South African Bulbs 2013

[Rogan]

"Live in luxury with your lousy papers or get a real job, Rogan.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2013, 03:38:30 AM by Ezeiza" »

I'm extremely sorry if my comments offended readers on this forum, it was certainly not my intention.

[Maggi Young]

Rogan, I don't think you have offended anybody - usually when I question Ezeiza about such comments he tells me I have missed the point of his joke..........

[SJW]

No, not offended although as a newbie I don't know if there's some subtext I've missed...

I thought the two smileys Rogan added made it clear that the comment was lighthearted? And I don't think anyone who's been around higher education doesn't acknowledge the pressure on researchers to publish - research funding depends on it, at least in the UK through the Research Assessment Exercise. Or perhaps I've missed the point of the comment?

Anyway, on a more positive note (!) the recent reclassifications within Lachenalia/Polyxena does offer an opportunity for a discussion about the practical implications for forum members. For example, how should seed donors label donations this year? I grow three species under the old classification that are now all lumped together as Lachenalia pallida . So it's probably most sensible to give the new name with a note adding details such as the old name, flower colour etc.

[Tony Willis]

A gladiolus I got from the SA bulb exchange

Gladiolus huttonii

[ArnoldT]

Merwilla plumbea (Scilla natelensis)

[Ezeiza]

I seem to have missed these latest postings on the subject of SA bulbs. What our friend Rogan has put in hilarious and polite terms, I did in harsher ones. So, it was not a joke nor a comment aimed at him in any way. The fact is that a lot of botanical papers we see these days are of poor quality and mostly on splitting hairs. It is the system that presses hard on people living off science to publish rather frequently in order to maintain their academic status and in many cases succulent wages. Of course there are botanists doing a lot of excellent work but on the minority. The DNA gimmick has turned into a gold mine for this where anybody looking for a subject of research can find plenty of themes. Sadly, it has mostly remained only a way for cataloguing things. We can't help but keeping up to date with all these novelties, changes and recataloguing. Of course everybody has the right to live and thrive but my personal objection to this way of things is the absolute indifference of many botanists to the ecological disaster that is taking place everywhere around the world. They are in the foremost position to make people know and yet, they choose to look some other way or worse, their interventions are to convince us that very destructive practices like plundering wild plants for sale is good for science "for otherwise they would not be known". A contemplative attitude towards Nature is a thing of the past, perfectly understandable then. Nowadays, it is a personal election. Before the first diplomatic comment is made, let me remind you all that Kew for instance has chosen otherwise and is working hard against the clock to try and save everything they can. Then, there exists an alternative. Who says indifference is "scientific"?

Of course my comment was not against our friend Rogn, who has given us much pleasure showing his wonderful plants. Sorry for the bad time, Rogan, it was entirely my fault to write telegram like postings.

[Michael J Campbell]

Moraea lurida

[Rogan]

Moraea lurida

Ooh! Love it!   

[Menai]

A couple of gladiolus

Gladiolus tristis from DaveyP
Gladiolus uysiae from IBSA

Sorry,late on this topic but G. tristis now well established outside in beds here and flowering well at the moment after two of our colder winters [-7° min]. Seed originally from Chiltern in 2002. Actually could be considered a bit of a weed as it has sown itself into a lot of pots in the days I was nursing it in the greenhouse.

Erle
Anglesey, cold again but after some welcome rain - don't scream anyone but we have been dry so far this spring.

[Darren]

Moraea lurida

Ooh! Love it!   

Me too!

There is a form illustrated in the monograph where the maroon colour covers the entire flower. Does anyone out there grow this form?

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

Hi,
I'm ashamed this is not a rarity.
Gladiolus CARNEUS
JP

[bulborum]

No idea why you should feel ashamed Jean-Patrick AGIER
many ordinary flowers are beautiful and undervalued 

Roland

[Hans J]

If here are any specialists for South African Ornithogalums so please look here :

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10570.msg278338#msg278338

Any ideas are welcome !
Hans

[Alessandro.marinello]

Tulbaghia acutiloba and Drimia flagellaris

[arillady]

What an interesting colour combination in Tulbaghia acutiloba.