for him to email me, i will post them as soon as i receive them.

Regarding the fruit, its skin felt slightly waxy an was easy to slice.

there was no hard stone, but as you can see from the pictures, the inside around the seeds was quite fibrous.

the fruit did not smell at all.

one thing to note was my dad said the plant was growing up a number of street lights either in Valletta or Qawra

i will get the other pictures asap

thanks

Post by **MWP admin** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:15 pm

Hmmm, must be an ornamental - I suspect the fruit was not yet ripe. We wait for the images of the flower.

Puzzling so far!

RB · Post by RB » Sat Nov 12, 2011 11:42 pm

Stephanotis floribunda

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 9:53 am

I think it is Stephanotis. Then it will break up and release seeds ala Periploca.

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 10:13 am

hi all

here is a picture of the plant/ tree the seed came from

hopefully someone will know what it is

thanks

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:21 am

RB wrote:Stephanotis floribunda

fantastic!

thank you

im guessing there is no chance of it living in the UK

RB · Post by RB » Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:13 pm

Danny wrote:
RB wrote:Stephanotis floribunda
fantastic!

thank you

im guessing there is no chance of it living in the UK

Indoors in winter, sunny (ahemm

) windowsill, careful not to overwater, these are quite resistant to dry conditions.

Outside will be fine in summer.

You get more daylight in the UK than here and the daytime temps are lower, all factors that promote more flowers that last longer, here it is generally over in a couple of weeks.

RB