Massonia 2016

[angie]

My snail eaten unknown Massonia has opened all its flowers now.

The snail never came back then. Enjoy your Massonia .

Angie 

[Anthony Darby]

No. Put the pots on the twilweld mesh covering the tortoise enclosure. They would have to be tight rope walkers to reach them. 

[angie]

No. Put the pots on the twilweld mesh covering the tortoise enclosure. They would have to be tight rope walkers to reach them. 

 

Angie 

[Anthony Darby]

Massonia jasminiflora, which is very like my unknown species.

[angie]

Massonia jasminiflora, which is very like my unknown species.

Very nice Anthony.

Angie 😀

[fermi de Sousa]

Massonia depressa in bloom in a pot in the shade-house
cheers
fermi

[angie]

Massonia depressa in bloom in a pot in the shade-house
cheers
fermi

Aren't they so lovely 
Angie 

[Darren]

The two subspecies of Massonia pygmaea. (ssp pygmaea with hairy leaves, ssp kamiesbergensis with smooth leaves)

I often wonder about the status of these two. They flower at the same time but leaves and habit are quite different (ssp kamiesbergensis flowers when the leaves are still emerging, ssp pygmaea when they are mostly expanded). They do both have the diagnostic feature of two sets of 3 stamens of differing lengths, yes, but in my plants one ssp has a style longer than the stamens, whereas in the other it is shorter.

[Paul Cumbleton]

Darren I couldn't agree more and I personally think these are two different species. Do you - or anyone else - have a good English version of the original description of M. pygmaea? I have a very rough translation of the original Latin. If I have understood it correctly it describes the leaves as glabrous (without hairs). On this character alone, the ssp kamiesbergensis would be nearer the true pygmaea leaving the other hairy/pustulate plant as a new undescribed species? That's just a guess. I'll see if I can find out any more from the botanists working on this genus.

Paul

[Darren]

Glad you agree Paul, and I'd be very interested to hear your findings. I don't have a good description either.

I recently did a dissection with a view to illustrating both as I'm working on a series of paintings of the genus. I had originally thought to illustrate both on one sheet but became so convinced whilst working that it was only a matter of time before they were separated that I changed my mind.

[Tony Willis]

Massonia jasminiflora grown from seed from Hans J.

Massonia pustulata the seed of which I think came originally from Darren

[Rimmer de Vries]

Massonia pustulata from seed from Arnold

[johnralphcarpenter]

Massonia tenella, from Paul Cumbleton.

[Rimmer de Vries]

Massonia tenella, from Nieuwoudtville, just opening. And 2 photos from a day later.
 last photo, a few more days on.

[Gail]

Massonia jasminiflora grown from seed from Hans J.

These are such lovely plants. Does jasminiflora have the scent implied in the name?