The MGS Forum

Plants for mediterranean gardens => Annuals => Topic started by: Bolanthus on July 04, 2012, 02:32:12 PM

Title: Pallenis spinosa
Post by: Bolanthus on July 04, 2012, 02:32:12 PM: Wild flowers are the "magical pool" and gardeners first pick out the desired "golden fishes" from this pool. Perhaps some of you would find interesting this thorny annual of the daisy family!

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YpnAPioNTZw/T_RCdMH9C8I/AAAAAAAAA4o/rpIf4bv2_Ts/s512/P6110005.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Hn033AUJ5LY/T_RCeevwecI/AAAAAAAAA4s/8pLFDU0q-jY/s512/P6110006.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9Bsh4-VEtnQ/T_RDOsDXcGI/AAAAAAAAA44/p1KdYMVUVfE/s512/P6120029.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jIPqzExxB4w/T_RDW1x6NpI/AAAAAAAAA5A/R2XUD0QMUv8/s512/P6120033.JPG)
Title: Re: Pallenis spinosa
Post by: Alisdair on July 04, 2012, 07:14:29 PM: Super pictures, Bolanthus!
By the way, the Kew taxonomists now reckon that Pallenis spinosa is a synonym of Asteriscus spinosus.
Title: Re: Pallenis spinosa
Post by: MikeHardman on July 04, 2012, 08:17:58 PM: Yes, I rather like these wildflowers. I had a patch of them come up in our proto-cucumber patch this spring, where I found they made delightful uninvited guests. I had to tell them to push off eventually, as they didn't know when to leave the party -- the new owners were in need of being planted. With a bit of luck, they'll drop by next year, too.
Title: Re: Pallenis spinosa
Post by: Bolanthus on July 05, 2012, 09:41:50 AM: Quote from: Alisdair on July 04, 2012, 07:14:29 PM
Super pictures, Bolanthus!
By the way, the Kew taxonomists now reckon that Pallenis spinosa is a synonym of Asteriscus spinosus.

Thanks Alisdair, I didn't know that :) ...but again what is the problem with the taxonomists?!? They keep moving them arround to razzle dazzle us! There are many cases of species having a dozen or so synonyms. Just to give an example the case of galactites http://data.gbif.org/species/3137579/
Title: Re: Pallenis spinosa
Post by: David Bracey on July 05, 2012, 08:31:31 PM: I used to admire the flowers of this plant and wondered why it was never offered by nurserymen. It does have vicious spines and would not be suitable for many gardens.
Title: Re: Pallenis spinosa
Post by: Bolanthus on July 05, 2012, 09:27:38 PM: Quote from: David Bracey on July 05, 2012, 08:31:31 PM
I used to admire the flowers of this plant and wondered why it was never offered by nurserymen. It does have vicious spines and would not be suitable for many gardens.

Yes indeed, the green bracts are topped by a hard thorn. This decorative star-like arrangement of the bracts remains on the plant even when it is completely dried out in the summer.
Title: Re: Pallenis spinosa
Post by: Fleur Pavlidis on July 11, 2012, 10:28:21 PM: I'm surprised to learn that this is an annual/ biennial. Mine just seem to come up every year in the same place.
Title: Re: Pallenis spinosa
Post by: Bolanthus on July 12, 2012, 12:29:26 AM: Quote from: Fleur Pavlidis on July 11, 2012, 10:28:21 PM
I'm surprised to learn that this is an annual/ biennial. Mine just seem to come up every year in the same place.

Probably it is reluctant to let its offspring leave the family. Just like a typical Greek family