Here's a puzzle for you....

[Maggi Young]

Here's a puzzle for you.... quite a challenge I think, given the photo, which is all I can do for you....

An identification was sought for this plant at the recording of a radio programme at the recent Gardening Scotland  Show.

 The small photo  only shows the flowering spike from the back.
 Seems to be a bulb/rhizome-  thelargest  individual flowers are approx. 8cms across.

The flowers do not seem to have a tube, as such, behind the flower ... more a true pedicel, I think.   

Hope you folks can solve the puzzle!



 Oops! better if I included the picture- which is of a pathetically small size, sorry!!

[daveyp1970]

Ixia Maggie maybe.

[Maggi Young]

Thata was something I listed, Davey...  what types would have such big flowers? (At least I thought they were big for an Ixia but I don't grow any like this ! )

By the way.... I think the plant is surviving outside somewhere in Scotland     I'll check on that!

[Maggi Young]

It was originally given from Ireland and has been growing for some time in the garden in Scotland..... I  think you are correct, Davey... an Ixia. I wasn't taking into account the existence of larger flowered hybrid Ixia.... I have a feeling this one might just be Ixia 'Venus' .... found something at the PBS Wiki that is might like it!
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/IxiaTwo

Thanks! My floundering with a feeling it was South African, and worrying about the lack of a floral tube  was tying me up.  Thanks!

[daveyp1970]

It was originally given from Ireland and has been growing for some time in the garden in Scotland..... I  think you are correct, Davey... an Ixia. I wasn't taking into account the existence of larger flowered hybrid Ixia.... I have a feeling this one might just be Ixia 'Venus' .... found something at the PBS Wiki that is might like it!
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/IxiaTwo

Thanks! My floundering with a feeling it was South African, and worrying about the lack of a floral tube  was tying me up.  Thanks!

I was thinking Hybrid as well Maggie.

[Lvandelft]

Ixia Jesse ??

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1315.msg96724#msg96724

[Maggi Young]

'Jesse' is a stunning flower -  but two-tone in colour, which the unknown is not.

Would these hybrid Ixia stand a chance outdoors here in Aberdeen, do you think?

[Lvandelft]

'Jesse' is a stunning flower -  but two-tone in colour, which the unknown is not.

Would these hybrid Ixia stand a chance outdoors here in Aberdeen, do you think?

The second tone is only visible when in full flower after a week in the vase. Don't know another one with this color

Planting the bulbs in November and some cover with leaves would probably do, at least in our climate, which has at least the same cold winters.
To early planting let them thrive to early and gives frost damage.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks Luit, I may try some.

[pontus]

i know that ixias are hardy in the south of France when planted late, in november, to ensure that the usually autumn growing leaves dont develop untill spring and most frosts have passed. If planted deeply apparently they are hardy with a thick mulch, again if planted late, however, i dont want to risk my rare ixia virdiflora. I grow them in pots and bring the pots in for winter or dig up the corms and store them dry and frost free...

Pontus

[Lvandelft]

It was originally given from Ireland and has been growing for some time in the garden in Scotland..... I  think you are correct, Davey... an Ixia. I wasn't taking into account the existence of larger flowered hybrid Ixia.... I have a feeling this one might just be Ixia 'Venus' .... found something at the PBS Wiki that is might like it!
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/IxiaTwo

Thanks! My floundering with a feeling it was South African, and worrying about the lack of a floral tube  was tying me up.  Thanks!

Maggi, yesterday I was able to make another picture of Ixia Jesse. I presume that you saw the "mysteryplant" yourself,
I let the decision to you if this is the same.   I have some doubts now 

Ixia Jesse

[Maggi Young]

No Luit, I saw only the photo. But looking at your new photo of Jesse I think it is too red... there is more pink in the mystery plant, an altogether softer colour.  Speaking on Sunday to someone who saw the plant,  he thought that the picture of Venus I showed him was nearer than Jesse, for the same reason.

Jesse is an unusual colour, I think, rather fine.

[Lvandelft]

I wondered if Ixia Venus still exists, because already from before 1940, but here I found a picture of it:
http://www.trecanna.com/showdetails.asp?id=1761