Armeria

[ChrisB]

Some of you will know I have a particular interest in armeria.  I have some that I grew from SRGC seed 2007/8 saying sp. ex Sierra de Cazorla.  I would love to know which species grow in that area if possible, to try to get a positive ID of the plants I have.  The plants were uniform in habit and stature, but one plant that I put into a large container has grown with a very different flower habit.  Instead of a single flower head for a stem, there are three distinct heads at the top of several of the flowering stems.  This has not happened before with an of the many armeria I grow (I have more than 200 in the garden now - not all different species, but probably about 60 different ones).  Has anyone any experience of this happening before?  Below a photo taken today.  There is no thickening on the stems and if it had been one I'd have said it was just a fluke, but I counted 4 or 5 altogether from a single plant.

[Lesley Cox]

So not fasciation then or it would most likely have a thickened stem.

[ChrisB]

That's what I thought at first, Lesley, but with several stems of the same thing and no thickening in the stem, that is doubtful.  I shall certainly be watching to see if it occurs again next year!  None of the other specimens display this feature so far.  It has so many blooms coming, its quite amazing - though not all are multi-headed of course.

[Rafa]

Hello Cris,

I have seen this species in Torre del Vinagre Botanic Gardens, last week, but I do't remeber the name... A. trianoi?

This is a key from Spain and Portugal http://www.floraiberica.es/floraiberica/texto/pdfs/02_055_02_Armeria.pdf

[ChrisB]

Hi Rafa,

Thank you for your help.  I have this document, printed out, but sadly for me, I speak no Spanish.  I've been struggling to try to do some translation via a web site, but its a slow go.  The species you mention isn't listed within it though, so I looked it up on Google, but the pictures it came up with are much more pink in colour than my plants, though I'm sure there will be variation in colour of course.  Mine are all turning out a whitish pink colour, some quite white and the foliage is very fine and a bluish green.  Its quite noticeably different to any others in my collection and goodness knows, there are many so far that I have great question marks over lol.  Do you perhaps have someone I could contact at the gardens to get help?

[Paul T]

Chris,

Do you have an electronic version?  Maybe you could run it through babelfish if so?  Not sure whether babelfish only interprets info on website or not though?

[ChrisB]

Hi Paul,

The document is an acrobat one, so I'm not sure if it would work, but its worth a try.  I'll take a look.  Thanks for your help.

[ChrisB]

Just tried it Paul, but it doesn't work.  I sure wish it would!  The document is secured as well, so I cannot exactly cut and paste, unless you know a way?

[Paul T]

Chris,

Sorry that it didn't work.  Hopefully someone else here can offer a suggestion?

[Rafa]

Let me ask my botanist friends in South Spain. I will send them your pictures.

[ChrisB]

Many thanks Rafa.