Drakensberg Helichrysums

[Calvin Becker]

I collected seed of the following on the lower slopes on Sani Pass, KwaZulu Natal, on Sunday:

• Helichrysum adenocarpum
• Helichrysum argentissimum
• Helichrysum confertum

Please pm if interested in a swap.

[Lesley Cox]

Those are super species Calvin, especially the red. I'm more used to whites and yellows in Helichrysum and it seems most of the NZ species are something else now.

[cohan]

i agree--these are smashing plants! the red is nice, but i really love the pale pink with silvery foliage, and the mat forming confertum!

[Calvin Becker]

There are some really nice ones out there Lesley. Looking through the wildflower books I think yellow and white are the predominant flower colours over here too and the amount of species is a bit daunting!

I have botanist friends who split into two groups on their walks, one concentrating on terrestrial orchids and the other on helichyrsums and compete as to who can see a greater number of species during the walk. I must say I'd take the orchids any day!

[cohan]

There are some really nice ones out there Lesley. Looking through the wildflower books I think yellow and white are the predominant flower colours over here too and the amount of species is a bit daunting!

I have botanist friends who split into two groups on their walks, one concentrating on terrestrial orchids and the other on helichyrsums and compete as to who can see a greater number of species during the walk. I must say I'd take the orchids any day!

i think the number was something like over 200 species of helichrysum in south africa!!!