Tithonia fruticosa

The Tithonia fruticosa is one of my favorite members of the Asteraceae family (Sunflower family), which also happens to be the largest family of all vascular plant families. Its common name is the Mexican Sunflower, and it is native to Mexico, but its also found in many other tropical locations. Its particularly unusual because it is a perennial, allowing for growth year after year. A single Mexican Sunflower plant can have over one hundred flowers, but what is even more amazing is its growth habits. It has perennial stems which survive year after year to continue to branch off into more sunflowers. It has an inconsistent flower cycle and will continue to produce new flowers even after old sets of flowers are dying. 

Admittedly, the inflorescence of the Mexican Sunflower isn't as attractive as the large flowers of most other sunflower species.

Comparing the Mexican Sunflower to the Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Mexican Sunflower:
Number of Flower Heads per plant: Multiple to 100+
Growth habit: Perennial
Size of Inflorescence: Small to Medium

Common Sunflower:
Number of Flower Heads per plant: Typically only one
Growth habit: Annual
Size of Inflorescence: Large

The new growth of the Mexican Sunflower is extremely soft, similar to the feeling of velvet. Also the immature flower heads and stems are extremely soft and flexible.

Its woody growth habits are best shown in the picture above. The branches bend due to their extensive length and weight, making a rather sprawling and bushy plant. Near the base the branches come together to the main stem where the woodiness is most prominent.

Opuntia macrocentra

Opuntia macrocentra, also known as the long spined prickly pear and the purple prickly pear, is a member of the cactaceae family of plants. It is a notable specimen for it's purple color and it's elongated spines. Native to the American south-west, it is a great example of a drought tolerant plant. The purple prickly pear is sometimes used in xeriscaping and desert landscaping for it's unusual look and ability to cope with drought.

Orchid: Trichoglottis philippinensis var. brachiata

This is one of the most unusual orchids that I have come across recently. As the name suggests, this particular species of Orchid was found in the Philippines. It has a monopodial growth habit (as with all orchids under the subfamily Aeridinae), meaning that it grows from a center point straight up with no branching. I find it bizarre due to the glossy texture of the flower and the claw shaped labellum. It has a very distinct shape with a vibrant array of colors; certainly a keepsake for any orchid enthusiast.

This picture shows the bottom portion of the plant where a new shoot is developing. Being under the family Vandeae, it exhibits the common thick lateral roots deriving from the main stem.

Cyphostemma juttae

The Cyphostemma juttae is one of my favorite plants of bizarre origins due to its odd growth habits and foliage. The Juttae is a succulent native to Nambia and is hard to come by, especially in the North American horticulture market. It is climatized to hot dry summers and cool dry winters, which are very similar to the climate in Tucson, making this a great desert ornamental. It tends to lose all of its foliage during the winter months, making a relatively unattractive stump. It quickly makes a comeback during spring and summer, and will provide bundles of small flowers which eventually develop the "wild grapes" of which the Juttae gets its nickname. If you are looking at growing this plant I have a few suggestions: First, be sure you are growing in an area with warm summers (be sure to water every other day during summer) and with cool winters (with little to no watering and nothing colder than 20F). Secondly, be sure the soil is sandy and well draining. Also, don't worry too much about fertilizers or mulches - they shouldn't be necessary.