December 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Lesley Cox]

My A. candidissimum isn't even through yet. It's been too dry. Nice to see the Gelasine as I've some seedlings coming along nicely.

[galahad]

My A. candidissimum isn't up yet, either.  I was so worried I just bought another potful.  There are a few species not showing

BTW, I posted a while ago about masses of some weird corn-like seedlings coming up last year.  I now know they are Roscoea, probably R. alpina

[Tecophilaea King]

A few more Arisaema species flowering at the moment, this time Arisaema fargesii
This species offsets freely, but has an attractive purple/white striped spathe. The tuber is reddish and somewhat glossy. Trifoliolate leaves with a large apical leaflet, turn a pleasant golden in the fall. Very similar to Arisaema franchetianum but differs in having strongly recurved mouth-margins, whereas, A. franchetianum does not.
The next picture is suppose to be Arisaema franchtianum: is very similar to A. fargesii. It is difficult to separate them as their characters give a continuum of forms and colours. A. franchetianum has a more galeate spathe; these plants have a reddish colour.
Whatever the difference, they're both beautiful plants.

[Tecophilaea King]

Arisaema ringens (the Cobra Lily) is another species that I am very fascinated with.
From a dormant tuber these plants send up these helmet-like flowers with two large green trifoliate leaves.
A. ringens is the most commonly grown species in New Zealand, its flowers curl up so that only the purple-brown and white outsides can be seen.

[Tecophilaea King]

Just found another lot of Arisaema candidissimum corms under the bench, flowering dry in the seed tray.
This is not the correct way to store the corms, should have been planted long a go, bad management on my part.

[ashley]

Lovely all the same Bill, and presumably scented.  Do these set seed? 
I've applied for seed from the exchange this year because my plants are self-incompatible so could do with some mixed company

[Tecophilaea King]

Lovely all the same Bill, and presumably scented.  Do these set seed? 
I've applied for seed from the exchange this year because my plants are self-incompatible so could do with some mixed company

Ashley, 12.55 am, you should have been in bed by now, getting your beauty sleep

[Tecophilaea King]

Lovely all the same Bill, and presumably scented.  Do these set seed? 
I've applied for seed from the exchange this year because my plants are self-incompatible so could do with some mixed company

Ashley, yes A.candidissimum do set seed, and when they're ready will send you some,  if I will remember.
Just made a note not to forget and don't hesitate to remind me

[Tecophilaea King]

Wow, just noticed the Sr. member four stars  above my profile picture.
Does that mean I can start beating up the lower junior ranks now?  
Didn't seem that long ago that I started off with one star.
Have enjoyed the partnership tremendously so far.
The SRGC is still the most popular, interactive, friendly rock garden webb site in the world IMHO.

[angie]

Wow, just noticed the four stars above my profile picture.
Does that mean I can start beating up the lower junior ranks now? 
Didn't seem that long ago that I started off with one star.

No it means you have got to be nicer to your junior members
Angie

[Tecophilaea King]

Wow, just noticed the four stars above my profile picture.
Does that mean I can start beating up the lower junior ranks now?  
Didn't seem that long ago that I started off with one star.
No it means you have got to be nicer to your junior members
Angie :

Angie, thank you for reminding me of my senior member duties   especially from a bonnie wee lass  
No need to get jealous boys, I am just being nice/complimentary with Christmas coming.

[Paul T]

Bill,

You keep posting things that I've recently photographed and was going to post.    The Arisaema fargesii of mine is a few days off, and the first candidissima opened yesterday.  Has been a good year for Arisaema for me this year.    Great pics as always.

[ashley]

Ashley, yes A.candidissimum do set seed, and when they're ready will send you some,  if I will remember.
Just made a note not to forget and don't hesitate to remind me

Many thanks Bill.  I'd love a few in due course if you can spare them.

As to beauty or lack thereof, things aren't quite as bad as them seem!  I set my profile local time to GMT but for some reason 'server time' GMT+1 still appears on my posts  

[Regelian]

Bill, great shots!  Thanks for sharing them.  I really like the tray of 'poorly managed' Arisaema candidissimum.  A florists dream!  Like Ashley, I have but the one clone and it seems to be self oncompatable.  I do have some seedlings coming along from the Arisaema Group exchange to remedy this.  Ashley, are you a member?  Costs nothing and is a great resource for understanding this fascinating and somewhat confusing genus.

Ciao,

Jamie

[Paul T]

Jamie,

Assuming you're talking about the Arisaema Enthusiasts Group..... Very true.  A lot of my seed has come from them over the years.  Some really wonderful contacts through the group as well.  A very helpful bunch, much like so many people here.