What kind of plant is this?

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I was given this small plant by an (eastern) Indian aquaintance. She told me what it was, but I forgot. I remember it's some kind of herb or spice, that starts with a "C" like Curry or Cilantro. It's supposedly a tropical plant, but has done fine sitting on our dining room table next to some sliding glass doors that face east.

Also, does anyone have any good "home" recipes for a root starter solution? My son whacked this plant with his Star-Wars light saber the other day, and broke off a part of it, that I'd like to transplant. Right now it is in a bud vase with water, and is still alive, but I'm not sure how to get it to start roots.

Thanks,

Chuck "black thumb" Holton

-- Chuck (woah@mission4me.com), January 30, 2002

Answers

I think someone here posted how to make willow tea and use that for rooting plants. Cut a bunch of fresh willow twigs and let them sit in a container of water until the water is dark. Place the cuttings to be rooted in the mixture for about two minutes before planting.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), January 30, 2002.

I don't believe that's cilantro. Cilantro has leaves that are slightly lobed. Not sure 'bout curry!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), January 30, 2002.

Not Cilantro, I have grown that. I thought curry was the name of the combination or a group of spices, not a plant itself.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 30, 2002.

Looks somewhat like a chop suey tree (not the official name) Taste the leaves....are they garlicky?

-- Sue (sulandherb@aol.com), January 30, 2002.

Chuck, I could be wrong, but it looks like it could be a Kaffir Lime. The leaves are use in cooking especially in Thai and Eastern dishes. As for the root hormone, there is a thread in the old posts with a recipe using willow. Hope this helps!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 30, 2002.


I agree, it is not cliantro as I have soon growing currently. Found this site that may prove useful: 113 Spice Plants, http://www- ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katzer/engl/generic_frame.html? spice_welcome.html, On these pages, I present solid information on (currently) 113 different spice plants. Emphasis is on their usage in ethnic cuisines, particularly in Asia; furthermore, I discuss the history, chemical constituents and etymology of their names. Last but not least, there are numerous photos featuring the live plants or the dried spices.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), January 30, 2002.

Chuck, I just asked a co-worker who is from India and see says its Curry leaves. She says it requires alot of TLC.

Dwight

-- Dwight (Summit1762@aol.com), January 30, 2002.


There is something called a curry plant because it smells like the mixture of spices that make real curry. However, I can't say anything about what your plant IS.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), January 30, 2002.

eucalptis (?) taste the leaves,, taste like a HALLS cough drop?

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 30, 2002.

leaves look like a curry plant to me

-- chilli lover (fake@address.com), January 30, 2002.


Looks like a curry plant to me as well. Never tried to grow one before. Let us know how it works out for you.

........Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), January 30, 2002.


Curry is a mixture of spices. There is a curry plant but it does not look like the one I got from Sandy Mush. It looks to be a citrus like plant and I would not doubt it to be a Kaffir lime.But one thing I know it definitely is not a cilantro plant.Terry

-- Terry Lipe (elipe@fidnet.com), January 30, 2002.

Not cilantro, and doesn't look like the curry plant I had. Also not like any eucalyptus I've ever seen. I'd buy citrus, though. What do the crushed leaves smell like?

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), January 31, 2002.

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