Guess what this is 30 - NOW SOLVED

  • 11 Replies
  • 11189 Views
*

Alisdair

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
Guess what this is 30 - NOW SOLVED
« on: February 19, 2012, 04:09:42 PM »
As the forum's gone so quiet this weekend, here's an attempt to get a reaction:
Flowering at the moment under glass in the UK. Probably much too easy for John and Oron!
« Last Edit: February 22, 2012, 09:21:30 AM by Alisdair »
Alisdair Aird
Gardens in SE England (Sussex); also coastal Southern Greece, and (in a very small way) South West France; MGS member (and former president); vice chairman RHS Lily Group, past chairman Cyclamen Society

*

John

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2012, 04:03:28 PM »
I have to say that I can't remember. I do remember photographing it at Harry Hay's a few years ago and it's Iridaceae with small flowers.
John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.

*

Alisdair

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2012, 05:45:01 PM »
Well done John, it is Iridaceae despite that vaguely orchid look! And to help the clue along it's only about 1cm across.
Alisdair Aird
Gardens in SE England (Sussex); also coastal Southern Greece, and (in a very small way) South West France; MGS member (and former president); vice chairman RHS Lily Group, past chairman Cyclamen Society

*

John

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2012, 08:02:10 PM »
Is it a Lapeirousia?
John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.

*

John

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2012, 08:06:02 PM »
No sorry, I take that back. How's about Anomatheca viridis. I knew I knew it! I had photographed it a few years ago.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2012, 12:47:10 AM by John »
John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.

*

John

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2012, 08:07:21 PM »
Unless of course I'm wrong!
John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.

*

Alisdair

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30 - NOW SOLVED
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2012, 09:27:50 AM »
Well done again, John, you're (sort of) right. It's properly called Freesia viridis rather than Anomatheca viridis now, but has been a real problem for taxonomists over the years, jumping in and out of half a dozen other genera including Gladiolus, Tritonia and Montbretia, as well as your first guess Lapeirousia!
Alisdair Aird
Gardens in SE England (Sussex); also coastal Southern Greece, and (in a very small way) South West France; MGS member (and former president); vice chairman RHS Lily Group, past chairman Cyclamen Society

ezeiza

  • Full Member
Re: Guess what this is 30 - NOW SOLVED
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2012, 11:53:11 PM »
It seems it will rest in Freesia for eternity as it clearly has Freesia corms and even more, Freesia seeds. The genus Freesia is an interesting one and several species with fragrant flowers are easy to grow and remain true.

*

John

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30 - NOW SOLVED
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2012, 12:52:59 AM »
OK, does this species hybridise with other Freesia species?
John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.

*

Fleur Pavlidis

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30 - NOW SOLVED
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2012, 10:15:30 AM »
But do you grow it in your Greek garden, Alisdair?
MGS member, Greece. I garden in Attica, Greece and Mt Goulinas (450m) Central Greece

*

Alisdair

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30 - NOW SOLVED
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2012, 06:06:53 PM »
Not yet, but it's in a pot under glass given a strictly mediterranean regime here in UK, including completely dry summer baking. I may not even try it in Greece though, as given its tiny green flowers it's one of those plants that people politely say is "interesting" rather than beautiful....
To answer John, I haven't seen any reference to a hybrid, and its pollen grains are said to be structurally different from those of all other freesias (one-banded operculum as opposed to two, or vice versa, I can't remember which!), which might pose an obstacle to trying to cross it.
Alisdair Aird
Gardens in SE England (Sussex); also coastal Southern Greece, and (in a very small way) South West France; MGS member (and former president); vice chairman RHS Lily Group, past chairman Cyclamen Society

*

John

  • Hero Member
Re: Guess what this is 30 - NOW SOLVED
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2012, 07:02:25 PM »
You could try stigma grafting!
John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.