The MGS Forum

Plants for mediterranean gardens => Trees and Shrubs => Topic started by: John J on December 30, 2014, 08:33:00 AM

Title: Ident confirmation please.ID'd by Fermi & Trevor as Correa alba
Post by: John J on December 30, 2014, 08:33:00 AM

This shrub was on sale in a Limassol garden centre with a label that just said 'Acca' . The lady in charge insisted this was correct as her boss had told her it was. I am fairly certain that I know what it is but would like confirmation, please. I won't say what I think so as not to influence any replies. I have tried to show the underside of the leaves, which have a very distinctive smell when crushed.
I apologise for the poor quality of the photos but it was a dull day and I had to take them rather hurriedly.

Title: Re: Ident confirmation please.
Post by: David Bracey on December 30, 2014, 09:18:38 AM

john if it is an Acca then it should have Five petals.  Your flowers have 4. !!!  not much help. 

Title: Re: Ident confirmation please.
Post by: John J on December 30, 2014, 10:02:59 AM

Hi David, I believe there are only 3 accepted species of Acca with Acca sellowianabeing the one most commonly grown. The other 2 would appear to have a very limited distribution and not be readily available, I'd certainly be surprised to stumble on them on this small island in the far East of the Med. The flowers are, as you point out, nothing like those of the Acca sellowianaso I'd take a lot of convincing that they were related.

Title: Re: Ident confirmation please.
Post by: Fermi on December 30, 2014, 01:37:58 PM

Perhaps Correa alba?
cheers
fermi

Title: Re: Ident confirmation please.
Post by: John J on December 30, 2014, 02:33:46 PM

Hi Fermi, I was pretty sure it was a Correa but wasn't certain about the species, although alba would have been my best guess. Good to know that someone else  has the same idea, thanks.

Title: Re: Ident confirmation please.
Post by: sylvia on December 30, 2014, 06:01:42 PM

This looks like my Correa "Ivory Bells" in bloom now in my Northern California garden.

Sylvia Sykora

Title: Re: Ident confirmation please.
Post by: sylvia on December 30, 2014, 08:01:18 PM

I don't think it is C. alba.  The flowers of that species - at least, in my garden - are small and open, somewhat star-shaped.  The picture shows a more typical Correa flower that's tubular or bell-shaped.  I still vote for "Ivory Bells," species unknown (to me).

Sylvia Sykora

Title: Re: Ident confirmation please.
Post by: John J on December 30, 2014, 08:13:11 PM

Sylvia, Correa 'Ivory Bells' is certainly a possibility. I believe it is a cross between C. alba and C. backhousiana (which I had also considered it might be).

Title: Re: Ident confirmation please.
Post by: Trevor Australis on December 30, 2014, 10:40:23 PM

My vote is for Correa alba. The flowers can be quite variable but the leaves are always round and greyish rather than elongated and green-grey. I'm not familiar with the clonal selections.

Title: Re: Ident confirmation please.
Post by: John J on December 31, 2014, 09:43:23 AM

Thanks for that, Trevor, the more I look at it the more I lean towards my plant being a Correa alba.