South African Bulbs/Geophytes 2018

[ArnoldT]

So it is L. bulbifera?

Do I get a new corrected book?

[Llllamal]

So it is L. bulbifera?
Do I get a new corrected book?

It is. A new book would be great, though unlikely. Hopefully it would include the new species published in the last five years and maybe the one about to be published. Just a matter of trying to keep up with the publications.
The picture is from the discoverer, Florient Grenier.

[ArnoldT]

Greg:

Thanks for the update and setting things straight.

[YT]

Hesperantha humilis
From Silverhill Seeds.

[Maggi Young]

Oh my word - those leaves are exquisite!  And the flowers!!!  So lovely!

[Paul Cumbleton]

Tatsuo, your plants are always so compact in the good light you enjoy. My Hesperantha humilis gets much taller but does at least flower well for me (see picture below). The flowers last for several weeks. I agree with you Maggi, this is an exquisite plant and I absolutely adore it. If I had to choose say 10 only of all my South African Bulbs to keep, this would so be in that 10!

Paul

[Maggi Young]

And your photo shows why, Paul!  It's a stunner.

[Rimmer de Vries]

Hesperantha humilis.
If I had to choose say 10 only of all my South African Bulbs to keep, this would so be in that 10!
Paul

Paul i am wondering what your other 9 top South African bulb choices are!

[GordonT]

Me too!!

[YT]

Oh my word - those leaves are exquisite!  And the flowers!!!  So lovely!

Thanks, Maggi

Tatsuo, your plants are always so compact in the good light you enjoy. My Hesperantha humilis gets much taller but does at least flower well for me (see picture below). The flowers last for several weeks. I agree with you Maggi, this is an exquisite plant and I absolutely adore it. If I had to choose say 10 only of all my South African Bulbs to keep, this would so be in that 10!

Thanks, Paul. Your dome shaped flowers look very nice I'd like to add Lapeirousia oreogena to the top 10 list

[ArnoldT]

Gladiolus venustus

 Found in the southern African winter rainfall area. Pollinated by long-tongued bees, who are attracted to the scent and nectar found in the fairly long perianth tubes.

They are scentless to my nose.

[Paul Cumbleton]

Rimmer & Gordon, you asked what other plants would be in my list of top ten favourites in addition to the Hesperantha humilis. Difficult question! - but having thought about it, I came up with the following:

Brunsvigia bosmaniae
Daubenya aurea
Daubenya zeyheri
Empodium plicatum (or E. flexile, equally good)
Ixia viridflora var minor
Lapeirousia azurea
Lapeirousia oreogena (agree with you Tatsuo!)
Massonia citrina
Polyxena pygmaea
Strumaria watermeyeri ssp botterkloofensis
Syringodea longituba

I guess if you were to ask me another time I may have a different list! I posted pictures of Daubenya aurea recently. Below are some of the rest of my listed favourites, and I'll add the rest in a couple of more posts.

I'd be interested to read other people's top ten lists. Have a go - it's quite hard to do!

Paul

[Paul Cumbleton]

Next lot of photos of plants in my top ten.

Paul

[Paul Cumbleton]

Last lot of photos of my top ten. OK, I cheated..... this is really a top twelve!

Paul

[Rimmer de Vries]

Beautiful, all of them!