February 2011 - Southern Hemisphere

[Rogan]

"Seems to flower earlier as Bessera"

Just a little earlier Luit; my Bessera are just about to open their first blooms. No scent discernable to my nose.

A little more about it (I can't remember the source):

"Petronymphe is a monotypic genus with a very restricted range found exclusively within the state of Guerrero, Mexico. It's only known habitat is near Acahuizotla, 1 hour south of Chilpancingo at about 3500' elevation where they grow on 30m vertical cliffs above a river. Petronymphe is member of the Brodiaea complex that also includes genera such as Dichelostemma, Triteleia and Bessera etcetera. Recent work (2001) suggests placing it in the Milla clade of a new family, Themidaceae. (This clade includes Behria, Bessera, Dandya, Jaimehintonia, and Milla)."

[Paul T]

Fascinating, Rogan.  Congratulations are VERY much in order by the sound of it, for flowering this little rarity.

[Maggi Young]

at about 3500' elevation where they grow on 30m vertical cliffs above a river.

Crikey, nothing wimpish about it then, for all its delicate stem and flowers

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Flowering at present for me......

Hibiscus "Southern Belle", white flowered.  Huge flowers!!

Love Southern Belle Paul !!!    B e a u t i f u l !!!!

[Lvandelft]

"Seems to flower earlier as Bessera"

Just a little earlier Luit; my Bessera are just about to open their first blooms. No scent discernable to my nose.

A little more about it (I can't remember the source):

"Petronymphe is a monotypic genus with a very restricted range found exclusively within the state of Guerrero, Mexico. It's only known habitat is near Acahuizotla, 1 hour south of Chilpancingo at about 3500' elevation where they grow on 30m vertical cliffs above a river. Petronymphe is member of the Brodiaea complex that also includes genera such as Dichelostemma, Triteleia and Bessera etcetera. Recent work (2001) suggests placing it in the Milla clade of a new family, Themidaceae. (This clade includes Behria, Bessera, Dandya, Jaimehintonia, and Milla)."

Very interesting Rogan! Reading about the place where they grow makes me fear that they just survived only on places where people hardly may reach them. But may be I am to pessimistic thinking so
But it looks definitely like a plant to look out for in culture, now only just have to wait untill finding some seed or bulbs for a start 

[Ezeiza]

It was thought to be extinct for a number of years as the whole population was collected and exported to Europe. Same happened to spectacular Hippeastrum argentinum that like Petronymphe had the fatal luck of being thought of as "the plant of the future".

[Lvandelft]

So my fearing was justified 

[Paul T]

Love Southern Belle Paul !!!    B e a u t i f u l !!!!

Luc,

They're a herbaceous variety, dying off completely every year and reshooting to about 1.2m or so for me (could be higher I think if conditions were wetter).  Some of the flowers can get to 25cm across, perhaps slightly larger, at the beginning of the season.  I don't fertilise them at all, otherwise I would imagine the flowers would probably stay large for most of the season instead of getting smaller as the season goes on like they do.  Glad you liked it.

[cohan]

Flowering at present for me......

Hibiscus "Southern Belle", white flowered.  Huge flowers!!

Neomarica caerulea

Lilium auratum platyphyllum

A new purchase for me last week.... a Snail Vine (Vigna caracalla), well named as you can see by the flowers and buds.  The flowers start out white and pink, then fade to a yellowy colour.  Amazing perfume too, that is just so tropical.  Sort of like Lilium crossed with Frangipani, with some other stuff thrown in.  Gorgeous!

Nice bean, Paul! I hope it survives your 'cold' climate

[cohan]

Rogan--nice plant, hope it manages to recover in habitat! It's frustrating at times that its not possible to buy seed of Mexican plants from Mexico, but given the horrible history of foreign collectors, its not surprising they just banned all export  of plants and seeds

[Rogan]

"But it looks definitely like a plant to look out for in culture, now only just have to wait untill finding some seed or bulbs for a start"

My seeds came from Ginny Hunt of Seed Hunt in the US of A: http://www.seedhunt.com/pplist.html

[Paul T]

Rogan,

By the sound of it you need to set seed on it and start funding your retirement by selling them.    I'm sure there are a lot of us who'd like some. 

[Rogan]

"start funding your retirement"

Well, I'll get busy then - five more years to go...   

I also loved your "bean" Paul - nobody's mentioned the scent yet - gorgeous!

[Paul T]

Rogan,

Well as I've now planned your retirement funding for you, I'll take a small fee of perhaps 1 dozen seeds?  

Yes the perfume of the Snail Vine is beautiful, although I am not sure I'd want it right outside my bedroom window.  I also think that cutting it and bringing it indoors might not be ideal either.  I think you might get a bit "over it" rather quickly.

And Yes, I am joking re the seeds.... Petronymphe is not on our ICON database, unless it has a synonym?  I just thought I'd mention that before quarantine start looking sideways at everything I bring into the country.  

[cohan]

Oh, thanks a lot, Rogan! Just what I needed, another seedlist to look at!