Hypericum archibaldii

[PDJ]

I received seed of Hypericum 'Archibald' but have been unable to find a description of the plant can anyone help?

[Maggi Young]

Good point, Paul.... I see it has been listed in both the SRGC and the AGS seedlists..... and I found a photo in one site and a listing as archibaldii  here:
http://www.inilossum.us/prodotti__7.html   photo

http://www.arrowhead-alpines.com/        listing in nursery catalogue...

"Hypericum archibaldii ....

A highly desirable plant, neat foliage and large yellow flowers and obviously the Archibald name doesn’t hurt."

[Lesley Cox]

What the dickens is going on? I'm listening to a Chopin concerto on my radio as I look at the Forum. Clicked on Maggi's link to see Hypericum archibalddii and suddenly the music turns to a Brahms Hungarian rhapsody! It took me a moment to realize the catalogue from Italy has a musical accompaniment.

[PDJ]

Thank you Maggi for the information it looks an interesting plant and the seeds have already germinated.

[Maggi Young]

It's been useful for me, too, Paul..... I have a little hypericum which looks like the one in the photo.... I couldn't remember what it was and I have no recollection of getting seed of that name.... so it's an interesting project to find out what I'm growing

[Maggi Young]

In 2007 I was searching for an ID of a good little hypericum : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=506.msg12801#msg12801


In 2010  another thread  discovered the existence of Hypericum archibaldii - http://www.inilossum.us/prodotti__7.html   photo


and I believe this to be my mystery plant.
I add the photo from the Italian site here,  in  'fair use' terms

My plant has more full-petalled flowers but the foliage looks right! Still looking for definitive info. Will add photos of my plant in flowers later....

[Maggi Young]

Looking at the plant now, I see that the  impression of "fuller" flowers is given by those with six petals rather than five. 

The foliage is very sticky.









 edit  by  maggi - I now  believe  this  plant  may be  Hypericum kotschyanum

[TheOnionMan]

I believe Paul's initial post is on the right track, probably at one time a Hypericum (possibly collected by Jim Archibald) went around labeled something like Hypericum sp. Archibald, and in time it morphed in Hypericum 'Archibald' or Hypericum archibaldii.

According to IPNI.ORG, there are 6 plant species that commemorate Archibald, but none are Hypericum.  Checking IPNI.ORG, The Plant List, Tropicos database, there is no existence of the name Hypericum archibaldii being published, so more than likely this is another one of those fictitious "species" that exists only in horticulture.

I know it's been suggested before, but it would useful to have a SRGC Forum topic that lists invented or fictitious "plant species" that have become firmly entrenched in the nursery trade.

What species it truly is will be the challenge, it's a bright and cheerful plant that Maggi shows us, looks great in a trough.

[Maggi Young]

I think you are probably right about the name, Mark - I have found nothing to show that it has been published - but I cannot find a species that seems to fit the description either.
The search goes on!



I have found this site which may hold the answer - http://hypericum.myspecies.info/    but there is a lot to plough through   




If I ever have a few weeks to spare I may try to collate all the spurious names, as you suggest . Added difficulty is that they will be peppered throughout  threads on other subjects, of course so pretty tricky to  find and isolate.

[TheOnionMan]

I was trying hard to remember a number of topics where we discussed non-existent plant species, but it's been long enough that my memory fails me, maybe Diane Clement will remember a few of them.