The plant world of Patagonia

[Leucogenes]

My congratulation to this splendour. How do you increase this nice South American? By seed or cuttings?

[gerrit]

Three weeks ago, I have posted pictures of Caiophora chuquitensis, with flowers which stayed closed. The plant produced a new stem. And now with a glorious flower.

[Maggi Young]

We see the attractive foliage very well. Gerrit, along with the complicated sculpture of the flower.

[ranunculus]

All these wonderful descriptions and images of amazing Patagonian species and still no-one has mentioned the inestimable beauty that is Ranunculus semiverticillatus, surely the queen of South America, the empress of the Andes? 
We are travelling to Patagonia in a few short months simply to prostrate ourselves at the high altar of this ravishing gem (it HAS to be in flower) and to photograph what is surely the most glorious buttercup in existence.

[Maggi Young]

Perhaps the lack of mentions about the glorious R. semiverticillatus is occasioned by the intractibility of growing this in cultivation, let alone flowering it in captivity? 

I hope to goodness you  do find it in flower on your trip, Cliff, I'm not sure the world is ready for your level of distress should that not be the case!

[Martin Sheader]

Totally agree Cliff. In fact it's so beautiful taxonomists have now put it in its own genus, as Callianthemoides semiverticillata. It's why we chose it for the front cover of our book!
Like many dwellers in unstable scree habitats, this is near impossible in cultivation. Its rootstock may be well over 30cm down and often in flowing water during snowmelt.
I also hope to find it when we visit several of its sites at the end of the year. Watch out for the rare pink form. Leaf colour also varies.

[ranunculus]

Amazing images, Martin ... hope our paths cross in a faraway place, somewhere close to that pink and perfect form. 

[David Nicholson]

Hope you get a chance to meet the Irish specialist tour guide, Pat O'Gonia Mr B.

[ranunculus]

Boy, did I laugh at that, Mr N.   

[gerrit]

It is becoming spring in Patagonia. Perhaps that's why my Schizanthus grahammii starts flowering now.

Photo 1 and two: In culture, raised from seeds from Chileflora (2015)
Photo 3 taken in Patagonia 2013

[ranunculus]

Beautiful, Gerrit.

[David Nicholson]

Very pretty........... I did mean the plant not ranunculus

[ranunculus]

Gutted, David ... ABSOLUTELY gutted!!!!!!

[David Nicholson]

 

[gerrit]

Cliff and David, thanks