Puzzles 2012

[David King]

Seems this was harder than we thought.

The answer is the fruit of Clerodendrum schweinfurthii.

Below is a picture showing the flowers earlier in the year. I found this elsewhere and it happens to be of the same plant we saw at Cambridge Botanical garden.

Habitat. Riparian forest.
Distribution. Sierra Leone to Sudan, Tanzania and Angola.
Local distribution. Kongana, Ndakan.
Phenology. Flower: January, February, August, December. Fruit: January, February.

[Lvandelft]

Seems this was harder than we thought.

David indeed it was difficult. No wonder because the most seen Clerodendrum is Cl. bungei, which is not at all useful for a small garden.
I only once saw that one flowering in the botanical Garden of Vienna a few years ago for the first time.
Interestingly your plant is only just mentioned (not described) in a recent article in The Plantsman.

[Brian Ellis]

No wonder because the most seen Clerodendrum is Cl. bungei, which is not at all useful for a small garden.

I was thinking of Clerodendrum trichotomum as well as Cl.bungei, Luit.  The former is really attractive.

[Lvandelft]

Brian, I saw a plant named Clerodendrum bungei, but it's the only Clerodendrum I ever saw.
I read that C. trichotonum is more hardy. I know that in Vienna the temps sometimes go down to - 20C  in winter, so the one I saw was at least a hardy one. It was really enormous and at least more than 10 square meters, so must have grown there many years already.
Don't know if the label showed the right name??? Here some pics:

Clerodendrum bungei ?

[Brian Ellis]

Yes it certainly  looks like it Luit, sweetly scented too.  We don't grow C. trichotonum as we just haven't any more room in the garden!!

[Lvandelft]

  We don't grow C. trichotonum as we just haven't any more room in the garden!!

If that one grows like C. bungei you might need an estate 

[annew]

I've just been collecting some seeds for Kristl. Any guesses?

[Paul T]

Anne,

The corn cobs look like Arisaemas I think, at least one of the Araceae.  The white ones I think are a tree who's name escapes me now.  The other ones I have suspicions about but won't embarrass myself by most likely being blatantly wrong. 

[Anthony Darby]

The right hand berries look like Sorbus spp.

[Anthony Darby]

Mmm. Off to a New Year party. Have been asked to take a salad and a sweet (baby spinach, rocket, feta and grape salad and a keylime pie made with no eggs) and a small empty suitcase. Not a Kiwi party then?

[Maggi Young]

Is the suitcase to take the Kiwi home in? 

[David Nicholson]

......... or just in case!

[Anthony Darby]

Everyone runs with the suitcase to give them luck and says you'll travel far in the coming year. This same culture also involves twelve grapes and twelve wishes and eating lentils.

[Leon]

This same culture also involves twelve grapes and twelve wishes and eating lentils.

Lentils?  Where did the concept of eating legumes on New Years Day come from?  We always ate a southern field pea on New years day called Purple Hull Peas when I was growing up.   Now that I have moved people in this locale eat Black Eyed peas. 

[Anthony Darby]

The lady of the house is from Chile. Needless to say, not all of the traditions were followed: http://cachandochile.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/9-chilean-traditions-for-a-happy-new-year/