Need help identifying a house plant

[rlcomedy]

I've had this plant for a few years but have no idea what it is. Can anyone help identify it?

[Newt]

Hi Rlcomedy,

The picture is a bit small and not very clear, but two plants come to mind.* Both plants have a white sap.* Your plant may have smaller leaves then these plants because it may have been or is rootbound.

Ficus elastica robusta is the first plant that comes to mind.* I don't remember ever seeing them send up shoots like you have.* The leaves are thick and rubbery.* There are several different species, some with red tinged undersides to their leaves.
http://images.google.com/images?gbv=...=Search+Images
http://www.denverplants.com/foliage/html/firobstd.htm

Diffenbachia aka dumb cane.* Most of the plants seen for sale these days are variegated, but there are some solid green ones.* There are many species of Diffenbachia.* The leaves of this plant are not as thick as the rubber tree.* This is an interesting read.* You can search google images for the different species of Diffenbachia using the botanical names mentioned in the article.* Most of the pics you'll find will be variegated ones.
http://plantsarethestrangestpeople.b...p-part-ii.html

Diffenbachia seguine taken at Sage Mountain National Park, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
http://www.kingsnake.com/westindian/...iaseguine1.JPG

Newt

[rlcomedy]

Thanks for the info...but none of the plants you sent me seem to be right. If anyone else can give it a shot I'd really appreciate it. In the picture the small part of the plant is a new shoot. The long one is the old stalk. Once a year one or two new stalks shoot up. It's a single stalk with thick waxy leaves on each side. No flowers.

[Newt]

Wish I could be more helpful.* Maybe the folks at this Botanical Garden site can help. Several botanists and some tropical enthusiasts hang out there.* Be sure to give them as much descriptive info as you can.* Here's their main page to their forum.
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/fo...ffb27b3a8f929&

There are two forums for plant id.* I would suggest you post yours in the 'Indoor Plants' forum.
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/fo...play.php?f=118

Please let us know what you find out.* I'd love to know what it is.

Newt

[rlcomedy]

I got an answer from a local nursery. It's a ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia). I've been watering it too much (it prefers dry conditions) and that's why there isn't more stalks. They told me they are very hard plants to come by. Thanks for your help.

[Newt]

Wow, I would never have figured that out from the picture!* Great plant.* There is a huge one at my doctor's office.* Thank you so much for getting back to us.

Newt

[rlcomedy]

Yeah. From what they told me they usually have more stalks. But since I've been watering it more than it needs its growth may have been affected. Good to finally know what I've had for all these years.

[Newt]

It may need to be repotted as well.* You might find this helpful too.
http://www.plant-care.com/zz-zamiocu...amiifolia.html

Newt