Brunsvigia 2019

[jshields]

This Brunsvigia, my #1579, came to my greenhouse in March 2003 from the late Guy Wrinkle, labeled as "Haemanthus lanceifolius." It forms a rosette of leaves
lying sometimes flat on the ground. It is definitely not Haemanthus anything, as I have many kinds of Haemanthus including lanceifolius. I have been tentatively calling it "Brunsvigia unknown sp."   As the first-ever inflorescence has developed on this bulb, it looks like it could be Brunsvigia bosmaniae (but I am no expert on Brunsvigia!)

     


     


This bulb has been in that greenhouse for 15 winters, during which time other pots of other species of Brunsvigia have been killed by the cold spells combined with fallible heaters.  Whatever its real name, it is one tough amaryllid.

JBim

[jshields]

Almost in full bloom now, my Brunsvigia bosmaniae #1579





Jim

[jshields]

The first-to-open flowers in the umbel are starting to wilt. As they wilt, the long style is curving strongly back, bringing the stigma into the center of the flower and in among the anthers.  The first image today shows the first-to-open flowers on my Brunsvigia bosmaniae #1579 are starting to yellow or brown off.  The second image shows a close-up of one of the flowers with the style curving all the way 180 degrees back toward the stamens. 


       


 I  hand-pollinated (selfed) several of the flowers starting to turn yellow in the lower rows of blossoms, but I fully expect to get a full head of self-pollinated seeds out of this.

Jim