Polygonatum, A pictorial guide

[Afloden]

Polygonatum geminiflorum is currently in cultivation and the two clones I have seen under this name are vastly different. One is the McBeath collection from the Himachal Pradesh and another is a form I have found out originated at Washfields. When I don't know, but I am hoping someone might have a list that might hint at the origin of the plant that can be seen at http://www.farreachesfarm.com/polygonatum/ and also at Asianflora.com.

 I have both forms and hope to see flowers this spring, but the origin of the latter would be very helpful. It is most likely of Indian origin and a recent collection from the Sino-Himalayan Plant Association might be the same plant.

 Also, Washfield's apparently offered a form of P. hirtum I have pictured as the dwarf form that is offered by Plant Delights Nursery here in the states. I'd like to know if they listed the origin of that also. I have a feeling it may be the Brian Mathew clone from Greece.

 Aaron

[Johan Nilson]

Aaron,

Thank a lot for Id's!
This is very helpful!

I will get back to you about the origin of the Shanghai plant.

Johan

[Johan Nilson]

Here are some Polygonatums from the wild. Pictures taken in North Sikkim, India 2009. (I have posted this earlier on another thread but thought they belonged here)

as follows
Polygonatum hookerii
Polygonatum cirrhifolium
Polygonatum sp
Polugonatum aff. kansuense??? X2

[arisaema]

Polygonatum anomalum at locus classicus in Hailuogou, around 3000m altitude.

[annew]

Some remarkable plants there - sp 5 looks very interesting with its dark foliage.

[manicbotanic]

i bought this yesterday foom local alpine show.the label says biflorum?i thought it looked very different.
what do you think any ideas.
thanks.sean

[Afloden]

That is Polygonatum pubescens, the other North American species. In picture 2 you can see the little hairs on the back of the leaves. The greenish flowers pinched above the tepals is also characteristic of this species. It should have a cinnamon-like smell at close range; a feature shared with the bracteate species from East Asia.

 Aaron

[arisaema]

Polygonatum anomalum in flower

[manicbotanic]

any ideas bought as roseum?

[manicbotanic]

polygonatum prattii?? polygonatum oppositifolium perhaps?i like the red colouration at the leaf bases.

[Afloden]

 As best I can tell that does look like Polygonatum roseum. The rhizome on roseum is long and terete, the leaves usually in threes or 1-2.

 That also looks like P. prattii, but prattii is close in appearance to P. stewartianum when immature or not growing vigorously. Prattii usually has spirally alternate leaves except at the apex where they are 3-4 whorled. A full plant picture would be nice.
 
 The last one is strange. A full plant picture would be good as well as what the rhizome looks like and a flower dissected. P. oppositifolium has opposite leaves and long reddish striped flowers. If this is from Chen Yi it is not oppositifolium as that species only grows near Medog, Tibet in China. Is the stem scabrous or pubescent? It looks a little that way. Are the leaf apices cirrhose or not?

 Aaron

[manicbotanic]

thanyou aaron.
ok here is the plant i got as oppositifolium chen yi.the one in the pot has been in deep shade so the colouring/red pigment not as good as other.its from same plant though.hope pics help.my true oppositifolium  from crug didnt survive this last winter sadly so will have to buy again the last few pics are the prattii.

[manicbotanic]

sorry my pics large again ..i was getting the hang of it..oh and aaron the leaf tips arent chirrose and the ste is scabrous i think.

[Afloden]

 So thats the strange opposite leaved plant from Chen Yi. I still have never received that plant..... Not quite sure what it is. The leaves are very different from cathcartii and griffithii -- the only other two possibilities. I have seen some herbarium specimen images, but none in person. Would love to see the inside of the flowers for the filament details and ovary/style lengths.

 The other plant is not prattii. The plant below is prattii. Your plant does have uncinate to cirrhose apices (more as they mature) and looks like a dark form of stewartianum. Any collection data or is this also Chen Yi?

 

[mickeymuc]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven'T been here for so long....here's a fantastic Polygonatum, sold as "kingianum yellow" by Crug Farms. Last year the shoot had died upon growing, but this year it sprouted properly. Without flowers, but also the brown large leaves are a show. Crug farm says it grows up to 4 m, so mine has still a long way to go