November 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Paul T]

Alberto,

Mine is definitely yellow, no question of it.  A rather good yellow I'd have to say, perhaps not so well represented in the pictures.  So I'll just nip on over to South Africa and haed out into the wild and get us a new clone, shall I?    It would be nice to have a trip to South Africa, but I'm thinking not quite this week.

[Rogan]

A pretty sight greeted me when walking in the garden at work this morning: Siphonochilus aethiopicus a wild ginger from the eastern coastal regions of South Africa - all but extinct in the wild.

[Maggi Young]

A pretty sight greeted me when walking in the garden at work this morning: Siphonochilus aethiopicus a wild ginger from the eastern coastal regions of South Africa - all but extinct in the wild.

What a beautiful flower.... and quite unknown to me so I went off for a quick search.... and found this.....
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/siphonaeth.htm   
which tells us how this plant has been brought back from the brink of extinction by tissue culture.

[Tecophilaea King]

In post # 53 I showed a picture of Conathere bifida.
I grow another South American Conanthera species, either Conanthera campanulata or Conanthera trimaculata.
There is some confusion regarding this species, perhaps Alberto could identify this species?  What do you think? Thanks.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Bill
I saw this in Kew a couple of years ago and you're spot on (pardon the pun ) as it's a cross between C. campanulata and C. trimaculata!

Rogan,
that's a gorgeous ginger!

cheers
fermi

[cohan]

rogan and bill--thanks for the spot of colour and such lovely uncommon plants--i knew i could pop over here for a shot of something other than white to see 

[Ezeiza]

Bill, to me it is C.trimaculata, althought the photo is a little too dark to see the typical spots.

Have you read about Wachendorfia thyrsiflora above?

[Rogan]

"that's a gorgeous ginger!"

Yes, it is fantastic and strongly scented too (...as are the rhizomes!). The plant itself is not too large and resembles a stunted maize shoot growing to perhaps 60 - 80 cm high - easy to accommodate in a pot.

[t00lie]

Loving the heat today (26c).

Tigridia chiapensis seed x NZAGS august 2006 .

Cheers dave.

Oops just realised this one is from Mexico --Maggi can you please transfer to November in the Southern hemisphere . Ta.

Cheers Dave

[Tecophilaea King]

Loving the heat today (26c).
Tigridia chiapensis seed x NZAGS august 2006 .

Very nice picture Dave, try saving a few seeds please if possible, use to grow it, would love to try again, Thanks

[t00lie]

Loving the heat today (26c).
Tigridia chiapensis seed x NZAGS august 2006 .

Very nice picture Dave, try saving a few seeds please if possible, use to grow it, would love to try again, Thanks

No problems Bill
Might even be able to provide you with a bulb later on as well.

Cheers dave.

[Rogan]

Every day there's something new in flower in the garden - a wonderful time of the year indeed. I've waited nearly ten years to ring a Chilean Bellflower (Lapageria rosea) from seed. This vine is terribly slow growing in my conditions and is still quite small - I really should have pulled it out long ago   

[Rogan]

Dave, your Tigridia chiapensis is so beautiful! I've tried to grow that one before from seed, but lose the seedlings soon after germination every time - my conditions are probably too warm for it to thrive or I've got a virulent band of pathogens that love defenseless little Tigridias!   

[Paul T]

Rogan,

I grew it here for a number of years before eventually losing it (unfortunately), so summer warmth shouldn't be a problem I think?  I must try to track it down again.  It is a beautiful little plant. 

[Rogan]

"I must try to track it down again"

It's on the SRGC 2010 seed distribution list...