Caryotas....what in the heck is this thing?

[barefoot_yankee]

I've had numerous caryotas. They've matured, flowered and died. I took them out and moved on.  This one matured, flowered, and I wasn't in good enough shape to cut it down so there it sat.  I was out 

today and holy moly something is growing out of it. It's already seeded, and I read they don't self germinate so I thought it was dead as disco. It's been dead and hanging there for about a year.  I only now discovered this. I'm sure someone here can tell me what this is.  Thanks! 

 

[barefoot_yankee]

I'm guessing it's a last gap effort of throwing out another seed pod.....if not that, Arnold Schwarzenneger is gonna pop out of it.  

[Merlyn]

I think it is growing a Skeksis from The Dark Crystal. 

[barefoot_yankee]

Ok, so I'm gonna go out on a limb and say yea, another seed pod. But after being dead for over a year? Now I gotta find out what a Skeksis is.  If the Dark Crystal isn't a movie it's gonna take a while. 

[Tracy]

2 hours ago, barefoot_yankee said:

Ok, so I'm gonna go out on a limb and say yea, another seed pod. But after being dead for over a year? Now I gotta find out what a Skeksis is.  If the Dark Crystal isn't a movie it's gonna take a while. 

Certainly looks like a flower spathe.  Yes the timing is late but I have seen similar timing with Arenga engleri stalks that I have cut down after flowering, pushing out a spadix just a few inches off the ground. 

[barefoot_yankee]

Thanks Tracy. Yea, I've grown several of these but never once saw a second bloom. It's too bad they don't self pollinate tho....

[tim_brissy_13]

Yes it’s another spathe. Sometimes Caryotas can takes years to go through the process with each new spathe appearing closer to ground level. 

[iDesign]

10 hours ago, barefoot_yankee said:

Now I gotta find out what a Skeksis is...

No one gonna take this on? Challenge accepted!

The movie "The Dark Crystal" by Jim Hensen and Frank Oz (1982) was a financial failure at the time, but still has a cult-like following. It was recently released as a remake on Netflix (though I personally think the original was awesome). Most of the characters were puppets.

The "skeksis" were Reptilian/Bird like creatures which were fuel for many a child's nightmares (ahem, not me of course). The skeksis were the guardians of the "crystal" and while highly intelligent, could also be cruel. They stayed eternally young by drinking the "life essense" of other creatures.

So yeah... that's what you've got.

[barefoot_yankee]

I had no idea how many of you had part time jobs as comedians! Thanks tons for all the answers! 

[Xerarch]

On 7/17/2023 at 7:46 PM, Merlyn said:

I think it is growing a Skeksis from The Dark Crystal. 

That’s hilarious because that’s the first thing I thought of before I even saw your comment.