wildflowers and weeds (was Re: Eggcorn?)

[James C Stalker]

Could that periwinkle thing be creeping charley?  We all should get out DARE
out and do some research before we start planting stuff.

Jim

Peter A. McGraw writes:

> 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 ************************
>



James C. Stalker
Department of English
Michigan State University