GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Naming a character (a rebel) after a plant

Stewart Robert Hinsley · 27-08-2011, 12:23 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In message , writes
In article ,
Fuschia wrote:
On Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:25:05 +0000, JohnsonII
wrote:

Hi I'm writing a story and am in the process of trying to name my main
character. I was hopeing to name them after a plant in someway but i
wanted a to choose a plant that suits their character.

so my question was what is a plant/tree that grows in an urban
enviorment, is a very high threat to buildings in terms of damage, has
very agressive and extensive roots that develop widely before it starts
to grow above the surface and is almost impossible to get rid of?

You have just described Buddleia.
It's a nuisance in urban areas because its wind-blown seeds take root
on roofs and gutters It pops up in the most awkward places.

Well, not really. It's not a high threat, and doesn't cause any
more trouble (in the UK!) than a lot of other plants. Yes, it's
widespread and a bit of a nuisance in places, but nothing unusual.
Birch can be as bad, for example.

Has anyone yet seen a Buddleia wood in the UK? (I've seen abandoned
factory sites dominated by Buddleia, but not with plants to the size of
the 15 footers in my back garden.)
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The requirement for "very agressive and extensive roots that develop
widely before it starts to grow above the surface" effectively
eliminates most if not all candidates - most plants need to grow above
the surface to capture energy and carbon necessary for root growth. I
haven't heard of any parasite or mycoheterotrophic plants being a
problem for buildings (as opposed to agriculture).

Rafflesia is mostly occult, but technically it doesn't have roots.

Plants notorious for problematical root systems are Fallopia japonica,
Equisetum arvense and Salix species.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

--
Stewart Robert Hinsley