Rhodophiala splendens

[Alessandro.marinello]

New to bloom Rhodophiala splendens, Chile

[Paul T]

Alessandro,

Does this species only produce 1 or 2 flowers per stem?  Yours looks very similar to an old "bifida" that I have which never produces more than 2 flowers on each stem, with the white stripe down the middle of the flower and a sort of orangey-red colour to it.

[Alessandro.marinello]

Alessandro,

Does this species only produce 1 or 2 flowers per stem?  Yours looks very similar to an old "bifida" that I have which never produces more than 2 flowers on each stem, with the white stripe down the middle of the flower and a sort of orangey-red colour to it.

Hi Paul
the description is corresponded, task that your R. is not a R. bifida

[Hans A.]

Here for comparison two pictures of Rhodophiala splendens in its habitat in Central Chile.
It normaly has 2-4 (7) flowers on each stem. The plants on the pictures were interesting for the local botanist as they did not know this very small population.
Most famous is their site at Reserva Nacional Radal Siete Tazas, VII Region (where the flowers normally have no white points).

[Paul T]

We had a bit of a discussion a while back when I posted pics of mine, but we never worked out exactly what it was.  Mine has 1 or 2 flowers per stem, I've never seen more than that.  The flower is oranger than Hans pic.  Not that a name really matters I guess.  I know it isn't bifida from the discussion that we had at the time, but was just interesting to see Alessandro's and note the similarities.

[Rogan]

How do you tell these things apart? Perhaps the fact that everything not R. bifida rapidly departs my collection (...to the great nursery in the sky) is diagnostic. However, I'd better eat my words as, for the first time ever, I've had some success with Placea ornata this year, which usually doesn't even germinate for me before departing this life - or maybe it isn't Placea but merely R. bifida in disguise. Perish the thought! This little biff of mine flowers regularly now that it has matured from Chiltern Seeds' seed (please ignore the busy background!):

[Alessandro.marinello]

I can say that  the features of R. splendens my bulbs are true .