Massonia 2015

[Darren]

They don't normally offset unless damaged - they can be propagated by scoring just like hyacinths. That said, I have two forms of echinata which offset regularly, and a clone of Burdach 11182 which offsets very prolifically.
Incidentally Wim ; I think the Burdach plant is M. hirsuta.

[WimB]

Incidentally Wim ; I think the Burdach plant is M. hirsuta.

Thanks, Darren, two other people mailed me saying it is M. jasminiflora and M. echinata...I'm more confused than ever

[Darren]

Wim, you might find this thread from 2010 interesting as it covers offsetting and also has pictures of the Burdach plant (which keys out as hirsuta due to the hairy bracts)  and hybrids.

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4787.msg171576#msg171576

[WimB]

Wim, you might find this thread from 2010 interesting as it covers offsetting and also has pictures of the Burdach plant (which keys out as hirsuta due to the hairy bracts)  and hybrids.

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4787.msg171576#msg171576

Thanks Darren, will have a look!

[Darren]

It does illustrate how taxonomy moves on.  The 'jasminiflora pustulate leaf form' is now described as M. amoena. The nice form illustrated (with quite silvery leaves) died soon afterwards but several of its seedlings have inherited this feature.

[WimB]

Thanks again, Darren, it does seem to be M. hirsuta indeed...I've changed the label!

[Rimmer de Vries]

It does illustrate how taxonomy moves on.  The 'jasminiflora pustulate leaf form' is now described as M. amoena. The nice form illustrated (with quite silvery leaves) died soon afterwards but several of its seedlings have inherited this feature.

Hi Darren, where do you look to find taxonomy of Massonia? is there a book or paper on these plants?  the Massonia i have grown from seed ex seed don't seem to be as described.  I have been told that any Massonia that are not protected at flowering likely produce hybrid seeds.

Thank you Rimmer

[Darren]

You have been told right. M.hirsuta especially for me, it readily hybridises with amoena and pustulata (which we are now supposed to call longipes).
Paul Cumbleton has been good at flagging the recent taxonomic changes via this forum. The literature is not easy to obtain if you don't subscribe to the right journals or are lucky enough to have access via an academic institution. The most recent attempt at a monograph was Alison Summerfield's thesis but this is not published, though a useful summary was published in the U.K. South African bulb group newsletter a few years ago. Since then, things have moved on and a research group in Austria has been publishing new descriptions in journals. I can probably send some PDFs once I get back to the office next week if you are interested?

[Rimmer de Vries]

Hi Darren thanks
 yes, i am interested,
here are the first blooms of the Massonia pustulata from the seed Arnold T sent to the PBS BX in May 2013.

Do these look like straight M pustulate?  i have no reference to compare to.

[Darren]

Yes they do. Very nice ones too!

[Maggi Young]

You're doing well with those, Rimmer!

[johnstephen29]

The first of my massonia's is flowering for me, this one is M. Hirsuta.

[Rimmer de Vries]

Massonia tenella -Nieuwoudtville 
from a kind forum member
very different flower type here, small plant leaves are about 2-3 cm wide for a scale

[Rimmer de Vries]

started as seeds in March 2013 from NARGS as Massonia depressa - yellowish flowers
are these identified correctly or hybrids?

 Hybrids possibly of pustulata/longipes possibly crossed with echinata from Darren's response below

[Rimmer de Vries]

started as seeds in March 2013 from NARGS as Massonia echinata - yellowish flowers
are these identified correctly or hybrids?

here are they in fall 2014

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12377.msg317606#msg317606