November 2016 in the Southern Hemisphere

[David Lyttle]

As always very nice pictures. I especially like Raoulia parkii. I had them but I lost them in 2015. I bought them as R. hookeri. Now I know it was R. parkii. When you compare both, you see the difference. Thank you for showing this.

Interesting to see Jamus' picture of Raoulia parkii as well as your pictures of Raoulia hookeri.   Not entirely sure what each of you have. Raoulia hookeri has a number of different forms which may change in cultivation compared to what we see in the wild. Here are a couple of pictures of Raoulia parkii taken in the wild 2 weeks ago. it is the genuine article.

[Robert]

My third onco opened today and it's a bit of a disappointment. The sibling of my first, this one is very clearly iberica x iberica x korolkowii, but it's a misshapen bloom with three falls, only two standards and one and a half(ish) style arms! Very odd, I'll take better pictures tomorrow. I really hope future blooms on this plant have normal flowers because it's stunning colouration. Anyone have any experience with mutant blooms?

Jamus,

I do not grow Oncocyclus Iris, however I do occasionally get disfigured flowers on Pacific Coast Iris. It is almost always due to physiological damage - cold weather, rain, hail, insect damage, etc. The flowers are fine the next season. I am sure that something like virus infection can cause the same symptoms. I have never had this on Iris and of coarse in this situation such symptoms don't go away.

I enjoyed your video immensely! 

[Peterwg]

Hi Jamus,  That is a very nice paradoxa.   Regarding malformed blooms, it seems I get some every year.   Not a lot, but a few.   And I have never had a repeat on the same plant.   So I expect the next bloom on that Dardanusxelegantissima will be as you expect - really nice!

[Jupiter]

Thanks Peter and Robert for your reassuring words! I reckon you're right, I've had a chat with Pat and Bob over on facebook and it's the same verdict there.  I love the warm hues, brown and gold so it would be awesome to see it reach its full potential next year.

David, that's very interesting regarding my Raoulia. I trust Otto's naming of it and I guess the different look is due to environment, I mean, my little plant has never experienced ice or snow and the worst it has to contend with is summer heat and the odd blackbird. I have a little Tasmanian Ewartia in the rock garden which is very similar at least in leaf... must be closely related, or perhaps I'm jumping the gun not having studied flowers on either.

[Jupiter]

Jacqui, thanks for this little Gem, I'm enjoying it.

[Lesley Cox]

I agree with the others about occasional malformed flowers Jamus and irises for some reason are particularly prone to it. Bearded irises sometimes produce 4 of everything but are OK the following season so with the others I'll look forward to perfect flowers on yours next time around.

[Jupiter]

27th of November, 2016.