What Plant is This?

[Spuddle]

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Does anyone know what this is? I thought it might be something like a Cape Gooseberry?
Any ideas, please?

[frozenthunderbolt]

A bit hard to tell, but i would punt for either a sunflower/jeruselum artichoke (if that stem has little hairs on) or a tropical pawpaw/papaya type thing if it oozes white latex when the stem is nicked

[Millymollymandy]

I have no idea, but then I don't know what a cape gooseberry is! (Edit: it's Physalis). It isn't a paw paw as I know them.

Where did you get it from - a cutting from someone who doesn't know what it is?

[Spuddle]

I've looked up all the suggestions and it's definitely not sunflower or paw paw. It is a little bit like a J artichoke but I'm pretty sure it's not that either. No hairs and no latex. The leaves have lots of black dots all over them which may not be very clear from the photos. Also, the buds (I think that's what they are) look papery and have darkish blue colour at the base.
I was given the plants by my son who has no idea what they are.

[Millymollymandy]

Wait for the flowers then someone might have a better idea! It's hard to google though isn't it when you don't have a clue!

[Ellendra]

I can't tell for sure what it is, but I can tell you its not a j. artichoke or any of the other things that have been suggested. It looks familiar but I can't pin it down.

[Rosendula]

ooo I like that door in picture 2.

[frozenthunderbolt]

what does it smell like when crushed?

[Millymollymandy]

I wonder if it's a Datura - the leaves look similar but I'm not sure about the spots though.

[hedgewitch]

I'm inclined to say a type of Datura as well but without seeing a flower it's hard to say for sure. It's beautiful whatever it is!

[Spuddle]

I can't tell for sure what it is, but I can tell you its not a j. artichoke or any of the other things that have been suggested. It looks familiar but I can't pin it down.

Yes, it looks familiar to me, too. Infuriating isn't it.

what does it smell like when crushed?

I have tried crushing a leaf but it doesn't smell of anything much.

I have looked at several Google images of Datura plants and I don't think it is that either, although this is the nearest yet. The leaves are very similar but not big enough for a Datura.
It looks as though I shall have to wait for the flowers to open. Then I'll post another pic.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

[Millymollymandy]

I do like this kind of puzzle. Thank goodness for flowers to help with ID though!

[HennyPenny]

My mum had one of these.. I think its an oak leaf datura

[Spuddle]

It's flowered!!

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The first flower opened this morning. It started as a tube then opened into a flattish flower with a slight trumpet shape. No separate petals, just one continuous petal. It is approx 5 cms diameter. Pics 1 & 2 show it fully open. At about 4pm the flower began to close up again into the tube shape. Pic 3 shows it closed half way.
The leaves are 9 cms long by 7 cms wide at the widest point and are covered with tiny black spots.

I agree it does look a bit like a Datura but the flowers don't seem quite right somehow.

Here's hoping someone out there recognises it.

[Millymollymandy]

I don't know what it is, but it is very pretty!