h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Neptune 'Plant' - A38113409
Author: King Bomba - U891566

It's about time I showed my face in here again. Links will follow, all suggestions and comments welcome.

Interesting! I'd never heard of this plant before (maybe because I don't read newspapers or magazines, except for F1 Racing and I don't think it's ever been advertised in there...) but this entry explained it all very well.

One small nit pick:

"They haven't classified it in any botanical category, because quite botanists have no interest in such things"

Perhaps you meant 'quite honestly botanists...'?

Oh, thanks for that one. I don't know where it slipped in from. It might have started out as 'quite simply because botanists...'

So am I understanding this right if I take it to mean that you think you're buying a plant you never have to water, and you're actually buying the dead skeleton of some algae?

Can you tell I'm really interested by this? I just had a google and a Neptune Plant, complete with insect-repelling properties and its own earthenware pot, can be yours for the low, low price of just £8.99!

To be honest, I'd be much more interested in buying one if they said it was coral-like algae remains

Yes, that's about the size of it. I'm pleased it has tickled your interest Cyzaki!

During my googling I read that the Neptune Plant sold to unwitting magazine-readers and internet shoppers is often the by-product of North Sea trawlers, and that it's also called the Air Fern. Also that they are usually dyed green. Don't know if you want to add these snippets to the entry?

As these are skeletons of algae, do they feel soft and plant-like to the touch, or hard like coral?

It's almost making me want one for the novelty value, although I think on the whole I prefer real plants...

So this is what you've had up your sleeve!

If you want a real "resurrection plant" you're better off with a Rose of Jericho http://www.fisheaters.com/roseofjericho.html

One little nitpick - if I get you right it's not even Sertularia argentea itself that's being sold as a "plant", but its dried - what, husks? (Exo)skeletons?


This scam seems to be similar to "Sea Monkeys"

Nah, Sea Monkeys are great, they're actually alive and they grow and have babies - I had some! I loved watching those shrimpy things diddling around their tank!

But they're just little shrimpy things - the rest is hype! Might as well keep a tank full of water fleas.

Can I come to your Water Flea Circus some time Mal?

Nice Entry KB, you steered clear of delving into 'other' advertising misnomers, thank you

There's probably some nit-pickery to be had, but I can't be bothered with that.

Succint, to the point, informative and - well- good stuff

Hello KingBomba .

It is an interesting entry which I knew nothing about. I feel it will be much easier to understand when you put your links in, perhaps a link with a picture in too will be good .

All the best.

Nigel

Good to see you've weeded out the truth behind this little beauty.

A crap pun's never unwelcome with me, McKay.

Right. Links added, including a link to a picture courtesy of the Marine Life Encyclopedia.

Mentioned dying it green and being trawled up from the sea bed.

Except that it's "dyeing" it green.

You're missing the point, Mal. You're meant to help me with errors in the Entry, not the PR thread.

I looks goof to me

Is that a Freudian slip

no its a I keep breaking my policie against posting at 1am slip
I meant it looks good