Put a spell on the John?

November 26, 2009 6:00 AM

Can anyone tell me what kind of plant this is?

I found these in the men's room at work, in Boston. They don't look like a native species to me, and we don't have them in the atrium in my office building either.

Also, it looks as though they were placed purposefully. Note the arrangement in the last photo.

Any ideas? Is this some sort of spell?

I am asking two questions, I guess:

1. What plant are these branches from?

2. is this some sort of ceremonial/religious/magical arrangement?

posted by mds35 to Science & Nature (6 answers total)

Best answer: They look like branches of Zamioculcas zamiifolia, often called ZZ plant.

Somebody likely just left them there, intending to take them home and root them. (Apparently if you put stalks like that in damp soil, they'll grow roots.)
posted by purpleclover at 6:07 AM on November 26, 2009

Best answer: 1. Answered here and on Flickr.

2. No.
posted by fixedgear at 6:32 AM on November 26, 2009

Best answer: Maybe they came as part of a flower arrangement that somebody was taking home or on date an just thought it was too bulky with the extra foliage.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:47 AM on November 26, 2009

Best answer: mds35 has it. ZZs are slow-growing members of the Araceae family, same as many tropicals kept as houseplants (spathiphyllum, Philodendron, Monstera, Caladium, Calla lilies).
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 6:52 AM on November 26, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks, gang!
posted by mds35 at 8:05 AM on November 26, 2009

Response by poster: Oops. I deleted the Flickr set inked to above. In case anyone wants to see the pix, they are here.
posted by mds35 at 4:26 PM on November 27, 2009