Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: TheOnionMan on January 12, 2010, 09:15:40 PM
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I think everyone has come across odd aberrant flowers or growth forms on their plants here and there. I have started this thread to explore weird and wacky aberrant flower and plant growths. I'll kick it off with four examples.
1. The first couple photos show Allium cernuum with a monstrose fasciated stem and inflorescence, as if several stems and flowers heads fused together judging from the abnormal density of the flower head. In subsequent years, all growth on the subject plant returned to normal.
2. The next example is just a weird distorted inflorescence on Allium senescens spotted this past summer.
3. I dabble with "hardy hibiscus" hybridization, and one of my unnamed hybrids from 'Anne Arundel' routinely, but not always, makes 4-petal blossoms (Hibiscus typically have 5 petals). It has been doing this since 2003, with approximately 10-20% of the blossoms being 4-petalled. Included is a photo showing a normal 5-petal bloom on the same plant.
4. Another Hibiscus, H. syriacus 'Bluebird' (the true form) routinely makes 6 & 7 petalled flowers, although typically they are 5-petalled. One of my favorite shrubs of all time, it is superior to the so-called improved cultivar heavily marketed today, H. Blue Satin (aka H. syriacus 'Marina'). There is a photo comparing the blooms, included here to show both a 5 and 7-petalled bloom on 'Bluebird' on the right, compared to the smaller regularly 5-petalled blooms on Blue Satin on the left.
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Mark, this is an intriguing thread and I wonder what causes a bulb to throw up as an aberration such as in your Allium cernuum and then revert back - is it the feeding of the bulb? Would like to be enlightened ::)
Your H. syriacus 'Bluebird' is one of my favourite shrubs too and what a beauty you are growing in your garden - Wow 8) They grow well here in the Swiss mountains but not so perfectly ;D
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Mark, this is an intriguing thread and I wonder what causes a bulb to throw up as an aberration such as in your Allium cernuum and then revert back - is it the feeding of the bulb? Would like to be enlightened ::)
Hi Robin, not completely sure why this aberration happened. As you can see growing all around it are quite normal forms of Allium cernuum. The area where these plants are growing is in front of a stone wall that separates my property from the narrow country street, an area that does get inundated with salted-sand debris from winter snow-plowing. I just throw real tough stuff up in front of the wall, so there's no irrigation or feeding going on there (I don't feed my plants anyways, never have).
My guess is, this is instability caused by some level of hybridization... many of the A. cernuum plants in my garden have crossed with numerous other collected forms of cernuum (it's a very diverse species), as well as hybridizing with a few other species. That said, it seems that certain odd characteristics become more common among my diverse gene pool. I have had other Allium cernuum plants, which normally have about 30 florets, show up with inflorescences that are incredibly dense, up to 200 florets, but without the strange fasciated stems... just what I call "multi-flora" types. In some of these, the multifloriferous characteristic is stable, in others, it'll show up one year, then return to normal in other years. Weird.
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Your H. syriacus 'Bluebird' is one of my favourite shrubs too and what a beauty you are growing in your garden - Wow 8) They grow well here in the Swiss mountains but not so perfectly ;D
The problem with H. syriacus 'Bluebird' is getting it true to name. Most often seen in nurseries, it has been seed-grown, these plants are invariably inferior, with miserable yellowish-green foliage (deep green and fully developed in the real 'Bluebird'), and paltry small flowers 1/3rd the size of the large and sumptuous flowers of the true plant. I've grown hundreds of seedlings myself, and the cultivar 100% reverts back to an inferior plant if grown from seed. True 'Bluebird' is also a slow grower compared to many "Rose of Sharon" cultivars, another asset. And, like most H. syriacus cultivars, they need (require) annual pruning to thwart the tendency for poorly branched willowy growth, responding very well to such pruning with increased branching, increased flowering, and compact growth. Everyday from late July - October, I look out of my bedroom window and become astounded with the incredible bounty of large blue blooms.
The new replacement for 'Bluebird' is called Hibiscus Blue Satin (a trademark name, real name is H. syriacus 'Marina', although you'll only find it as Blue Satin), which has much smaller deeper blue flowers that don't open as well (they stay funnel shaped), flowers that only last 1 day (they last 2 days with 'Bluebird'), less floriferous, inferior growth form, and not as hardy and showing lots of winter kill and die-back each year (whereas 'Bluebird' is 100% hardy).
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All very interesting Mark, thanks for your detailed explanations...I shall look more closely at the Hibiscus growing here in the Alps this year. They certainly are hardy!
My interest in strange aberrations was initiated by a siamese cucumber that grew in our glasshouses as a child and I photographed it with my Brownie camera ;D
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True 'Bluebird' is also a slow grower compared to many "Rose of Sharon" cultivars, another asset.
McMark, surely " Rose of Sharon" refers to Hypericum.... not Hibiscus ??? Well it does in the UK, anyway.... another problem with naming , common or otherwise!
Witness the "Hibiscus Blue Satin (a trademark name, real name is H. syriacus 'Marina' ..... for goodness sake, if the name is Marina then why is that not trademarked for use rather than sonmething completely other? crazy business! :P
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True 'Bluebird' is also a slow grower compared to many "Rose of Sharon" cultivars, another asset.
McMark, surely " Rose of Sharon" refers to Hypericum.... not Hibiscus ??? Well it does in the UK, anyway.... another problem with naming , common or otherwise!
"Rose of Sharon" can be either Hibiscus or Hypericum, and according to the Wikipedia reference below: "the most accepted interpretation for the Biblical reference is Pancratium maritimum" ::)
Rose of Sharon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_of_sharon)
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True 'Bluebird' is also a slow grower compared to many "Rose of Sharon" cultivars, another asset.
McMark, surely " Rose of Sharon" refers to Hypericum.... not Hibiscus ??? Well it does in the UK, anyway.... another problem with naming , common or otherwise!
"Rose of Sharon" can be either Hibiscus or Hypericum, and according to the Wikipedia reference below: "the most accepted interpretation for the Biblical reference is Pancratium maritimum" ::)
Rose of Sharon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_of_sharon)
Go figure, as they say!
This is from that page: " # Hypericum calycinum, an evergreen flowering shrub native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia, and the plant generally referred to in British and Australian English as "Rose of Sharon"; and
# Hibiscus syriacus, a deciduous flowering shrub native to east Asia, the plant generally referred to in American English as "Rose of Sharon" and the national flower of South Korea. The specific epithet indicates that the plant was thought to originate from Syria. "
in British and Australian English /in American English ..... there we have it! :-X
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This is from that page: " # Hypericum calycinum, an evergreen flowering shrub native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia, and the plant generally referred to in British and Australian English as "Rose of Sharon"; and
# Hibiscus syriacus, a deciduous flowering shrub native to east Asia, the plant generally referred to in American English as "Rose of Sharon" and the national flower of South Korea. The specific epithet indicates that the plant was thought to originate from Syria. "
in British and Australian English /in American English ..... there we have it! :-X
That's what I like about this forum, a global perspective, and learning new things ;D I have never heard the name "Rose of Sharon" referring to Hypericum (and specifically, it seems, referring to Hypericum calycinum). Just checked my volumes of Bean's Tree & Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, and the common name is referenced for H. calycinum only, along with an alternate common name of Aaron's Beard. In the US there's no ambiguity, Rose of Sharon stricky refers to the commonly planted Hibiscus syriacus. I know you googled Rose of Sharon, doing so shows an overwhelming avalanche of hits for Hibiscus syriacus cultivars.
Speaking of Hypericum, another favorite genus of mine, so many fantastic native woody species here in the US, and of course, a genus well represented in many parts of the world. Common name: St. John's Wort, now I'm going to have to research where this name came from.
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Speaking of Hypericum, another favorite genus of mine, so many fantastic native woody species here in the US, and of course, a genus well represented in many parts of the world. Common name: St. John's Wort, now I'm going to have to research where this name came from.
"The genus name Hypericum is derived from the Greek words hyper (above) and eikon (picture), in reference to the traditional use of the plant to ward off evil, by hanging plants over a religious icon in the house during St John's day. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Johns_Wort (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Johns_Wort)
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Witness the "Hibiscus Blue Satin (a trademark name, real name is H. syriacus 'Marina' ..... for goodness sake, if the name is Marina then why is that not trademarked for use rather than sonmething completely other? crazy business! :P
This is a despicable marketing trend whereby old or existing cultivars are identified and rebranded with a new trade mark name! In big-box or "lay-person" nurseries you'll sometimes see this, a plant bearing what appears to be a cultivar name but without quotes, then with the real cultivar name in small text and quotes included. More often, the real cultivar name is not included. It is hard enough keeping things straight between having one true botanical name and possibly several common names, now we have this nomenclature duplicity nonsense to deal with.
Here is one such laughable example. All winter in grocery stores in the US, the florist departments have various potted campanulas for sale. They are forced and way off season to plant out, so I typically ignore them, but this one I had to buy... check out the non-quoted plant name in the second photo... too funny! ;D ;D. Notice the tiny trademark symbol too. And as usual, the roots were a solid block of peat, I had to soak and blast-hose the rock-like root ball to try to disengage the roots from the peat block, this familiar campanula struggled to recover all spring and summer.
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"The genus name Hypericum is derived from the Greek words hyper (above) and eikon (picture), in reference to the traditional use of the plant to ward off evil, by hanging plants over a religious icon in the house during St John's day. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Johns_Wort (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Johns_Wort)
Equally ambiguous is what is meant by "St John's Day" :o
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John's_Day
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OK, here's my collection of deviant plants, fasciation, peloria, cresting whatever:
1) Allium nutans hybrid
2) Gentiana cruciata (peloric flower) - have also had a Digitalis purpurea do this (quite common I've heard)
3) Valeriana officinalis genetically modified to produce cauliflower ;)
4) Primula viallii (at Wisley garden)
5) Senecio? - just a weed on the pavement next to the town hall, Eastleigh, Hants. Strangely for what I thought was mechanical damage there were a group of several plants with this fasciated appearance.
6) Chicory variety Witloof
Apologies, some of them have been posted before.
Why is it I like deviant plants so much? No, don't answer that one...
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Stephen, you have an eagle eye! I really like the bizarre formation on Primula viallii, made even funnier because it was at Wisley.
"Senecio? - just a weed on the pavement next to the town hall, Eastleigh, Hants."
Do you typically walk around with a camera just in case you come across a photo-worthy sight ;)
Three years ago I collected Aster cordifolius, pinched out from between a crack in a sidewalk in front of a police station, because it was flowering in December. I was investigating the apparent spread of flowering time in that species; in my garden it flowered in Sept-Oct time frame, well within the normal range of flowering times.
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Another one for the collection
Inula rhizocephala with fasciation
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Sometimes these aberrations are caused by an outside influence, sometimes by physical or chemical damage... as I suspect to be the case in the Eastleigh senecio. weedkiller spray has damaged the plant, but not killed it and the growth of the shoot has been distorted by the effects of the poison.
You do get around , Stephen, with or without your camera ! :D
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Diane: A superb example!
Maggi: Yes, weedkiller is a definite possibility - wouldn't be any good having weeds at the town hall, would it? Re- getting around - pretty well always job related; luckily I can usually take a few days off to explore...
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Unfortunately, I don't have a photograph but have seen an ash, Fraxinus excelsior, in Kilmacurragh Gardens in County Wicklow, Ireland, where all the branches are fasciated. It is a mature tree and is, I have been told by the head gardener there, the only example in existence.
It's not an attractive sight but interesting nonetheless.
Paddy
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...and then there's this cristate form of Sedum reflexum which is constant from year to year:
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I quite often have a stem of Primula viali like the one above, fasciated for whatever reason. Not spraying, as I don't. Likewise, I've had the Inula grow like Diane's. When it opens right out, the flowers is in an elongated mass, matching the one shown. It's a plant which is always monocarpic with me.
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I often see Cornus canadensis with double flower, but only when late blooming (July-August).
Echinacea purpurea with double flower on the same stem.
And an Aster alpinus with a special hair cut.
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This snowdrop with the extra petal on the ovary was one in a pot of 3 I bought at the local Garden Centre last February.
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Echinacea purpurea with double flower on the same stem
Quite extraordinary, Bernard :o
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This snowdrop with the extra petal on the ovary was one in a pot of 3 I bought at the local Garden Centre last February.
Wonder what it will do next time it flowers Roma ::)
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Here my freaky flowers.
Double flower on C. chrysanthus Goldilocks (two flowers in one stem) and C. kotschyanus (genetical defect clone)
The first appeared accidental (likely caused by late planting) and is reversible,
the genetical defect is non-reversible.
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I hope you have destroyed the second one Armin. It is really horrid and un-crocus-like. :o
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Lesley,
it is in plants heaven! :) :(
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One of the wackiest aberrations is this topset onion cultivar Catawissa, found in the US near its namesake town in the mid-1800s, also known as walkabout onion as it gradually moves around as the topsets plant themselves every year. I call it infinity or recurring onion as I imagine it continuing to send up a new top set, for ever if given the chance, under perfect conditions. Here's a picture of a 3 story plant. Anyone better this?
Secondly, a Rocambole (Allium scorodoprasum ssp scorodoprasum) starting to do the same - is it catching? Well, it's quite common and I've seen this on 5 or 6 different species.
A collective term: Tiered Onions or better - Teared onions (for the effect they have on us cooks...)
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A collective term: Tiered Onions or better - Teared onions (for the effect they have on us cooks...)
;D ;D
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This one probably fits in here too. Witch's Broom is probably best known in our part of the world on birch and is caused by a fungus, Taphrina betulina. I have a few birches in my garden so affected. I was out skiing at the weekend and passed a pine tree , Pinus sylvestris, with a couple of well developed "Witch's Brooms". It's quite rare on pine and spruce trees. Unlike birch it isn't caused by a fungus, and is most likely caused by repeated grazing by a Capercaillie, a bird-induced aberration in other words... Incidentally, I've just learnt that Capercaillie means literally "the Great Cock of the Wood". Trees affected in this way are known here as "Beitefuru" which literally translates as grazing-pine...
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So if these bird-induced witches' brooms were to be propagated, would they then revert to the proper ine growth?
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So if these bird-induced witches' brooms were to be propagated, would they then revert to the proper ine growth?
It is my understanding that many dwarf ornamental forms of various conifers originate from such growths or witches' broom. Cuttings should hold true, and not revert. When I was in my teens I had a pen pal in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, USA) and he had a novel way of accessing such growths high up in trees, he would shoot them off with a rifle (wild wild west?).
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Stephen,
a very interesting story. Capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus major) are almost extirpated in Germany and are an very endangered specis :'(
The populations of Central Europe are acutely vulnerable and isolated, so are not in exchange with each other. The largest deposit is found in the Central Alps. Outside the Alps is still found in the Black Forest a larger population. In Germany in 2005 were given a variety of sources from 570 to 770 breeding pairs only. :(
The populations behave very unstable against infrastructure projects, which limit them in their habitat, the animals can death up to the stress (in winter due disturbance).
The relatively high populations of natural enemies play a highly restrictive role, too. In an attempt, inclusive hunting concepts, therefore the number should be minimized, which in practice for various reasons and beliefs turned out to be difficult.
The tourism and increasing visitor pressure in the distribution areas are further reasons for the decline. Because the local populations are isolated from each other, is held not a sufficient genetic exchange, with negative effects on fitness.
Overall not so a good outlook for the survival of this beautiful large birds in Germany...
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Interesting but sad, Armin! Here in Norway, it has also declined due to loss of old growth forest habitats and clear-felling practices. In recent years, certification for sustainable forest management has become important and nowadays efforts are made not to fell everything, but to leave trees like these old Beitefuru that I showed a picture of and it is hoped that this should have a positive impact on populations.
In the UK and Ireland, Capercaillies became extinct due to hunting and loss of habitat, but were later reintroduced from Scandinavia. The last I heard (a few years ago now), the population was also crashing in Scotland. Not sure what the current situation is? Anyone?
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Stephen,
still in many old manors of the near Spessart forest we can adore the stuffed capercaillies trophies.
A sign that less then 100years ago there were still regular hunting on capercallies mainly by the nobility.
Beside this sad story, thanks to public and private founded renaturation programs, the European Wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) can be found in the Spessart again. It seems to be a stable population again.
Amazingly, also the first tracks of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) and single observations by foresters have been reported recently after it was absent 150years. Probably it is migrating from a small population from northern germany Harz forest area. The quite dense population of roe deer and wild boars might be another reason for the coming back.
Clear felling is not practised anymore too and a change in thinking and return to go easy with natural resources is executed by the state-controlled authorities since around 20 years now.
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If Vojtech Holubec's son David saw those witch's broom he would be up the tree cutting them down and grafting them
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Interesting but sad, Armin! Here in Norway, it has also declined due to loss of old growth forest habitats and clear-felling practices. In recent years, certification for sustainable forest management has become important and nowadays efforts are made not to fell everything, but to leave trees like these old Beitefuru that I showed a picture of and it is hoped that this should have a positive impact on populations.
In the UK and Ireland, Capercaillies became extinct due to hunting and loss of habitat, but were later reintroduced from Scandinavia. The last I heard (a few years ago now), the population was also crashing in Scotland. Not sure what the current situation is? Anyone?
I'm told that the removal of lots of the fencing that capercaillie were so good at killing themsleves on has been a great help and while they have good and bad years, the numbers are improving in some areas, though not around here ..... found this RSPB paper......
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-239173
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Here are some of my Lewisia rediviva hybs misbehaving.
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My goodness Michael, those really are freaky aren't they :o . I'm surprised to see the term "rediviva hybrids", as I wasn't aware of anyone breeding with that species. Can you tell us more about the Lewisia rediviva hybrids?
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Mark, have a look here
http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelJcampbell63/24022008LewisiaCollection1TheseHybsHaveAllBeenMadeByMeOverTheLast15Years#
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Mark, have a look here
http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelJcampbell63/24022008LewisiaCollection1TheseHybsHaveAllBeenMadeByMeOverTheLast15Years#
Michael, I don't even no what to say to that photo gallery... I'm still in shock. :o :o :o :o :o
I guess that's why you are called "Mr. Amazing", as that is certainly the most amazing thing I've even seen. I'm still in shock. Do you run a nursery or sell any of your fabulous creations?
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Michael,
your Lewisia collection is breathtaking. 8)
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Mark,there was no interest in them so I disposed of most of them,only about 30 left. I tried showing them but the judges always disqualified them for one reason or another.(Alpine plant judges do not like Lewisias)I then tried showing them in the noncompetitive classes and got some silver and gold awards.
In the end I got disillusioned and got rid of most of them. I have some growing outside in a scree bed and they are doing fine.
I don't have a nursery any more as I am retired now. The local Development authority took my nursery land to build a factory, and then didn't bother.'Typical.'
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I think If I had been someone of importance (LIKE ASHWOOD NURSERY)that there would have been more interest, It is all about marketing and distribution and I did not have the necessary funds for such a project.
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Mark,while most of them were sterile they did root easily from the spent flower scape,a lot of people refused to believe that so I had to put picks on the forum to convince them. I will look for them and post them here if i can find them.
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Oh I know what to say to that photo gallery...
"I'll have one of each, please..."
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Mark, here is a link to the page about the cuttings.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2384.msg54044#msg54044
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Mark,there was no interest in them so I disposed of most of them,only about 30 left. I tried showing them but the judges always disqualified them for one reason or another.(Alpine plant judges do not like Lewisias)I then tried showing them in the noncompetitive classes and got some silver and gold awards.
In the end I got disillusioned and got rid of most of them. I have some growing outside in a scree bed and they are doing fine.
I don't have a nursery any more as I am retired now. The local Development authority took my nursery land to build a factory, and then didn't bother.'Typical.'
GASP! What a terrible shame that many or most of these don't exist any more. And it's a shame about your land too! Did you ever contact any American nursery sources about your hybrids? Some of the Lewisia hybrids other than rediviva crosses, such your bracycalyx hybrids, are particularly pleasing, as are the Lewisia wallowensis color forms :o . There are some companies now specializing in introducing plants from breeders around the world (the breeders get a royalty of plants sold) such as Plant's Nouveau (http://www.plantsnouveau.com/)... it's an interesting concept. I think about how Lewisa 'Little Plum' is in every nursery, every big box home and garden improvement center, in Grocery store floral departments, and it's not even a particularly pretty plant... America could use hybrids like yours. Are the ones that fasciated this year just a few plants, or of a particular cross? Thanks for the link of stem propagation... I haven't read it yet, but will do so tonight. Thanks again.
If there is any consolation, please be sure that any plant lover and rock gardener who sees your gallery, will be astounded and greatly appreciate all the work and the subsequent insight into the possibilities of plant breeding. Congratulations!!! I hope it is ok, I posted a link to your gallery on the young NARGS Forum, in their Lewsia topic.
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I hope it is ok, I posted a link to your gallery on the young NARGS Forum, in their Lewsia topic.
No problem Mark,Thanks.
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Another wacky aberrataion turned up today - the twistedstem nettle (Urtica dioica)
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Another wacky aberrataion turned up today - the twistedstem nettle (Urtica dioica)
Stephen, a weird one... maybe a rare and unusual intergeneric cross with Streptopus? ;D Even though the stems are twisted, looks like it'll be just as effective at stinging.
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Michael, thanks for that link. I clearly missed that thread when it was originally posted. Great way to propagate and less likely to lose the parent as well. Some of your hybrids live on in a collection I acquired last year and show judges will yet again be challenged to accept them once I've grown them on a bit. Just one example below
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Martin, you have no chance with the judges, I tried many times before giving up. It seems that Lewisias have gone out of fashion. :(
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Another wacky aberrataion turned up today - the twistedstem nettle (Urtica dioica)
Stephen, a weird one... maybe a rare and unusual intergeneric cross with Streptopus? ;D Even though the stems are twisted, looks like it'll be just as effective at stinging.
:) I can assure you it was effective...
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Martin, you have no chance with the judges, I tried many times before giving up. It seems that Lewisias have gone out of fashion. :(
Have a look at this year's results frm the Aberdeen SRGC show, Michael......no problem with them there!
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AAAH Maggi, but that is Scotland, :) try them further south or at this side of the pond and you will get a different response. They don't like the hybs.