I found Tiffany's discussion of plant very interesting and thought it might be a good subject for us to compare some plants that we have or have observed that do not fit what we think a plant may be because of growing conditions, mislabeled and out right lies from growers that put names on plants just for fun to sell them.
I have two plants that really confuse me.
This name thing is difficult and I think we as plant lovers go a little crazy. But it is very interesting how plants mutate. I have one plant that I have picked up through the years. I do mean literally picked up. During my travel I would find plants on the ground and put them in my purse and plant when I return home. Then I would buy what looked like the same plant but is totally different in growth.
An example Rhoeo Tricolor
I have picked up this plant in Puerto Rico on the ground growing in the cracks of the street. I do not know if the pic shows the difference but. The leave is about an inch wider and very little white varigation on the top of the leave. It is also thicker and feels more like a succulent leaf. If you bend the leaf it would break like a succulent leave. I have seen it sold as a Rhoeo Tricolor.
Rhoeo Tricolor
This one I purchased at a local nursery and was named Rhoeo Tricolor - It has more white through the leaf. If the leaf was not varigated it could be confused as a spider plant. The leaves have the same thin weight of a spider plant.
My other plant is Tradescantia pallida aka Purple Heart
One has small leaves and makes a more hanging basket type plant.
I purchased one that had a tag name as Purple heart but the leaves are bigger and does not trail. It stays compact with large leaves. It blooms the same pink flowers as the trailing one.
