wildflowers and weeds (was Re: Eggcorn?)

[Peter A. McGraw]

Oh noooo!!!

So THAT'S what I planted in my garden a couple of years ago, thinking it
was an attractive little shrub (the foliage is pretty, and it even has a
pretty blossom).  Last year it unmasked itself as a ground cover, and this
year I'm realizing I have a battle on my hands like the one I already have
elsewhere with that creeper that has blossoms like periwinkle but bigger
leaves and another name (which I can never remember).  I was hoping I could
at least contain it to this small patch, but this exchange tells me that
cold-blooded mass murder is probably going to be the only solution.

Peter Mc.

--On Tuesday, May 17, 2005 5:24 PM -0700 "Arnold M. Zwicky"
<zwicky at CSLI.STANFORD.EDU> wrote:

> On May 17, 2005, at 11:24 AM, Dennis R. Preston asked me:
>
>> Could you warn us about this with some other name?
>>
>> houttuynia cordata
>>
>> dInIs, who'd like to keep this crap out of his garden, but don't know
>> what it is
>
> it doesn't have a "common name", remarkably enough.  it's a fleshy
> low-growing perennial with ivy-like leaves (more or less heart-
> shaped, hence the "cordata") that are green, or green and red, or
> green and red and cream.  very pretty.  according to the Sunset New
> Western Garden Book, "Foliage emits an odd scent when crushed,
> reminiscent of orange peel."  well, really rank orange peel.
>
> the leaves are used as a flavoring in southeast asian food,
> especially burmese.  (they're featured in a number of dishes in my
> local burmese restaurant.)  a little goes a long way.  even for me,
> and i'm one of those people who like extreme tastes.
>
> the roots go down, and they go out.  any little bit of the plant will
> take root in reasonably moist soil.  (think ivy.  think *bamboo*.)
> oh.  my.  god.
>
> arnold



*****************************************************************
Peter A. McGraw       Linfield College        McMinnville, Oregon
******************* pmcgraw at linfield.edu ************************