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Author Topic: Jacob's Lily ?  (Read 5127 times)

Martin

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Jacob's Lily ?
« on: May 31, 2007, 07:03:51 AM »
Hello,

I purchased a bulb last autumn with the name "Jacob's Lily" on the packet, no botanical name listed. It is now in flower, and I would like to know the proper name. It is similar to Amaryllis, deep red in colour. very pretty. Anyone know anything about it. Cannot find anything on Google.

Martin.

Thomas Huber

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Re: Jacob's Lily ?
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2007, 07:16:58 AM »
Hi Martin - is it Sprekelia formosissima ?
Thomas Huber, Neustadt - Germany (230m)

Mick McLoughlin

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Re: Jacob's Lily ?
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2007, 12:38:28 PM »
There is a picture of the Spreklia here http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=474.msg12486#msg12486. If that is it.
Hemsworth, West Yorkshire

Martin

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Re: Jacob's Lily ?
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2007, 05:09:48 PM »
Thats the kiddy !! Thank you very much, I can label it up properly now.

Martin.

Lesley Cox

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Re: Jacob's Lily ?
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2007, 10:03:07 PM »
Sprekelia formosissima has the "common" name of Jacobean lily. But why, for Heaven's sake?
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

mark smyth

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Re: Jacob's Lily ?
« Reply #5 on: June 03, 2007, 12:34:58 PM »
After a little searching the common names shed some light 

Etymology: Late Latin Jacobus (Saint James)

From New Latin Jacobaeus, from Late Latin Iacbus, Iacobus, James, Jacob

named after Johann Heinrich von Sprekelson
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
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Maggi Young

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Re: Jacob's Lily ?
« Reply #6 on: June 03, 2007, 12:38:05 PM »
I wonder if some old painting showed Saint James with a flower that looked like this, or that a similar flower was shown in Jacobean tapestries... the flower has been known in cultivation since Jacobean times in Britain, I believe.
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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rob krejzl

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Re: Jacob's Lily ?
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2007, 02:44:14 PM »
"But why?"

Supposedly from the resemblance to the cross of St Jacob of Caltrava:

http://www.allstates-flag.com/fotw/flags/rord.html#calatrava
Southern Tasmania

USDA Zone 8/9

Maggi Young

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Re: Jacob's Lily ?
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2007, 06:48:52 PM »
Aha! That seems reasonable. Thanks, Rob.
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Lesley Cox

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Re: Jacob's Lily ?
« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2007, 12:21:10 AM »
Yes indeed, thanks Rob. It does look very like the Calatrava cross.
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

 


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