Hello! I just discovered this forum, and would really love some help! I am very new to houseplant care. My Grandma recently gave me two lots of plant clippings that friends of hers had given to her. She does not know the proper names (and neither do the people who gifted the cuttings), and I haven't had any luck trying to identify them with my houseplant care books or with Google Images. These two pictures are of the first plant, which is rooting in water. The leaves are small, rounded, and very glossy. My Grandma thinks it is called "Lonesome Charlie" but I haven't been able to find a plant with that name. She tells me that the plant tips fall off at the touch when they are ready to root (these are not actually cut, but I didn't know what else to call them!). This sounds like some sensitive type plant to me. I did find some interesting information on "creeping charlie" (see the University of Illinois link here), which is a type of ground ivy, but although the leaves are a similar shape they don't seem to be as shiny. I also don't think that the growth habit is the same since this plant was described as a hanging basket variety to me with a spreading tendency. Thank you very much for reading, and any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! I'd like to learn what this plant is so that I can pot it right and give it the right care to grow :) I'll post the photos of the other clipping in a separate thread for clarity.
Plectranthus sp, possibly P. verticillatus. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden....t-details/kc/b648/plectranthus-australis.aspx
I concur with P. verticillatus. I've heard it called "creeping Charlie" before (though it's not the lawn weed "creeping Charlie," Glechoma hederacea. Common names aren't unique, so this sort of thing happens a lot.). The stems are brittle, and will break off pretty easily, though they'll root if they're cut too. They're one of those plants that will root in pretty much anything. They grow fast, and are super-easy to grow. The sap will temporarily dye skin or clothing orange. They can produce white or lavender spikes of flowers, though it's not common indoors.
Thank you both so much! @ saltcedar: I really appreciate the link, it's very interesting reading. Isn't it amazing to think that this little thing is originally from South Africa?! It's amazing to me the way that seeds and plants have traveled the world over time :) @ mrsubjunctive: Thank you so much for the confirmation and for the information about the name! Common names are something I often find confusing. I'm very glad to hear that this plant is easy to root and grow, as I was worried that the roots it's growing are so very fine :) And it's wonderful to know about the sap - I never would have thought that! Although it's not likely, I'd love to see it flower in future...Thanks again!
