I found this tropical plant in a Manila nursery. But they do not have the real name. The underside of the leaf is colored deep dark pink and the top side of the leaf has that raised green spots/veins. Leaf felt rigid and not soft like a Dieffenbachia. Local translation of the name they call it is like they are calling it alligator leaf. perhaps in reference to the raised green spotty veins. They grow it in shady side of the garden and as with most tropical plant loves moist media.

Anyone knows this one?

There's no pic for the entry in the ATP DB, but I think it's Calathea:

Google images:
https://www.google.com/search?...

Thanks Tiffany! That's it! A rattlesnake plant! So looking at the web photos, I wonder which one..Calathea insignis or Calathea lancifolia?

Oops, never mind..it uses both names! Thanks again Tiffany!

hmm ... confusing. I thought C. insignis was a synonym for C. lancifolia but I see two separate listings in the database.

Nice plant tarev!

I've been on the lookout for one of these, a very distinct plant I've never seen in person but looks just like some I've seen before in other people's pics and was told they were rattlesnake Calatheas. Those leaves are the coolest! Mesmerizing. Did you get a pic of the back side?

So you're in Manila the country? I would be gawking at plants too! Please show us more if/when you have time.

Manila is the city..the country is the Philippines I have a blog here in ATP, you can read what we did during our vacation :biggrin:
And I have photos also in the tropicals forums about the nurseries there.

Oh, TY for geographical correction. Philippines is on my list of places I'd visit *just* for the plants. Like Costa Rica.

Sheesh, that's where that plane is missing. Hope your Mom feels better (started reading your blog already.)

Can this click to your blog: http://garden.org/blogs/view/t... Hope so. TY for the invitation!

Ah yes the poor missing Malaysian Airlines plane...I feel so sorry for the poor souls on that flight. Such a puzzle..with the thousands of outlying islands over there...and lots of local and international fishermen and all the other countries trying to find them..let alone all the modern gadgets, nothing to accurately locate them with. And to think there is no weather disturbance either at that time...it is jarring to the mind to imagine, since I just flew to Asia, makes me count my blessings we made it safely. God bless them all!

plantladylin said:hmm ... confusing. I thought C. insignis was a synonym for C. lancifolia but I see two separate listings in the database.

Nice plant tarev!

Thanks for the heads up Lin. C. insignis is indeed a synonym for C. lancifolia and I've updated the entries to reflect this.

Thanks Evan!