Lantana indica

Lantana indica is a sprawling shrub and is native to India. The new stems of these plants are hairy. It is commonly known as Mysore Lantana or Indian Lantana. The plant flowers in summer and monsoon. Tiny flowers are borne in clusters. White flowers have yellow throat. These flowers are bisexual. Fruit is a drupe containing a single seeds. Birds relish the fruit and seed dispersal is mainly from droppings of the birds. It belongs to Verbenaceae family. Flowers attract butterflies for nectar.

Careya arborea (कुंभ, कुंभा, कुंभी)

Careya arborea (Kumbh, Kumbha, Kumbhi) is quite a large tree growing in a canopy shape as it matures. It is a deciduous tree. Leaves turn red at the time of leaf shedding, that is as the winter approaches. By March end first week of May the leafless tree bursts in to creamish white flowers borne in clusters on ends of small branches. The mass flowering does spread offensive smell around the tree. Some flowers have pink tinge also.

Its trunk is fissured and is deep brown in colour. Large leaves are borne in a spiral form on ends of small branches. Fruits have shapes similar to earthen water pots (कुंभ), hence the common name Kumbh. The fruit has many brown coloured seeds, embedded in spongy pulp. Fruits mature in June and July months.The tree is native to India. It belongs to Lecythidaceae, to which Cannonball tree (Kailashpati) belongs. The tree is supposed to have certain medicinal uses.

Chamaecereus silvestrii (Peanut cactus)

Chamaecereus silvestrii (Peanut cactus) is a small and prostrate growing cactus with quite soft stems. New growth of the cactus resembles shape of peanuts, hence the common name 'Peanut cactus'.

Planted in a hanging pot

A small plant of it was bought some months ago and now for the first time it has bloomed. One can see 2 buds too on the plant. A well grown plant can produce large number of flowers on a plant. Since it is a trailing cactus, I planted it in a hanging pot, enabling its downward growth. The next thing I want to try is, grafting it on a tall stock, so that it can grow in a weeping form.

This cactus is kept in a polyhouse of a nursery. The plant can be grown in semi shade also. I have planted it in following planting medium: 3 parts sand + 1 part cow dung manure (Leaf mold Compost also can be used) + half part of cocopeat.