South African Bulbs 2011

[Darren]

I really struggle to grow Ledebouria 

These are happy enough though:

Geissorhizas mathewsii, monanthos and radians. (mine will definitely be in patriotic colour for the royal wedding but I hope to be hiding somewhere on the day so might not see it...)

This Moraea was a double surprise -  seed labelled 'M. neopavonia' actually turned out to be the right thing, plus it was hidden away under the bench as it still did not look big enough to flower. This is now, I think, sunk into M tulbaghensis (see above post for a picture). I actually agree with this but I note that my neopavonia is unusual as it lacks any trace of the iridescent patch on the falls (which is usually present in 'both' species). This first flower is also malformed as it lacks two of the small inner tepals. I also note that the flower has lasted far longer than my tulbaghensis at 5 days and counting - remarkable for any Moraea.

Lachenalia latimerae. I posted a pic of this as an unidentified weed in my plunge last year but now that a pot of labeled seedlings has flowered I know what it is. This potful is the same single individual which flowered with one flower spike in the plunge last year! That is some rate of increase... This species was awarded a PC by the Joint Rock a couple of years ago. The cynic in me says that if it had been me rather than Kew which put it up for award it would have been laughed out the door and marked NAS in the show to boot
It has gone to the top of my favourite Lachenalia list. It stays very neat and flowers for ages.

[ArnoldT]

Babiana stricta

[Regelian]

Darren,

the Giessorhizas are brilliant.  What great colours and definition in pattern.  Those will come on my list for the future.  I take it, none are winter hardy.

[Afloden]

Roland,

 That is a Ledebouria, but which species is unclear. Concolor? But, that one usually forms clumps. You would have to look at the ovary, threads in leaves and bulb scales, bulb color, root type (fusiform or not?), ridges on the rachis, leaf vestiture, etc....... I could help if I had the plant! I do have a few that are very similar, but a better location would help.

 Aaron

[Ezeiza]

Besides the flowers, it is useful the habit to identify a babiana species. Some of them are so typical that you can tell a species from the foliage alone. The amount of hairiness of the ovary is also relevant. In some species the stems are branched or are inclined or curved and this alone helps ID them.

[Michael J Campbell]

Tulbaghia violacea alba

[Maggi Young]

Very fine pot of Tulbaghia, Michael.

[ArnoldT]

Moraea polyanthos

[Ezeiza]

One of the latest Cape bulbs, with the Tritonias.

Interesting in that it has characters of both Moraea and former Homerias, to the point that it was known as Homeria lilacina before Homerias were merged into Moraea.

[cohan]

Roland--nice Ledebouria!

[meanie]

Nice gladiolus Chris

On a windowsill in Ireland, Lachenalia pustulata blue form

I've come to this thread late, but this is stunning!

[Ray]

Two forms of Lachenalia(Polyxena) ensifolia flowering now.bye Ray

[Maggi Young]

Two nice forms, Ray.

[Ezeiza]

Look like two different species, Ray. There are species of Polyxena still to be described. As a matter of fact, there are numbers of species still to be described in practically all genera.

[daveyp1970]

Could somebody id this Gladiolus for me,the seed was sent to me from SA three years ago and they are flowering for the first time .The plant is no bigger than 14 inches maybe 12.