Plant grows 40ft in three months

Ananova ^ | 08/21/03

[Pokey78]

A mystery plant has engulfed a residential garden after growing around 40ft in just three months.

Retired nurse Norma White, 68, planted a foot-long cutting in her greenhouse in May.

Since then the vine-like plant has spread through the garden of her detached bungalow in Plymouth and started reaching through a hedge towards a neighbour's land.

Ms White said she believed the cutting - provided by a friend - came from a watermelon plant. So far it has sprouted leaves up to 2ft in diameter but shows no sign of flowers or fruit.

A keen gardener, Ms White initially used feed and farm manure to encourage the plant's growth. But after the first few weeks it needed only a daily watering to continue growing at a furious rate.

She said: "I have grown courgettes and cucumbers before and when this plant was smaller it looked similar. But I have never seen anything like this. The rate of growth is what has fascinated me.

"There are so many shoots coming off it that it doesn't matter if you clip some of them off because more grow in their place.

"For foliage it is brilliant it really is an attractive plant. But I'm disappointed in the sense that I really wanted some watermelons."

Ms White says she will allow the plant to continue growing until the end of August, when she plans to chop it down for compost.

[Pokey78]

Impressive, but it still can't beat Kudzu.

[DallasMike]

I don't recognize the leaves. It's mindful of a member of the squash or gourd family but I can't place it.

[curmudgeonII]

As any Rocky and Bullwinkle fan could tell you, it's obviously a Pottsylvania Creeper.

[KellyAdmirer]

Maybe it doesn't want to be chopped down....

[lelio]

growing until the end of August, when she plans to chop it down

If something grows 40' in 3 months I think it might plan for you to move out of your house in August.

[Lizavetta]

It looks exactly like a pumpkin plant. They go berserk as well and have a phenomenal growth rate.

[Bikers4Bush]

Kudzu is insane. That stuff survives everything.

[doodad]

Looks like some stuff we have down here in Ga. Grows in vacant lots and such alot. I always thought it was kinda cool with the huge leaves.

[okiedust]

when she plans to chop it down for compost.

If I were Norma, I think I'd be careful about telling this thing her plans for it.

regards

[SolutionsOnly]

"Little Shop of Horrors"

[Spruce]

[newcats]

At least it isn't a Giant Hogweed.
Another message from the Obscure reference department.

[eyespysomething]

[CONSERVE]

wow

[SpinyNorman]

At least it isn't a Giant Hogweed.

Just saw two of those on my way to work. They are being dealt with.

[FroedrickVonFreepenstein]

"They're here already! You're next! You're next!"

-Dr. Miles Bennell

[HAL9000]

We had a mystery plant like that once. It turned out to be a pumpkin plant seeded from a jack-o-lantern we tossed in the back yard.

[Budge]

Ping!

[SpinyNorman]

I have one word for her: TRIFFIDS!!

Of course, if there are giant, human sized pods growing under those leaves, I would advise her not to fall asleep..........

I watch waaaaay too many sci-fi flix.

[Liberal Classic]

The expression on her face tells me she's already one of the pod people.