Rhodophiala 2018

[ashley]

Beautiful plants all.
You've really 'cracked' this genus John

[johnw]

Ashley - I wish I could declare victory but the plants have different ideas.  The experts would say I water too frequently.  I've tried to label the summer growers versus those considered to be winter growers.  However the plants have a mind of their owner; some years the summer growers will appear in mid-summer or appear in late winter or not die down.  The winter growers are inconsistent as well,  Perhaps my sloppy watering confuses them.  The roots seems perennial and don't think they care to die-off. 

I've not flowered R. bifida and doubt it's hot enough to do so.

I had a big pot full of R. montanas that HarryJ sent as seed.  Last year I put them outdoors whilst in flower so the bees could pollinate them, the NBF got the lot of them.

john
23c & sunny

[johnralphcarpenter]

NBF?

[Maggi Young]

Narcissus Bulb Fly =NBF ??

[fermi de Sousa]

The label says Rhodophiala hybrid  AGS16-4364... The leaves look like a Rhodophiala but is it indeed a Rhodophiala?  Thoughts?

One of the very few societal seed lots that is in fact not a Habranthus!

Are you sure, John?

This large flower seems to have appear from nowhere.  Was it the rain and humidity outdoors 2 nights ago that sparked the flowering of a few Rhodophialas? 

As Maggi says, "there's often a clue"! It reminds me of Habranthus robustus - especially as it has stamen filaments of unequal length - however, I don't know all Rhodophiala species or hybrids by appearance, so it might be one I don't recognise
cheers
fermi

[johnw]

Odd as a Rhodophiala montana from my own selfed seed is only a half day behind this "hybrid".  It too appeared out of the blue.

johnw

[johnw]

Now confirmed by Alberto Castillo the Rhodophiala hybrid AGS 16-4364 in question is indeed Habranthus robustus.

johnw

[johnw]

This Rhodophiala hybrid opened yesterday. R. montana x R. advena.

johnw
22c, overcast, damp & foggy

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi John,
that looks nice! How long from seed?
Do you think the pollen would be fertile?
Anything else open that you can try it on?
cheers
fermi

[johnw]

And a few more of the same Rhodphiala montana x R. advena hybrid.

The seed was sown in 2011 and it first flowered in 2014 according to my records.  I have no other Rhodophialas in flower so I've selfed this one, I very much doubt that will work.

johnw
24c and 84% humidity, moving at snail pace.

[johnralphcarpenter]

First flowering of Rhodophiala bifida for me.

[David Nicholson]

Well done Ralph.