Ceropegia Woodii, Rosary Vine

Day 349: Ceropegia woodii (or as I lovingly call this plant, "Knob") is commonly known as Rosary Vine for the bead-like tubers which form at the leaf axils under ideal conditions. It has been years since Knob grew any knobs, so I was surprised to find them when I stepped between his basket and the window in order to photograph the unusual flower. The grey tubers look like miniature land mines when young, but lose their spherical shape as they develop. When one sends out a new vine, it may be cut from the parent plant to start a new one, but do not bury it entirely or it will likely rot. Rosary Vine is remarkably tolerant of dry conditions, and even if it drops most of its leaves due to neglectful watering, it will probably survive if perhaps in a rather diminished state. Mine is full of dead bits, and the bench beneath it is littered with withered leaves, a strong indicator of the durability of the other houseplants you see hanging in my windows. Survivors, the lot of them, cussed and tough as an old boot like their crotchety caretaker.