Eucomis named to honour John Grimshaw

[Maggi Young]

A new species of Eucomis has been named in honour of John Grimshaw, plantsman, author and galanthophile ( and member, silent, of this Forum!!)

The journal Plant Systematics and Evolution includes the paper by Ben Zonneveld and Graham Duncan:
'Genome sizes of Eucomis L’Hér. (Hyacinthaceae) and a description of the new species Eucomis grimshawii G.D.Duncan & Zonneveld'.
It can be found online at http://www.springerlink.com/content/p15q504182v6r573/fulltext.pdf

John is delighted to be honoured in this way, as one might imagine..... read more here: http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/   in the entry for 14th December 2009.... there is also a photo of the plant (click on that to enlarge and show detail)  

 Congratulations to John on this honour.  

[Paul T]

Congratulations, John.

One thing I do have to note though is that you need to work on your "sales" skills.  After reading your less than glowing description of the new species in your blog... (excerpt as follows)

"Eucomis grimshawii, however, would never win any prizes for beauty, being the smallest and least attractive member of the genus. It is short (8-10 cm tall), with a dumpy inflorescence of green flowers sheltering under a topknot of floppy bracts."

It can't be THAT bad, can it?  

Congratulations again, John.  Very well done.

[John Grimshaw]

Rather a belated response, but yes, it is not a great beauty!

[Paul T]

Well i for one would like to grow it.  I just love Eucomis, regardless of size and colour. 

[Brian Ellis]

Rather a belated response, but yes, it is not a great beauty!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder John