Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Bulbs General => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on January 05, 2016, 10:59:21 PM
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A bit of a "long bow" as this bulb is mostly associated with tropical Africa but is apparently listed as Southern Africa as well: Gloriosa superba.
We grow it in a pot to be able to keep it dry(ish) during its winter dormancy. This is the first time in a couple of years that we've managed to get flowers as the pots were put into light shade and kept watered!
In northern parts of Australia it is considered a weed as it has colonised some beach areas in Queensland (where we saw it many years ago) and NSW,
cheers
fermi
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I wish the weeds when they appear in my garden where as lovely as gloriosa fermi😀
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sort of 'weed' I could do with
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More bad news!
Agapanthus gall midge is the subject of a warning from the RHS - it is a tiny fly that lays eggs on the developing flower buds of Agapanthus. The feeding activities of the larvae inside the buds cause abnormal bud development and infested buds can fail to open.
Agapanthus gall midge is a new species of fly affecting Agapanthus that can cause buds to become deformed and discoloured and fail to flower. It was first noticed in the UK in 2014 but may have been present for several years."
More information:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=901 (https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=901)
Pic from RHS site
[attachimg=1]
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Oh wonderful - after 10+ years in the garden a potful of seedlings have yet to produce a flower. :-\
You can guarantee that when they eventually do so that the midge will turn up - it may even have acquired a scientific name by then.
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Here's a leaf detail of Lachenalia comptonii.
the hairs known as "trichomes" cover leaf surface.[attachimg=1]
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Great photo, Arnold!
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Maggi:
Thanks,
We haven't had much sun here of late. Been unusually warm but cloudy.
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Lachenalia aloides 'Quadricolor', one of four large pots, just keeos flowering away.
Gone a tad floppy due to the sun & mild weather of late, I suspect a constant 3-5c and full sun would suit it better.
johnw
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Lachenalia bulbifera
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1662/24317099032_92eccf28e1_o.jpg)
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There's been some movement with this forest lily, Veltheimia bracteata, the individual flowers on the flower stalk have started to move downwards, won't be long now before there is a good display ;D
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More bad news!
Agapanthus gall midge is the subject of a warning from the RHS - it is a tiny fly that lays eggs on the developing flower buds of Agapanthus. The feeding activities of the larvae inside the buds cause abnormal bud development and infested buds can fail to open.
Agapanthus gall midge is a new species of fly affecting Agapanthus that can cause buds to become deformed and discoloured and fail to flower. It was first noticed in the UK in 2014 but may have been present for several years."
More information:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=901 (https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=901)
Pic from RHS site
(Attachment Link)
Is there anything to kill this - just in case?
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Not yet, according to the RHS article........
Control
Currently the RHS does not know which control methods may be effective against agapanthus gall midge. Practical countermeasures and advice on this pest will result from the on-going studies at the RHS.
Gardeners may wish to pick off and destroy galled flower heads as soon as they are seen but there is no evidence yet to show how effective this may be.
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Not yet, according to the RHS article.
A gall midge has been attacking daylilies in recent years, so the daylily people (American Hemerocallis Society) probably have some suggestions on their web site for dealing with this new pest. I've had no personal experience with either gall midge to date (just dumb luck).
My personal suggestions would be 1) spray with a contact insecticide about the time the adult flies lay eggs, then 2) use a strong systemic insecticide to control the ones your contact spray missed. Rigorously clean up trash around the plants.
Jim in Indiana
where the temperature is 15°F/-9 C, the wind is 15-20 mph, and the wind chill is -2°F/-19 C
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..........(2) use a strong systemic insecticide to control the ones your contact spray missed.
more or less impossible now in the UK Jim, virtually everything that used to be useful is banned.
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Two feet of snow outside and flowers inside.
Lachenalia bifolia
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Lovely flowers with ruby glow, Arnold!
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Lachenalia reflexa
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Tatsuo
Thanks,
My L. reflexa looks to be from another planet.
You light levels must be great.
I'll post you an image when it comes up a bit more.
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Hesperantha huttonii blooming now in my basement under lights.
a cheerful thing
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Holds itself well, too.
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Great color, Rimmer.
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Veltheimia bracteata starting to flower, this one is the white flowering version.
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As you can tell, no doubt, by my silence, nothing much is flowering in these parts at the moment but, I did chance upon a small group of Haemanthus aff sanguineus flowering bravely in the heat of summer (35'C today, 41'C slated for tomorrow!).
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Great to see the loverly haemanthus in its natural habitat rogan.
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just spent a very cold hour in one of the tunnels cleaning all the dead stuff of the top of the pots of rhodohypoxis - looks like most of them have survived winter so far
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Lachenalia zeyheri, i love the colors complexity
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lachenalia vanzyliae blooming in basement under lights
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Veltheimia bracteata in early morning sun and late afternoon sun and a close up.
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Lachenalia reflexa
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just spent a very cold hour in one of the tunnels cleaning all the dead stuff of the top of the pots of rhodohypoxis - looks like most of them have survived winter so far
Coincidentally we have the Rhodohypoxis hybrid "Hebron Farm - pink form" in flower now!
It's the first time this has survived to re-flowered this year; usually they die out after flowering - one of the failures of Southern African bulbs here for some reason.
Probably because of their requirement for water/rain being opposite to what we get normally
cheers
fermi
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Massonia jasminiflora -A form obtained from Rob Scott of Shire Bulbs.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1579/24436914660_7d328bd8be_o.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1448/24104272364_b873b78ee8_b.jpg)
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Steve that's so lovely 8).
Angie :)m
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Many thanks Angie!
It's a bonny wee thing and has the added bonus of a lovely scent.
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Crossyne flava are in bloom again!
A few days ago the gravel was bare and now these blooms have erupted out of the ground and there will be a thousand seeds in a couple of months!
cheers
fermi
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A few more picsof the Crossyne flava - there are 2 colours, a yellowy one and a red-stained one,
cheers
fermi
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Crossyne flava are in bloom again!
A few days ago the gravel was bare and now these blooms have erupted out of the ground and there will be a thousand seeds in a couple of months!
They have completely naturalised at your place, Fermi!
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Hesperantha humilis :)
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Hesperantha humilis
So nice to see such tight growing plants in winter.
Lachenalia algoensis. In bloom in basement under lights
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Beautiful pictures, thank you all. In same cases only reading the name brings to mind the fragrance -- Massonia jasminiflora :)
Lachenalia algoensis. In bloom in basement under lights
You started to give me bad ideas Rimmer - if you don't mind, what temperature do you maintain in the basement?
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Rimmer - if you don't mind, what temperature do you maintain in the basement?
a thermometer next to the Lachenalias says high of 61F (15C) and low of 55F (12C). The high temp is when the T-5 lights are on.
there is also a 15" occulting fan that goes on with the lights to keep things cooler and help stiffen up the stems on plants and reduce damp off on seedlings.
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a thermometer next to the Lachenalias says high of 61F (15C) and low of 55F (12C). The high temp is when the T-5 lights are on.
there is also a 15" occulting fan that goes on with the lights to keep things cooler and help stiffen up the stems on plants and reduce damp off on seedlings.
Thanks a lot. So, it would be fair to say that a temp. +/- 10C would be even better? I could have something like this in a small space that got divided from the garage by the previous owners; no heat but I noticed the temp. remains very constant.
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Gladiolus griseus
These grow almost always within site of the ocean in the Western Cape.
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Arnold,
What a fascinating and intricate flower. Thank you for sharing!
Definitely something I will research when I get a chance.
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Arnold,
That is a unique looking Glad. I can grow winter-growing Haemanthus and Lachenalia in my greenhouse, but I never had much luck getting winter-growing Gladiolus corms to survive the summer here. I have never found the trick to it.
Jim
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Jim:
Most of my SA bulbs spend summers in the good old fashioned cool basement. No water and probably a constant temp of 65-70 F.
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Gladiolus venustus for the first time in flower.
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Last year I posted pics of what I had as Nerine filifolia but obviously wasn't because of the width of the foliage.
A friend gave me some of hers which look correct and they have come into flower now,
cheers
fermi
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Great looking nerines fermi
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Romulea luteoflora from Silverhill :)
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Who needs a sun when you have such a sunny looking plant.
Angie :)
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The plant needs a sun, Angie ;D ;D ;D
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;D ;D ;D
Angie :)
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A self sown Lachenalia mutabilis in a pot of Dracunculus canariensis. Much bigger than the plants in the small original Lachenalia mutabilis pot.
Lachenalia carnosa
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K-D could be the Lachenalia like the fungi that come along with the Dracunculus.
Here's Veltheimia bracteata in full color.
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ArnoldT: Nice, color of the Veltheimia.
Maybe the reason for the size of Lachenalia mutabilis is the fungi and perhaps more water, fertilizer and the bigger pot.
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I encountered three common Amaryllidaceae on a short walk recently - early signs of the approaching bulb season: Boophone disticha; Crossyne guttata (makes me think of Fermi!) and Heamanthus sanguineus.
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Hesperantha vaginata
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Great looking nerines fermi
Thanks, John,
I can't take any credit for them, though as I only got them last year from a friend who had potted them up for me. I hope that they continue to prosper in my care.
Crossyne guttata (makes me think of Fermi!) ...
I hope that's in a good way, Rogan! ;D
I grew this gladdie from seed from the red form of G. papilio but it appears that it is hybridized :(
It'll make a nice addition to the border but I wonder how to get the true form?????
We saw it at Lanarch Castle in NZ a few summers ago after the last NZAGS Study Weekend,
cheers
fermi
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I'm sure they will fermi
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red form of G. papilio- I wonder how to get the true form?????
Every year I grow seeds from an exchange, and haven't ever had a papilio different from the dowdy one I already have.
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Hi Diane,
have you got a pic of what you've flowered?
cheers
fermi
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No
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Lachenalia carnosa from the North-Western Cape.
Some unwanted hitchhikers visible on the close-up
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Crossyne flava now in seed.
Only 4 flower-heads this year so probably only about 1,200 seeds likely ;D
You know the drill!
cheers
fermi
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First flower on Moraea polystachya today,
cheers
fermi
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Albuca spiralis
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Albuca spiralis
Hey, that's cute, Tatsuo 8)
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Unknown Lachenalia
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This one popped up in a pot of miniature Narcissus.
A glad, but which?
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Looks a bit like a homoglossum-glad hybrid, maybe?
cheers
fermi
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I have a very unusual bulb flowering at the moment: Eriospermum lancifolium (I think) - the individual flowers are quite small but, are quite charming when all are open together and releasing a soft, sweet scent, reminiscent of Alyssum or May. The large, textured leaves are very striking indeed.
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Here's another image of the mystery Glad.
Lachenalia vanzyliae
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Rogan,
Eriospermum lancifolium is very fascinating. Both the flowers and foliage are somewhat reminiscent of our native California species, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, Soap Plant. The flowers of Chlorogalum open at night and have a nice fragrance. The white flowers are small and not very showy but the fragrance is worth while as long as the plant is in a somewhat out-of-the-way site.
Arnold,
The mystery Glad is quite nice. Seems like a keeper to me. :)
I enjoy seeing the blooming Lachenalias too. I like the species that have spotted foliage. Maybe they all do? ??? I clearly do not know. Anyway thank you for sharing. :)
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Nerine rosea is now in bloom
cheers
fermi
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Freesia fergusoniae in flower here with me, got some bulbs from Paul last year, first time I ever grown one of the species. Had some greenfly on the unopened buds when the pot was in the greenhouse earlier, but they seem to have recovered thank goodness. They seem to be as easy to grow as the hybrids and scent Is as nice.
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Geissorhiza monanthos
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1474/25796534802_8bb9de514c_o.jpg)
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An unknown Lachenalia at full anthesis
and Lachenalia vanzlyiae. On close-up notice the green spray effect
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Romulea diversiformis
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1464/25930385226_d36ceae2e8_o.jpg)
Babiana rubrocyanea -the Bees got to it before I did.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1719/25861373021_33a9d47049_o.jpg)
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Cyrtanthus falcatus in bloom right now in the greenhouse.
[attach=1]
The green leaves are on Cyrtanthus obliquus. The falcatus bulbs are completely leafless at the moment.
Jim
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Very nice Jim.
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Geissorhiza monanthos
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1474/25796534802_8bb9de514c_o.jpg)
this is similar to your Geissorhiza monanthos but has yellow pollen. AGS seed 15-2888 started 15 Jan 2015 as Geissorhiza purple hyb.
is it possible it is not a hyb. Geissorhiza?
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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Beautiful plant Jim.
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Hi Rimmer,
Looking at my plant again I think it might be G. aspera rather than G. monanthos though any advice on this would be most welcome.
What a wonderful Cyrtanthus Jim!!!
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Hi Steve
yes reading the 1985 Goldblatt monograph on Geissorhiza, your plant seems to follow the description for G. aspera, but i dont think my plant is the same.
is your stem rough?
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Moraea atropunctata.
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Lachenalia orchioides var glaucina
Veltheimia bracteata 'Yellow'
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Lachenalia's are coming into their peak.
Lachenalia arbuthnotiae
Lachenalia thomasiae
Lachenalia juncifolia var. campanulata
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This bulb has flowered in a pot that was sown with Trichopetalum plumosum seed!
Thanks to Steve and Rimer, it looks to be Geissorhiza monanthos. What do you think?
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Sorry for misleading you Pete. Your plant is not monanthos. I think your plant is a form of aspera, as is mine. There are some images of monanthos on this page: http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/GeissorhizaSpeciesThree (http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/GeissorhizaSpeciesThree)
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Thanks Steve. Yes it does look more like G. aspera on the Pacific bulb site.
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Ferraria divaricata with a close up showing pollen sacs. My guess is that a pollinator ducks in to get some nectar and gets a back full of pollen to carry onward.
It is pollinated by carrion and house flies
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That's a wierd flower!
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Moraea aristata.
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Some of the autumn flowering oxalis now in bloom:
Oxalis flava (mauve form)
Oxalis polyphylla v heptaphylla
Oxalis hirta (salmon form)
cheers
fermi
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The Oxalis flava foliage is really neat.
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The Oxalis flava foliage is really neat.
Thanks, Maggi,
we try to keep it tidy,
;D
cheers
fermi
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Thanks, Maggi,
we try to keep it tidy,
;D
cheers
fermi
# sigh#
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I forgot that we found the first flower on Oxalis palmifrons this evening!
cheers
fermi
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Looks to be the last Lachenalia of the season.
Lachenalia comptonii.
Sweetly scented with long trichomes 3-12 mm long.
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While we're on the Oxalis wagon, here's another pretty one from these parts: O.polyphylla, I think?
Daubenya comata is also just staring to come into bloom - I always enjoy the coconut-scented blooms.
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Fantastic Moraea aristata, Michael! 8) If ever you have seed looking for a home - please give me a call... ;)
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We have an autumn flowering bulbs now:
Strumaria salteri
Oxalis meisneri with O.palmifrons behind
Moraea polystachya (seed setting on this one if you want some, Rogan ;D )
Nerine rosea still going strong (but a different clump to the one which was in bloom weeks ago)
cheers
fermi
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Nerine rosa is a beauty fermi
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We got this Lachenalia pauciflora from Jon (Mini Bulb Lover) at our group's "Plant Swap" last month and it's in flower now.
It used to be a Polyxena but that genus was recently "sunk" into Lachenalia,
cheers
fermi
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It won't be on my labels :P
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[attachimg=1]
One blossom in a pot full of Romulea subfistulosa blooming yesterday.
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Ferraria crispa
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Ferraria crispa
A bulb that grows well on several continents, eh, Michael! ;) ;D
An extraordinary flower, in colour and form.
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This is the closest thing we have to a Crocus in South Africa: Syringodea longituba and,equally as beautiful. Unfortunately my camera accentuates the colour blue - they are a deep rich purple in reality.
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I don't care if the colour shown is "wrong"- Rogan - it's gorgeous!
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This is the closest thing we have to a Crocus in South Africa: Syringodea longituba and,equally as beautiful.
Wow, Rogan,
Are you growing it in your garden?
It's one of those plants that I wanted to grow after I first saw a pic in the Cape Bulbs book.
I've had seed from a couple of sources but have yet to get it to flowering size :(
Is there much variation in colour?
cheers
fermi
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The plants pictured above are in pots and, the picture here (taken in the wild) should answer your question about variability, Fermi! The plant itself is a diminutive tuft of green "hairs" whereas, the flowers are relatively huge and crocus-like.
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:o :o :o
You know what the word "covet" means don't you?
;D
cheers
fermi
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Merwilla plumbea
Moraea polyanthos
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love these shots, Arnold.
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Merwilla plumbea
Both very nice Arnold, Merwilla is something I haven't seen before.
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Used to be a Scilla ...
From http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/merwilplum.htm (http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/merwilplum.htm) ........
"Merwilla plumbea is the name given to a combination of several species, namely S. kraussii, S. natalensis and S. plumbea. The description below pertains primarily to the form previously known as Scilla natalensis. This is a graceful perennial bulb, and with its tall plumes of blue flowers, the showiest of the South African genera formerly known as scillas. It is a variable species, with individuals and populations of differing bulb size, flower colour, leaf coloration etc. In general it produces a large bulb, 10 to 15 cm in diameter, covered with firm, hardened, papery brown or purplish tunics (bulb scales). It is deciduous, growing during summer and dormant in the winter. "
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Thank you both. I finally sent the Nikon in for a recall on the shutter system.
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Bought this bulb 2 years ago at the Bakewell AGS show - it has been in the south facing kitchen ever since and has now finally flowered - worth the wait
Scadoxus Multiflorus
[attachimg=1]
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A Lebedouria species from the Huntsdrift area Of SE South Africa.
From a fellow Forum member.
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From the garden today, Tulbaghia 'Purple Eye'. This will still be in flower in November, wonderful value for money. in the background is Aethionema 'Warley Rose'
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At our Rock Garden Group today there were a couple of South African bulbs in flower:
1) my Nerine crispa (now considered to be included in N. undulata)
2) George S's Lachenalia congesta
3) George also had this Haemanthus which he thinks is a hybrid of H. albiflos and H. pauculifolia
cheers
fermi
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Why does George think this is a hybrid?
I have a H albiflos (i think) with wide fuzzy leaves that produces lots of seed by self. The reaulting seedlongs are variable, some narrow, some wide, some more fuzzy than others.
George also had this Haemanthus which he thinks is a hybrid of H. albiflos and H. pauculifolia
cheers
fermi
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In the Northern hemisphere, Resnova megaphylla responded to a recent thunderstorm
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I like this Resnova very much Rimmer. Is it fully dormant in the winter or do you grow it as a house plant and bring it out in the spring/summer?
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it is dormant in winter and grows in warm weather April -~ Nov.
the roots need a tiny bit of moisture while dormant. so stored in pot on basement floor at ~50F- 60F (cool) in winter
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Sounds very good, thank you. Can I ask you where from you got it?
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Palpitations here Rimmer. Hope you have the pollinating brush in working order.
john
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Fabulous.
Bulbs are offered here (http://lifestyleseeds.co.za/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=3153&category_id=18&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1) at least, and seeds here (http://www.koehres-kaktus.de/shop/Succulent-seeds/Resnova---2_780.html).
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Isn't nice to have someone else do the google-ing for you ;-) Thank you Ashley.
And thx again Rimmer.
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Isn't nice to have someone else do the google-ing for you ;-)
For myself too Gabriela, as a hopeless case who can never have too much seed ::) ;) ;D
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For myself too Gabriela, as a hopeless case who can never have too much seed ::) ;) ;D
Is there such thing as 'too much seed' Ashley? ??? :D :)
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Gladiolus undulatus has opened in my garden. This and the earlier-blooming tristis are the hardiest ones I grow.
Neither is very exciting, and I will keep trying with ones like uysiae.
I googled undulatus and discovered it is considered a weed in Australia and New Zealand.
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Beautiful for a weed Diane ;D
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I'm surprised that this delicate little flower chooses to open in the depths of winter!
Hesperantha humilis grown from seed a number of years ago. It was open as we had a sunny morning,
cheers
fermi
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Proper hemisphere and continent this time. Cyrtanthus brachyscyphus is such a good-doer here, it will flower throughout the year if kept moist & cool enough as well as NBF-free.
johnw - a civilized 14.9c here after a hot & humid 25c yesterday.
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NBF-free?
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NBF = Narcissus Bulb Fly.
john
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NBF = Narcissus Bulb Fly.
john
And there was me thinking "no bloody frost"
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Massonia depressa flowering in the Shade-house
cheers
fermi
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A really red Gladiolus, G. teretifolius. This can only mean winter is nearly over and spring, just around the corner - spring? We haven't had winter yet! Of course, this is one of the earliest Glads...
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What we call a "Krimpvarkie" in Afrikaans - Massonia echinata? Flowering in the hills, not too far from here.
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A bit of a Eucomis primer. Three summer flower Eucomis as most of them are.
Some close ups of flowers as well.[attachimg=1][attach=2][attachimg=2][attachimg=3][attachimg=4][attachimg=5]
Eucomis montana purple/brown stamens and a purple ovary
Eucomis Eucomis vandermerwei-heavily purple spotted leaves and a purple flower
Eucomis zambesiaca white flowers with a reported bad smell, which I don't perceive.
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And a group shot.
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Flowering for the first time, in their third growing year, my first Zantedeschia Pentlandii. Much deeper/darker yellow than the hybrids I used to have in the past.
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Albuca shawii tenufolia
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very early flowering for your Eucomis Arnold. Mine are still hiding their flower stalks deep down in the center of the leaves. I guess it will take a couple of weeks before the first flowers open.
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Francois:
I think I cheat a bit and keep them in the greenhouse as it heats up and then move outside.
The only first time flower for me is the Eucomis montana.
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Here's a better shot of the flower fully open.
In lower light the actual purple ovary and stem are truer to color.
Eucomis montana
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Here's a better shot of the flower fully open.
In lower light the actual purple ovary and stem are truer to color.
Eucomis montana
Oooh!
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Odd that this Lachenlia reflexa sown January 2014 from the seedex has not died down and gone dormant since sowing. ???
johnw - +20c, guess the heatwave has been cancelled.....
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Here's a puzzle. I grew Massonia pustulata in about 2012 and complained until this past growing season that there was nary a leaf bump to be seen. Minute ones appeared this past winter however one I gave a friend looks to be what I think of as pustulata as it is quite bumpy. No puzzle so far. He grew his plant in similar conditions to mine, a cool greenhouse, however mine died down as usual in April 2016 & his is still in leaf. He put his outside for the summer, likely in early June. I dropped by last evening and despite the drought - he hadn't been home to water in a few weeks -, the blistering heat and sun in the Annapolis Valley it looks quite fine. Why would it not have died down at the usual time or even later given the stress? Have I been missing out on a few extra months of growing by drying them off prematurely?
johnw - +18c, foggy and showery :-* !
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First flower on Lapeirousia oreogena (from NZAGS Seedex sown exactly 4 years ago 29-07-2012) - this one seems quite dark.
Another pot of seedlings will be in flower soon - from seed from Miriam in Israel - so it will be interesting to see if there is much difference,
cheers
fermi
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First flower on Lapeirousia oreogena (from NZAGS Seedex sown exactly 4 years ago 29-07-2012) - this one seems quite dark.
Another pot of seedlings will be in flower soon - from seed from Miriam in Israel - so it will be interesting to see if there is much difference,
There is a bit of difference between this flower (the first from Miriam's seeds sown in 2010) and the previous one.
The exterior of the bud shows the white marking at the base of the open flower actually is visible from the outside,
cheers
fermi
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I enjoy your dark Lapeirousia, Fermi, it's a beautiful little plant.
Here's a scrumptious Romulean, brightening up my bulb collection between the winter storms: Romulea monodelpha
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Beautiful Rom there, Rogan!
The frosts didn't kill the buds of Babiana odorata this year so there is a good flowering
cheers
fermi
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It's Fermi and I hogging this thread at the moment and, then I say, why not? I am trying to get over my seasonal dose of "yellow fever" after all and, this sure is a good remedy! ;D
Another local charmer that does well in pots: Moraea ciliata - it has strongly scented flowers - sweet, with a hint of cloves.
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Quite right, Rogan - "hog" away, I say! You are showing such charming flowers.
Really must get Fred working on the scent button though, for these scented gems! ::) ;)
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seem to have got a lot of rhodohypoxis again
[attachimg=1]
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Better mouse protection than we have, clearly!
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Better mouse protection than we have, clearly!
I do see a lot of tiny little livers at times.......
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Rhodohypoxis = confetti :D
Undoubtedly a highlight of the season: Moraea tricolor, I raised these plants from seed many years ago and, they never fail to astonish me. They occur naturally not too far south of here, in a region of the Western Cape known as the Overberg.
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That Moraea tricolor is stunning, Rogan!
Bulbinella eburnifolia is now in bloom again,
cheers
fermi
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I went on a short walk in the neighborhood yesterday and encountered an assortment of common bulbs in flower, here and there:
Freesia aff fergusoniae (I do not know how to identify wild freesias!), the highly perfumed flowers and flat fan of leaves are characteristic;
Gladiolus gracilis in an amazing assortment of subtle colours - bright blue, grey to pinkish - this has to be my favourite gladiolus and is strongly scented too;
Babiana patula is very common in the area and prefers more shaded aspects, often growing in deep shade; this form is not scented at all (contrary to descriptions in the literature);
This powder-blue Moraea species pops up all over the place and, I have no idea what its scientific name is! :)
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Wow wow wow! How wonderful to see these Rogan.
Thank you 8)
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This powder-blue Moraea species pops up all over the place and, I have no idea what its scientific name is! :)
Hi Rogan,
fabulous stuff! You planning on opening a B&B? You'd get plenty of takers from here ;D
I love them all, especially the gladdies, but that moraea is intriguing, the colour is so beautiful - it looks like M. tripetala but it is slightly different to pics on the PBS wiki http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/MoraeaSpeciesNine#tripetala (http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/MoraeaSpeciesNine#tripetala)
cheers
fermi
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This little Lapeirousia montana opened a flower today
cheers
fermi
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Drimiopsis purpurea.
[attachimg=1]
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.
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Drimiopsis purpurea.
(Attachment Link)
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Resnoba megaphylla.
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Ledebouria corrugata.
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Moraea macronyx - managed to be on hand when the second set of flowers opened today
cheers
fermi
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Ixia rapunculoides - difficult to photograph under breezy conditions!
cheers
fermi
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A seedling lachenalia which is most likely Lachenalia reflexa
cheers
fermi
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Hesperantha latifolia
cheers
fermi
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Fermi:
Yes L. reflexa.
The flowers never seem to make up fully up for the base.
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Thanks, Arnold,
as this is a seedling which came up in a mixed bulb bed I never remember to label it!
This Moraea is a form of Moraea tripetala which is apparently a widely variable group so is under revision into new species and subspecies. From what I can make out it will be within the M.tripetala range of subspecies!
cheers
fermi
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Eucomis bicolor is really wonderfull this year. When I started to grow these (very long time ago) I remember them to be rather small plants, much smaller than my Eucomis Comosa. But every year they seem to get bigger when in leaf and this year is really record breaking as to the size and height of the plants and they now outperform my bicolors in size of the leaves.
You may notice some non-Eucomis leaves on the pics, just weedy Oxalis Deppei and Amorphophalus Venosum that I get everywhere because I reuse the old potting soil when transplanting my bulbs
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Oh my word! What a fine display of Eucomis! 8)
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Oh my word! What a fine display of Eucomis! 8)
Thank you Maggi,
I have been growing these for almost 30 years now and they slowly multiplied to form this clump - although from time to time I also sell some of my excess bulbs on a local plant fair. Each 12-liter pot contains 4 or 5 bulbs and there must be something like 8 pots of mature E-bicolor here. At the other side of the logs on the second picture I have some more pots with E. Bicolor seedlings. But I only started to sow these bulbs since I'm member of the SRGC :) and i'm still waiting for them to flower.
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Very satisfying, François, when plants establish so well .
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Resnova megaphylla seedlings today- seeds started 3 weeks ago on July 25, 2016
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Resnova megaphylla seedlings today- seeds started 3 weeks ago on July 25, 2016
Sooooo big in three weeks!
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Beautiful little Resnova Rimmer, and they're in a hurry 8)
For those who haven't seen them, Bert Zaalberg has some wonderful photos of SA bulbs here (http://www.massonia.com/gallery/category?cat=S.A.bulbs&page=1).
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Seeds came from these parants
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Gladiolus saundersii, from seed sown in 2009, flowering for the first time.
One of those that hangs its head, so I had to tip it. The markings would show if it were in a pot
on a bench, instead of out in the garden.
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Hesperantha pauciflora - had to bring the pot into work to take a pic when it was open ;D
cheers
fermi
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All three sown in 2014 (from Silverhills seeds), flowering in 2 years, not bad.
Gladiolus gueinzii
Gladiolus mortonius
and Gladiolus saundersii
I think all three would be hardy in the garden here, but for now I still keep them in pots.
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Resnova megaphylla seedlings today- seeds started 3 weeks ago on July 25, 2016
Really great to have so little time.
Which I have at home that have that size are 1 year to grow.
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Really great to have so little time.
Which I have at home that have that size are 1 year to grow.
Resnova megaphylla needs a lot of moisture while in growth- it is not a Desert plant. the mature plants curl up and dry up if they get too hot or too dry. so i placed the pot of fresh seeds (and pots of other S. African summer rain plants) in a large pan of water , the 3" of rain put them in growth mode.
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Here's the last of the summer growing Eucomis.
Eucomis bicolor growing outdoors in New Jersey for greater than 10 years. Plant originally from Ellen Hornig in upstate New York.
Eucomis autumnalis a very tall plant happy in a large pot.
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about 8 year ago I purchased something like 100 seeds of Eucomis Pole-Evansii. For the last 4 years these have been prospering here and flowering abundantly. And yes, I almost have 100 bulbs of Eucomis Pole-Evansii - I grow them by 5 in 12-liter pots. Very easy to grow here, they just need a lot of water.
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Francois:
Do the leaf margins have an fine serrations.
I have two different Eucomis one with serrations and one without. Other than that they are very similar.
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Francois:
Do the leaf margins have an fine serrations.
hello Arnold, the edges of the leaves are perfectly smooth. There is however some variation in the flowers, some are a bit more green, and the density of the flowers also differs as can be seen on the group shot
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hello Arnold, the edges of the leaves are perfectly smooth. There is however some variation in the flowers, some are a bit more green, and the density of the flowers also differs as can be seen on the group shot
Arnold,
I check the leaves of my plants this morning and the borders seem to be not perfectly smooth. Not sure is what I see is what you call fine serrations, but it's so small that untill now it had never cought my attention.
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Drimiopsis davidsoniae.
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Ledebouria galpinii
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Drimiopsis Campersrus.
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Ledebouria?
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Drimiopsis botryoides.
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Todo:
Looks like a match.
Ledebouria 'Huntsdrift'
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whole plant.
Ledebouria 'Huntsdrift'
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This pot of seed raised Hesperantha latifolia seems to have one which might be a hybrid!
Maybe crossed with H. humilis or H. pauciflora which we also have, though H.humilis is usually finished by the time H. latifolia comes into bloom,
cheers
fermi
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Gladiolus watermeyeri grown from NZAGS Seedex 2011; discovered that it's violet-scented but only during the day;
Gladiolus gracilis grown from seed from Gordon Summerfield;
Lachenalia concordiana from seed from Silverhill Seeds;
Babiana pygmaea;
Geissorhiza (maybe) aspera inequalis grown from seed as G.inflexa;
cheers
fermi
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At the recent Leongatha 60th Daffodil and Floral Show http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14607.msg363392#new (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14607.msg363392#new) there were some astounding displays of Lachenalia aloides
cheers
fermi
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whole plant.
Ledebouria 'Huntsdrift'
ARNOLDT Thanks for your help.
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Gladiolus watermeyeri grown from NZAGS Seedex 2011; discovered that it's violet-scented but only during the day;
Gladiolus gracilis grown from seed from Gordon Summerfield;
Lachenalia concordiana from seed from Silverhill Seeds;
Babiana pygmaea;
Geissorhiza (maybe) aspera grown from seed as G.inflexa;
cheers
fermi
Good night Fermi.
I have a question with growing gadiolus watermeyeri.
I tried last year but almost all cultivation died and failed to flourish.
I could give any advice crop.
Greetings.
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Good night Fermi.
I have a question with growing gadiolus watermeyeri.
I tried last year but almost all cultivation died and failed to flourish.
I could give any advice crop.
Greetings.
Hello John,
I can't say that I have done anything special for this Gladiolus. I sow all South African winter-growing species in late summer/autumn and leave the seed-pots outside to get rain on them. I store the germinated pots under cover during the summer to keep them dry while the bulbs are dormant.
When growth resumes in autumn the pots are soaked to make sure they have adequate moisture. A lot of these gladiolus are kept in trays of water while they are growing but I didn't do that with this one.
Good luck with yours,
cheers
fermi
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I got a number of Cyrtanthus spp. seed through the exchanges in January and February 2016. I sowed them under lights at about 16c and the temperature has varied little. I seem to have thoroughly confused the seedlings and want to get them into the greenhouse under natural light and seasonality but at the same want to maximize growth. Their behaviour is understandably rather confusing and I just want to confirm they are summer growers and dormant in winter.
Cyrtanthus angustifolia - all have died down 2 months ago
Cyrtanthus elatus - as for flowering a hopeless case, no dormant period? but not enough heat here to flower it - same with Vallota when we had it.
Cyrtanthus falcatus - all still in full leaf
Cyrtanthus mackenii - all still in full leaf
Cyrtanthus mackenii - most have died down but others that died down some time ago are re-emerging
Cyrtanthus obrienii - all have died down 2 months ago
john
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Hesperantha oligantha from Silverhill Seeds 2013 sown 10-08-2014 and first flower this week
cheers
fermi
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The wet winter has not been great for the lachenalias; the foliage on this Lachenalia bolusii has rotted away!
Hopefully the bulbs will still be okay, the flowers seem to be unaffected (others in the shade-house have suffered more,
cheers
fermi
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A couple from a fortnight ago:
Hesperantha vaginata;
Romulea flava;
cheers
fermi
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Hi Fermi,
I like the dramatic color combination of Hesperantha vaginata. It looks like it is on a show bench. How about in the garden? Easily - growable? I like using dramatic colors like that in our garden. I will be home in a few more days - I hope our garden is not too much of a mess back home. :'( The Meso-American Salvias should be in bloom and more.
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I really enjoy Ferraria species but, don't grow any (:-\) - this one I found growing beside the road in the Little Karoo.
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Dry as a desert here, some major rivers have dried up and a few one can walk across.
My God what is going on in your part of the world? :o Even our rivers have not dried-up during repeated droughts over the years! The San Joaquin River south of the Merced River goes dry, but this is from agricultural over draft.
I hope there is a return to average rainfall soon and that little harm has been done.
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I really enjoy Ferraria species but, don't grow any (:-\) - this one I found growing beside the road in the Little Karoo.
I was really taken with Ferraria when I visited South Africa in 1999. Yours looks like it might be divaricata.
With the exception of crispa I find Ferraria unbelievably slow from seed - seeds of divaricata sown in 2000 have now produced corms about the size of my thumbnail and are still nowhere near flowering size!
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Moraea polystachya. Very early this year.
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Michael,
it's only just finishing here in the Southern Hemisphere :)
Geissorhiza splendidissima (more likely to be G. foliosa..possibly!) is flowering well in the rock garden but need a bit more sun to shine,
cheers
fermi
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Hello John,
I can't say that I have done anything special for this Gladiolus. I sow all South African winter-growing species in late summer/autumn and leave the seed-pots outside to get rain on them. I store the germinated pots under cover during the summer to keep them dry while the bulbs are dormant.
When growth resumes in autumn the pots are soaked to make sure they have adequate moisture. A lot of these gladiolus are kept in trays of water while they are growing but I didn't do that with this one.
Good luck with yours,
cheers
fermi
Thanks for your information.
I have given me such this fall.
Greetings.
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Resnova megaphylla obtained seed 2016.
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Flowerpot on the left obtained from seeds 2015.
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Geissorhiza splendidissima (more likely to be G. foliosa...possibly!) is flowering well in the rock garden but need a bit more sun to shine,
More sun today ;D
cheers
fermi
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What a color!
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What a color!
Actually it's a bit more purple in real life :)
Here's a sparaxis which might be Sparaxis grandiflora,or more likely S. bulbifera, I've been told!
cheers
fermi
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After believing that what I've posted earlier was Geissorhiza splendidissima this morning I discovered this one grown from seed from Miriam in Israel!
cheers
fermi
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Another new flower is a strange little babiana which has the look of an orchid gladdie!
Babiana sinuata, grown from seed from Being Plants, RSA, sown in 2012,
cheers
fermi
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Robert, the latest weather reports aren't holding much promise. Rainfall records in southwest Nova Scotia have been kept since 1870. This summer was the driest on record. Meteorologists are forecasting warmer than average weather for October and November. Apparently, it would have to rain every day in October and half of November to catch up to where we ought to be at this time of year.
http://www.digbycourier.ca/News/Local/2016-09-22/article-4647407/Dry-summer-of-2016-smashes-records-with-one-third-the-normal-rainfall-in-Southwest-Nova-Scotia/1 (http://www.digbycourier.ca/News/Local/2016-09-22/article-4647407/Dry-summer-of-2016-smashes-records-with-one-third-the-normal-rainfall-in-Southwest-Nova-Scotia/1)
The vanishing rivers and streams are a real concern. The little remaining water gets too warm to hold enough oxygen for trout, salmon and other fish. I am hoping that the warm autumn forecast doesn't mean less rainfall. This is a year when I would actually welcome being targeted by a hurricane or tropical storm.
My God what is going on in your part of the world? :o Even our rivers have not dried-up during repeated droughts over the years! The San Joaquin River south of the Merced River goes dry, but this is from agricultural over draft.
I hope there is a return to average rainfall soon and that little harm has been done.
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I thought I could show the difference between the two forms of Geissorhiza splendidissima by positioning the pot with the larger one next to the smaller but couldn't quite get the focus.
I hope it still demonstrates the size difference,
cheers
fermi
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I now think that the smaller Geissorhiza might be G. foliosa.
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/GeissorhizaSpeciesOne (http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/GeissorhizaSpeciesOne)
Here is a sparaxis which used to be a Streptanthera but I'm not sure which species of sparaxis it has been put into,
cheers
fermi
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These deep, velvety jewel colours are superb.
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These deep, velvety jewel colours are superb.
Yes, Maggi,
it's a real "stand-out" colour in the Aussie landscape. The first time I ever saw this I guessed what it was from a description in a book on bulbs without ever seeing a picture. It was when I was in "junior high school" - a friend and I used to scour the land besides the railway tracks for "wildings" like these and transplant them into our gardens.
Speaking of neglected areas - yesterday we noticed this babiana in flower in what was our "SAS Bed" (South African Sand Bed) which was abandonned a few years ago when it got overgrown by the cypress hedge. The Hedge was removed a few months ago as it was dying and the babiana saw its chance! I believe it's Babiana scariosa, though it's not particularly scary ;D
Except I didn't notice the earth-mites on it till I downloaded the pics! >:(
cheers
fermi
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Is anyone growing Eucomis vandermerwei 'Leopard'? It's a little thing, has much spotted leaves and is described as having "spikes of dark-red flowers in late Summer. I bought the plant from Wildside late in July and it hasn't flowerd (although it's possible that it flowered before I bought it but I can't tell. Keith's label says "Best in some sun and reasonable drainage".
So far I've had it in the garden, which is now taking on it's usual Autumn condition, WET! Would it be better for me to pot it up and bring it into the greenhouse and if so should I give it some water from time to time?
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David:
I have a couple of the generic Eucomis vandermerwei which flower in late July.
They sit on the edge of the greenhouse footings outside during the summer.
I give plenty of water and they go into the cool basement for our winter.
Does well as long as I remember to flood it once a week or so.
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Hi David,
I've been growing E. vandermerwei for many years, from seed originally bought from Charles Craib's Penrock nursery in South Africa when it was Ł1:20 per seed! My original stock multiplied so much I gave loads away on the forum a few years ago. I'm almost back to square one and have rather too many again!
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8752.msg237437#msg237437 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8752.msg237437#msg237437)
In my area with similarly wet winters I grow it in a pot and move it into the greenhouse over winter and completely leave it alone under the bench (no water). It retains roots through the winter but doesn't seem to mind getting dry. It gets watered and moved outside again in spring with the other summer-growing bulbs. I would not risk it outside in a wet-winter area personally.
I don't personally recognise the cultivar names applied to this species as none are outside the normal range of variation from seed.
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What a brilliant place this is!
Many thanks Arnold and Darren, gives me all I need. It will go into the greenhouse (when it stops raining!)
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I was out hiking in the mountains (Langeberge) recently and came across these two Gladioli - it was a good walk:
1. Gladiolus grandiflorus
2. & 3. Gladiolus aff carinatus (I am not sure of this id)
I collected seed of G. grandiflorus last year and the seedlings are doing well in captivity :)
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Haemanthus albiflorus, all 27 flowers opened now. Can't capture them all in one pic.
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This is actually North African but i suppose it will be ok here.
Haycinthoides Lingulata
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Haemanthus albiflorus, all 27 flowers opened now. Can't capture them all in one pic.
Amazing, Mr Amazing!
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Babiana stricta forms now in flower,
cheers
fermi
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Moraea spathulata - first flower for the year
cheers
fermi
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Some lachenalias in flower now:
Lachenalia pustulata;
close-up;
Lachenalia orchioides v. glaucina;
Lachenalia splendida in the garden,
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
I finally have had time to enjoy your postings of South African bulbs. I do have one question.... how dry or moist do you keep your Lachenalia bulbs when they are dormant? I have a number of different species coming along from seed very well and the bulbs for the most part have started into growth again. The bulbs were keep moist while dormant without any harm (at least this is how it appears). My thoughts are that they may want to be drier while dormant - or perhaps some species will like drier conditions. Any thoughts on this?
We have a large batch of Babiana stricta coming on from seed. Looks like they will bloom this year for the first time. I hope we get some good variation in flower color as you have.
Cheers
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Robert:
Very good question which I think is hard to answer on a wholesale level.
My Lachenalias spend our East Coast summers in a cool basement and just now are placed in the greenhouse after being repotted and watered once.
I do have some losses of some bulbs. I can't leave them in the greenhouse due to the high temperatures that occur there in summer. I'd be interest in how others over winter the Lachenalias.
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I summer mine on the top shelf of the ghouse where they won't get watered by mistake and as well on shelving in the much cooler coach house, bone dry and alongside Nerines - the Nerine do get a modest drink every 3 weeks as their roots are perennial.
I also store big tubs of L. aloides in full sun in a hatefully hot empty commercial ghouse where it often goes to 120F/130f around noon. These get with zero water, and a few tubs started shooting a week or two ago.
john
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Arnold, John -
Thank you for the information. I might have "dodged a bullet" by keeping the bulbs too moist during their summer dormancy. One pot full is in growth now. The other pot full has not started into growth, however I did check on the bulbs and they seem quite healthy.
With our extreme summer heat it can be questionable about moisture levels during dormancy, and for me, especially with something new. My plan was to keep the bulbs fairly dry, however I was out-of-town frequently this summer. This created difficulties and I needed a simple plan while I was away. I guess it worked this time around. :)
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... I do have one question.... how dry or moist do you keep your Lachenalia bulbs when they are dormant? I have a number of different species coming along from seed very well and the bulbs for the most part have started into growth again. The bulbs were keep moist while dormant without any harm (at least this is how it appears). My thoughts are that they may want to be drier while dormant - or perhaps some species will like drier conditions. Any thoughts on this?
Hi Robert,
Like Arnold and John we keep our lachenalia bulbs in pots dry over summer, usually under cover but not necessarily protected from the heat.
I'm not sure if some are more susceptible to desiccation but it's hard to know why some bulbs don't come back in the autumn/winter.
We do have some lachenalia in the garden which are grown where we don't water over summer but it does sometimes rain and we don't seem to have many losses there,
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
I appreciate your reply. I certainly value your experience and observations. Your climatic conditions are very similar to ours - something that is wise to consider. In the future I will treat Lachenalia as I do our California native bulbs - potted plants placed in dry shade. I find that in general there is little or no desiccation of potted bulbs if they are left growing in place, undisturbed in at least a 01 gallon nursery container (01 gallon is a standard size nursery container in California). Sometimes we have desiccation issues when the bulbs are left in their 10 cm square seed pots. I tend to move the germinating seedlings into 01 gallon containers as soon as possible. This has worked very well for us.
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I'm not sure if some are more susceptible to desiccation but it's hard to know why some bulbs don't come back in the autumn/winter.fermi
I'm have a feeling you could be quite correct but having so few bulbs of some species I'm hesitate to do a trial by fire. We need a good "care" chart.
john
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Since the late 80's I have been growing this strong pink Nerine under several names. N. bowdenii 'Pink Surprise', N. bowdenii 'Pink Distinction' and even N. bowdenii 'Pink Triumph'. Most images of these three are hopelessly muddled on the internet. It flowers extremely late, usually in early November. Now Malcolm suggests it is in fact Nerine 'Pink Triumph', a cross of N. undulata x N. bowdenii. Shocking that it has weathered nearly thirty winters in this climate, once when I was dividing them I noticed that though they were quite deep in the ground several of the necks had frozen off at some point in the past. I presume it is significantly more tender than N. bowdenii itself.
This year two white Nerine bowdenii are going to flower and I hope to cross them to see if I can get some healthy whites. The first flower of a white from Ken Hall opened (pictured) and N. bowdenii 'Bianca Perla' is just about to open.
john - to 21c today, rain tomorrow but not a drop from the Hurricanes.
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Here in the "deeper South" it is spring and more South Africa geophytes are in bloom:
Ixia trifolia;
yellow ixias with dark centre;
Babiana spathacea;
Moraea setifolia;
Geissorhiza monanthos;
cheers
fermi
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A colourful Massonia species about to enter dormancy:
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Hi Rogan,
it's probably as attractive now as when it flowered (especially attractive to seed collectors ;D)
Another one from us - Geissorhiza radians
cheers
fermi
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I found another supplier of seeds from South Africa in small quantities at reasonable prices.
Only got the seeds this week so can't say anything about germination rates, etc
www.seedsforafrica.co.za (http://www.seedsforafrica.co.za)
cheers
fermi
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Once again we have Gladiolus liliaceus in flower;
1) it opens a muddy orange-red during the day;
2) in the evening it starts to become more purple;
3) at night it has turned to mauve-purple and has become clove-scented!
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
You grow Gladiolus liliaceus in a pot.... tender to cold weather?
Or maybe the weather is too cool in the spring to enjoy the scent in the evening out-of-doors?
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Hi Robert,
no, it's not tender as far as I know; we got it in this pot last year and I hadn't decided yet whether to plant it out or not.
Being in the pot makes it easier to bring in side to photograph, though!
cheers
fermi
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Empodium namaquensis
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5337/29739109124_2bdc505a63_o.jpg)
Cyrtanthus sanguineus
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5650/30252942522_f9e9fdc7c6_o.jpg)
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Speaking of neglected areas - yesterday we noticed this babiana in flower in what was our "SAS Bed" (South African Sand Bed) which was abandonned a few years ago when it got overgrown by the cypress hedge. The Hedge was removed a few months ago ...
As well as the babiana, now some moraeas are blooming! There are some bluish ones which fade by the evening but these white ones were in fullflower when I got home but the labels are long gone. I have no record of planting a white one - the only one that looks similar on the pbswiki, M. vespertina, is not in any of my lists of seeds sown.
Any other suggestions?
cheers
fermi
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I'm thinking Moraea (formerly Gynandriris) cedarmontana.
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Thanks, Darren,
I'm pretty sure you're right - I seem to remeember that name - and probably bought as Gynandriris,
cheers
fermi
-
Empodium namaquensis
Such a fantastic picture, well done!
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This is a geissorhiza we got from NZAGS Seedex as Geissorhiza darlingensis which matches pics on the Pacific Bulb Society's wiki page http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/GeissorhizaSpeciesOne (http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/GeissorhizaSpeciesOne)
but not the one on SANBI http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1535-82 (http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1535-82), looking more like their pic of Geissorhiza purpureolutea http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1535-82 (http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1535-82)
So I wonder which one it really is!?
Any suggestions?
cheers
fermi
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My SABG seeds arrived this week. When I opened the packet of Haemanthus humilis ssp. humils deep pink to my surprise all nine seeds had sprouted and rooted. I feared they'd collapse upon planteiung but they seem not to have skipped a beat.
johnw
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John
I think those were my seeds. I sent them to Bill in September, so they have been in the packet a while, and all these fleshy seeded South African amaryllids seem to germinate immediately, regardless of where they are. This is one reason the seed is so difficult to obtain - it is difficult to store for any length of time. The ones with small seeds e.g. Strumaria can arrive quite dessicated because of this, and I usually soak them for a few hours before sowing. All want light to germinate, so I surface sow on top of damp sand. If there are roots already, I carefully poke a hole in the sand to give them a start. Best of luck with them anyway.
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The Haemanthus seed were indeed yours, with thanks, Jon and I'm tickled to at last have seedlings underway. I failed to mention I put them under fluorescents upon planting for fear they'd sunburn in the ghouse, in a few days time I'll move them to a bright spot in the ghouse during a cloudy stretch of weather.
A pic of all 9 of 9.
Thanks again,
johnw - +10c, another blow and deluge on the way.
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100% germination is always satisfying 8)
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The first of the mixed seedlings of Ixia 'Teal' (which is itself a seedling/hybrid of Ixia viridiflora) are starting to flower,
cheers
fermi
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Nerine labelled as N. gaberonensis blooming in a pot now.
Flower is about 2" across.
is this Nerine identified correctly?
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We received this white watsonia a few years ago but the wet winter seems to have spurred it on to new heights.
It appears to be Watsonia borbonica subsp ardernei maybe the form called "Ardern's White",
cheers
fermi
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White watsonia is very pretty - looks to have good-sized flowers, too.
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White watsonia is very pretty - looks to have good-sized flowers, too.
At over 150 cm high everything is good-sized ;D
Albuca canadensis (AKA Albuca maxima) is also a tall grower; a bit like a snowdrop on steroids? :o
;D
cheers
fermi
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Strumaria truncata and the red form (ssp. rubella) both in flower now. I think these have a rather "graceful" appearance. The flowers are held on tall-ish stems sometimes up to 30cm tall for me but often shorter.
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Real beauties Paul. Lovely to see.
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Strumaria truncata With pink or yellow tint.
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Strumaria gemmata With a yellowish flower.
Last photo next to white flowered Strumaria discfera
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Strumaria saltieri. In bud in front and early leaves in back
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Some iPhone pics of polyxena maughanii. From Middelpos
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Strumaria karooica a pot past prime. And it's fuzzy leaves
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1 year old seedlongs of "strange notched" form of Massonia from Gouritz
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1 year old seedlongs of "strange notched" form of Massonia from Gouritz
Genetic or stress-induced? I've seen this on bulbs before, even on shrub growth, and always assumed the latter.
johnw +5c and drizzling.
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Genetic or stress-induced? I've seen this on bulbs before, even on shrub growth, and always assumed the latter.
johnw +5c and drizzling.
On every one in the seed batch and not on any in any other seedling batch?
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It is most likely a damage to the small plant cells growing out.
I've had it with Arum and Ariseama seedlings.
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Lachenalia pusilla seed from PBS sown 2012.
Erle in Anglesey
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Ixia viridiflora from seed sown July 2015. The background is a bromeliad in another pot.
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Anthony,
Lovely Ixia viridiflora. :)
I have heard a rumor (most likely false) that this species can be short lived. Anyone with an answer?
I tend to keep some South African bulbs in pots (Ixia, Sparaxis, etc.) as they can be weedy seedy, at least for us. Any thoughts on this? I spend much time weeding Sparaxis - and trying to keep some of the better looking ones. They hybridize and seed all over the place.
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Does Daubenya seed have any special requirements? I have sown it on several occasions including a few weeks ago and have not had any sprout. Usual method. sharp draining mix with pumice added, seeds barely covered then a very light layer of sharp grit. Temp is around 18c under lights. Too warm perhaps, though have sown cool in the past?
johnw
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I've sown it three times, always in February, and kept in the heated portion of my house. (not excessively heated - about 20° in the daytime, lower at night). The quickest germination was Gordon Summerfield's seed which took about 7 weeks.
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I sow Daubenya seed in August, with all my winter growing bulb seed. It is sown around 1cm deep and then kept at ambient temperatures but in a cold greenhouse or frame. It is the fluctuation between warm days and cool nights in September that I find triggers germination. Keeping it at a constant temperature is not advisable, either warm or cool. I also think that shallow sowing is not a good idea, Ian Young has recorded his reasons for this with other bulb genera and I agree with him.
I sowed 3 species from two different sources this August and every seed had germinated by late October.
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Thanks all. I'm never certain whether or not these winter growers want cool, warm or fluctasting temps to germinate. With winter-growing Rhodophiala I do best sprouting warm under lights, grow them for a year and then sync them with the proper season in the cool ghouse next time round. That way I get bigger bulbs faster and they transition well. Same for Massonia but with all I can't push this beyond 1 year.
john
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John,
I think I'd do the same as you for Rhodophiala as the seed does not seem to tolerate storage well.
I know lots of people who sow Massonia seed in spring, from the winter seed exchanges, and do fine with them. They then stay in growth through their first summer. Like you say - once past the yearling stage they are more demanding of a dry summer rest.
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Thanks Darren, good to know I'm on a reasonable path.
I grew a batch of Massonia pustulata seed in 2012 or 2013 and gave one to a friend here in 2015, the rest I sent to the UBC Rare Plant Sale this spring. Despite my instructions he put the pot outdoors this past spring and it paid no attention to the hot dry summer in the Annapolis Valley (pic 1 shown before). I'm baffled and not only that he got a flower bud on that now big lusty plant, the few I kept though very much smaller (pic 2) are all showing buds now.
johnw - +11.3c & overcast
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There are 4 different Polyxena pots that were sown same time, December 2011. They started to bloom in autumn 2014 but the smallest one still have single flower.
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Do the white and pink versions breed true from seed Tatsuo?
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Do the white and pink versions breed true from seed Tatsuo?
Yes, I think so, Maggi. These are species and from Silverhill Seeds. Taller multi-flower white one is P. ensifolia and pink is P. maughanii.
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Polyxena corymbosa :)
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Lovely plants and beautifully grown Tatsuo :)
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Thanks, Ashley. Polyxena is one of the easiest growing SA bulbs here.
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Polyxena corymbosa :)
So pretty.
Angie :)
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Strumaria saltieri
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Somebody gave me this little bulb some time ago - he couldn't remember where he got it from! To me it resembles a Drimiopsis sp, except the flower looks more like a Ledebouria to me but, then again, some people think they're one and the same. I'm hoping the flower will open more in a day or two. Sorry, I'm not much use... ::)
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Hi Rogan,
could it be Resnova megaphylla?
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Resnova (http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Resnova)
cheers
fermi
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could it be Resnova megaphylla?
Thanks for the suggestion, Fermi. I do not know or understand this group of plants very well but, whatever this plant turns out to be, it's a pretty little thing and it adds a spot of interest to my collection.
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Hi all ,
Are here any plant collectors who have grown plants from Charles Craib / Penrock seeds?
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14900.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14900.0)
Hans
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Here's a Lachenalia, formerly Polyxena. Most likely L. pgymaea. A form from Silverhill with a slight purple blush to the petals.
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A summer growing Gladiolus.
Small bulbs pushing up from the surface.
Flowers not yet open.
Gladiolus dalenii.
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Lachenalia ensifolia (syn. Polyxena ensifolia) :)
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Lachenalia ensifolia (syn. Polyxena ensifolia) :)
Beautiful! 8)
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Thanks, Matt. The flowers have just started to open and I like this stage much better than full blooming.
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Daubenya zeyheri in bloom today
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Haemanthus humilis with huge leaves over a Foot long.
This flowered in August.
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14671.msg363011#msg363011 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14671.msg363011#msg363011)
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Daubenya stylosa
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This came as seed from the final Penrock seeds list in 2012. It was listed as 'Massonia sp' from a small scattered colony on Hantamsberg. It appears to be actually Polyxena (Lachenalia) maughanii. However - it is by far the best, most compact, form of this I've grown. I usually find that ensifolia/maughanii get very drawn up due to our poor light in November, with flowers squeezed between two upright leaves. This one remains very flat. Second picture has my thumb for scale
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Very nice, Darren. How can you tell its not a Massonia?
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A good question Ralph.
Nothing scientific but the short stamens down inside the flower tube just doesn't look very Massonia to me.
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Another couple of distinguishing features that are easily observable are that 1. In Massonia the bracts of the flowers are large and leafy whereas in Polyxena (Lachenalia) they are inconspicuous and 2. The fruits containing the seeds are three-angled or three-winged while in Polyxena the fruit shapes are simple ovoids or oblongs.
Paul
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Another couple of distinguishing features that are easily observable are that 1. In Massonia the bracts of the flowers are large and leafy whereas in Polyxena (Lachenalia) they are inconspicuous and 2. The fruits containing the seeds are three-angled or three-winged while in Polyxena the fruit shapes are simple ovoids or oblongs.
Paul
Thank you for that Paul, I was struggling to work out obvious differences. Sometimes you just seem to know what a plant is or isn't but can't say why!
Bracts are certainly inconspicuous. First year of flowering so I have not observed fruits yet. Anyway, according to the Lachenalia monograph, both the locality and the habitat (doleritic clay soils) stated in the seed list are consistent with L. ensifolia ssp maughanii
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Wherever I go I make sure I take a few Sandersonia aurantiaca bulbs with me; they are very rewarding to grow if you give them a cool protected spot out of the wind - last year mine got blown to pieces in their new home... In SA we call them Christmas Bells as they flower at the height of summer - X-mas in the southern hemisphere.
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This came as seed from the final Penrock seeds list in 2012. It was listed as 'Massonia sp' from a small scattered colony on Hantamsberg. It appears to be actually Polyxena (Lachenalia) maughanii. However - it is by far the best, most compact, form of this I've grown. I usually find that ensifolia/maughanii get very drawn up due to our poor light in November, with flowers squeezed between two upright leaves. This one remains very flat. Second picture has my thumb for scale
Really lovely Darren.
Angie :)
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Thank you Angie - and nice to hear from you :)
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Before we went on holidays this Gladiolus opened its first flowers:
Gladiolus miniatus, NZAGS seedex sown 29-07-2012,
cheers
fermi
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I posted pics of this gladdie a couple of years ago; it was grown from seed from NARGS Seedex as G. permeabilis but I think it might be Gladiolus wilsonii (though I stand to be corrected)
cheers
fermi
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I didn't get a chance to post these pics last month:
1,2 ) Ixia polystachya
3,4,5 ) Ixia rouxii
cheers
fermi
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Some of the Ixia 'Teal' seedlings from last month:
1) Ixia 'Teal' and hybrid seedlings;
2) pink seedling;
3) pale blue with large purple centre;
4) pale blue with blue centre and yellow centre;
5) almost white, purple centre,
cheers
fermi
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To me the most exciting seedlings are the ones that look very close to Ixia viridiflora which I presume was a parent of 'Teal'
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
The Teal seedlings are fantastic.
We have a large selection of seedlings coming on that should bloom this spring. ;) Perhaps they will be just as interesting. I will share photographs when they bloom. I do have some I. viridiflora coming on too. A back cross with I. viridiflora seems in order. As you say, "most exciting". 8)
A batch of Ixia rouxii bloomed for us last year and the plants are even stronger this year. Too much chaos when they bloomed. :P
Anyway, thank you for sharing.
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fermi - if you are trying to make be swoon with envy with those photos, I have to tell you you are succeeding! 8)
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Isn't that colour the most incredible thing!! Love it.
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I second Matt about the colour! Quite rare for other species as well.
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Thanks, everyone,
not that I can take any credit - all "bee-hybrids" as Alan McMurtrie calls them ;D .
Most of the flowers have fallen now so I may not be able to differentiate between the different colours but I'll try to collect seed if anyone wants it (I did donate some to last year's Seedex but wasn't sure if anyone was interested) - just send me a PM,
cheers
fermi
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Lachenalia viridiflora
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Another turquoise beauty!
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Clivia gardenii from Midlands, Natal.
A bit pale as i found in basement under dim lights.
3rd pic after a few days under brighter light.
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Great shot to show the shaping of the buds, Rimmer.
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This is Freesia caryophyllacea, I've had it labeled as Freesia Elimensis which doesn't seem to exist.
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Lachenalia punctata, pollinated by sunbirds.
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This is Freesia caryophyllacea, I've had it labeled as Freesia Elimensis which doesn't seem to exist.
Really beautiful Freesia.
Angie :)
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Lachenalia ‘November Fantasia’
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Lachenalia ‘November Fantasia’
Wow!
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Wow!
Yes wow you still have green leaves on the trees.
Heading into the deep freeze here
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Brrrr! Too cold, Rimmer!
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Could this possibly be a seedling of Romulea sabulosa? As you can see I sowed the SRGC seed last February. I kept the pot in a plastic bag under lights at 17c for a month or so then moved it to a very warm greenhouse which got to over 40c every day until October. Occasionally the pot got watered but it was severely neglected as I had given up hope. Today I noticed this sole germinated seedling. What makes me very suspicious is that minute round green thing hiding in the gravel.
If it is sabulosa I expect it will be quite a challenge to grow on.
john
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Pelargonium curviandrum - in flower after the foliage has died down (no, I don;t keep it in a tray of water at this time of year - it was just a convenient place to take the pics!)
cheers
fermi
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Very nice Fermi. If ever you have seed to spare ... ;) ;D
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I know, it's a Lachenalia now but I'll continue to go with my label, Polyxena longituba from seed. I didn't realise the pot had a large clump of grass it it until I taken the pictures. Job for tomorrow!
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Oxalis obtusa pink.
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Lachenalia ensifolia white.
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Ornithogalum adseptentrionesvergentulum.
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We got this Watsonia socium (syn Watsonia pillansii) from Glenbrook Bulb Farm (not just daffodils ;D ) last year but it has bulked up to flower well this summer,
cheers
fermi
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Ornithogalum adseptentrionesvergentulum.
Must need a hellofalabel? ;D
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Lachenalia ensifolia.
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Lachenalia viridiflora.
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Lachenalia trychophylla in bloom now. Kept rather dry in a small clay pot.
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Very well grown Rimmer! I have had seedlings several times but never got them past their first dormancy.
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Darren
these are difficult!
they love to rot away, mine is in pumice in a tiny clay pot and grown very dry. close to the lights
but i cheated and started with a bulb that started to rot away last year. I was told to dry out and this is the result.
i have several pots of seedlings of both hairy and non hairy forms l started in Sept so i will see how they fair, the hairy form has germinated but the pustulate, non hairy form has not germinated
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Best of luck with those seedlings Rimmer - they look good.
Interested in your labels - you seem to have obtained locality data from Silverhill. Did you just request it? It isn't in their catalogues.
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Thank you Darren.
Yes if you request it before you order, Rachel can provide provenance, if available.
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But the location is called Botterkloof Pass and not Botteroff pass ;)
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Very nice Fermi. If ever you have seed to spare ... ;) ;D
You might be lucky, Ashley ;)
Today we stopped when we saw this patch of Ixia - possibly I. polystachya growing at the side of the road,
cheers
fermi
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oxalis massoniana.
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Massonia tenella.
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Wurmbea stricta beginning to bloom from seed started Feb 2014
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lachenalia quadricolor or aloides
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lachenalia splendida from AGS seeds started 15 Sept 2014
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Lachenalia are quick to flower from seeds, here's a baby Lachenalia corymbosa.