Flowers and Foliage August 2008

[Brian Ellis]

Paul, you may be interested in the reply I have just had from the National Collection Holder of Eucomis (why I didn't think of contacting him to start with I don't know).


The two species grow side by side on the Drakensberg Mountains so it's not unusual for dormant bulbs to be collected from the wrong species (it has happened to me also). I find seed of E.schijffii, as well as being scarce, very difficult to germinate and grow on. Leaf cuttings can be a more reliable source.

This explains where the mix-up occured. There is an article in this months (September!) RHS The Garden magazine by Alan Street on Eucomis.

[Gerdk]

Here are

1. Impatiens arguta - a perennial and hardy species - recently introduced from China
    and for comparison
2. Impatiens namcharbawensis - much more blue but unfortunately an annual
3. Fruits of Rubus nepalensis - a surprise for me because I found them the first time

Gerd

[Staale]

Kenneth;
That was a really nice Aconitum. I have never seen Aconitum arcuatum. Is it a twining species?

[Maggi Young]

Gerd, I had no idea you were such an "impatient" fellow  Do you grow many of these lovley plants?

[Gerdk]

Gerd, I had no idea you were such an "impatient" fellow  Do you grow many of these lovley plants?

Yes, Maggi - unfortunately I am very impatient (in the sense of 'ungeduldig') and I tried hard to change myself (with limited success)  .

But seriously, I grow only the two species of Impatiens I showed but love them very much.
Recently Impatiens tinctoria was mentioned in the Forum of the pbs. I added this species to my want list!

Gerd

[Maggi Young]

They are interesting plants, Gerd, and not ones I have seen being grown.... can you tell me how tall they grow, please?

[Paul T]

Brian,

I contacted Cameron McMaster regarding the Eucomis Shijffii and he has confirmed it is the dark type, not looking like bicolor.  There is also what looks like an paler form without any of the purple in teh flowers or the leaves, but it is looking like being given its own species name.  So at least we know now what it would be looking like if we DO get it. 

[fermi de Sousa]

Nice plants, Shelagh. 
Try looking here first for Scilla numidica
http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=300284&repSynonym_id=-9998&name_id=288823&status=false
and you will find that its name was changed to Barnardia numidica and a reference on the PBS
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Barnardia

Diane

Another case of our government bureaucracy being behind the times! Scilla numidica is on ICON (the list of seed allowed to be imported into Australia) but Barnardia isn't! If someone were to send Barnardia numidica seed to us it would be confiscated and it would require the sender to verify the name as being a synonym of the "allowed" Scilla numidica! Just my sending them a reference to the fact wouldn't be enough! At least that's what happened this year with regard to some seed sent from Overseas! it would be great to be part of the EU! (except for the weather).
And Shelagh, it's a little stunner that scilla barnardia of yours!
cheers
fermi

[Gerdk]

They are interesting plants, Gerd, and not ones I have seen being grown.... can you tell me how tall they grow, please?

Impatiens arguta + I. namcharbawensis = about 60 cm
Impatiens tinctoria =  up to 2,2 m  and scented!

Gerd

[Kenneth K]

My G flanagannii is about 3 dm and it is overwintering in a welldrained bulb bed. I believe it can grow a little higher. In Gothenburg botanic garden they have an old plant which is at least 4 dm high.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks Kenneth, it looks very nice - It is now going on my wants list ! 

[Kenneth K]

Aconitum arcuatum is a species from South Korea. It was collected in the 80s by personnel from Gothenburg botanical garden. It is not actually twining. The stems are not so strong and are growing in bows. In swedish it is called "Bågstormhatt" = "Bow aconitum". It needs some support and I should call it "half twining"

[Kenneth K]

A little more about G flanagannii. It is from South Africa. I have read that it goes by the name of suicide gladiolus because it grows in crevices in vertical basalt cliffs. To get to it you are risking your life! Fortunately it grows quite well in the garden.

[Anthony Darby]

A little more about G flanagannii. It is from South Africa. I have read that it goes by the name of suicide gladiolus because it grows in crevices in vertical basalt cliffs. To get to it you are risking your life! Fortunately it grows quite well in the garden.

Mine is in a small trough, as you can see, and stays out all year. I notice it has well developed seed pods and there are some small offsets so I may try some in the alpine house?

[shelagh]

A Barnardia is it!  Diane's links tell me it is primitve, a bulb geophyte and a member of Asparagaceae.  All I really need to know is does it still come under bulb classes in the SRGC and AGS?  I think I shall probably only need another 10 years before I can get a full 3 inch pot