Question
I don't not have a scanner or a digital camera,
but will this may help
I looked further at the books at work - the term whorl may be the wrong term. the small leaves (or spikes) all start from a center point or junction.
The different "spike balls" often have spikes that connect to other "spike balls"

the longer tuber roots are 3" to 4" longs and pale skinned

Can you refer me to any web sites that I can look at photos??
or give even some guesses so I can look it up??

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I am a Sgt at a prison in Kansas running a Greenhouse. I recently acquired a plant from another prison greenhouse.
I was told it is "some kind of fern."  
it has
1 whorled - Bundled/Fascicled leaves 12 to 50  leaves in each - about 3/4" across each half round looking bundle

2  leaf margins are smooth - leaves are Linear very narrow 1/16" or less wide about 1/2" long

3 the stem has branchs like a miniature tree. the stem has a bark like look and thorns angled downward below each branch

4 entire plant is about 18" tall and 10" across

5 the roots are tubular - fat root sections like a airplane plant roots.

6 vaguely looks similar to asparagus fern in the spike leaves but has a much more mini tree look to it

any ideas??

-----Answer-----
Hi Mike,

Your plant is not a fern, but I am confused by your description. Can you email a photo to me at [email protected]?

Thanks,
Will Creed

Answer
Hi Mike,

I am still not getting a clear image of your plant. In fact, I cannot be sure it is a tropical or indoor plant, which is my area of expertise. Not having a photo to work with make it almost impossible.

NeoFlora is the best site to help you identify plants. It allows you to search by common name, by description, and by plant characteristics.

http://www.neoflora.com/search.html

Interiorscape Plant Photo Gallery has photos of 145 of the most common indoor plants. You can enlarge each photo for excellent detail.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/interiorscape/

Good luck and let me know if you are able to ID it.

Will