Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Bulbs General => Topic started by: Steve Garvie on May 24, 2014, 08:15:05 PM
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Overcast and dull here today and as I grow my Calochortus under glass these aren't the best of images.
The first is the Yellow Star-tulip (Calochortus monophyllus):
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2935/14071283960_275346330e_o_d.jpg)
The second plant is one of the Pussy Ears, I think this is Calochortus tolmiei rather Calochortus coeruleus:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/14071247719_b142065380_o_d.jpg)
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Steve,
Very beautiful photographs as usual!
Both C. monophyllus and C. coeruleus grow naturally near our farm. The last photograph does not look like any C. coeruleus I've seen in the wild. This really does not mean anything as climate and other growing conditions can change the coloration and appearance of a plant.
Around here, both C. monophyllus and C. coeruleus grow where there is extreme heat and dryness during the summer, often on south facing canyon slopes where temperatures can easily get 40c or more during the summer.
They look excellent. Thanks for sharing.
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... these aren't the best of images.
Ah Steve, surely they're not that bad ;) ;D
Extraordinary flower structures, beautifully shown.
Thanks too Robert for perspective on wild populations.
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Thanks for sharing these pics, Steve,
What amazing flowers!
How do you grow them? Did you raise them from seed?
cheers
fermi
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Anyone interested in these plants who does not have the book " Calochortus (Mariposa Lilies & their Relatives)" by Mary E Gerritsen & Ron Parsons may be pleased to learn that the AGS has it on a special AGS Members' offer (http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/sales/books/bulbous/Calochortus+Mariposa+Lilies+their+Relatives/122/) of only £5 per copy at the moment - something of a bargain! :D
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Thanks for sharing these pics, Steve,
What amazing flowers!
How do you grow them? Did you raise them from seed?
cheers
fermi
Thanks Fermi!
The monophyllus was bought as a mature bulb last year, the tolmiei is from seed. I bought seed of various species from Jim Archibald a number of years ago -much of it wild-collected. Germination was variable and I ended up with about 12 species.
I lost interest in plants for about 12 years but most of the Calochortus survived this period with very little watering or care. They've done quite well over the last couple of years growing under glass in full sun (Scottish sun so not that intense) in plunged clay pots. I re-pot in very late autumn using a mix containing pumice, perlite, granite grit, sandy loam and ericaceous compost. The mix is very free draining and on the acid side. I give liquid feeds when I remember. Unfortunately all the species get rather leggy here due to poor winter/spring light levels -they seem to grow better if kept bone-dry until early winter as they then come up later when light levels are improving. I should have a few more to photograph in the next few weeks.
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Thanks, Steve,
I love this genus and look forward to more pics :D
If you grew the C. tolmiei from Archibald seed have you considered posting it in that thread?
cheers
fermi
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If you grew the C. tolmiei from Archibald seed have you considered posting it in that thread?
cheers
fermi
Thanks Fermi.
The problem is that the original labels are all faded and I can't read the JJA number. This is compounded by a few of the bulbs possibly coming from Ron Ratko seed rather than JJA.
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Purple Fairy-Lantern (Calochortus amoenus)
An endemic of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Central California.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/14286303365_61764dec1f_o_d.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3734/14306487413_74eb0ac883_o_d.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/14263183996_9f98b956ca_o_d.jpg)
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Astonishing!!! i sown seeds from Alplains last year, the babies now need to grow 6 years :P
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Astonishing!!! i sown seeds from Alplains last year, the babies now need to grow 6 years :P
Yann,
You might be surprised and get some blooming plants in as little as 3 years. And without pushing them at all, which they don't seem to like around here.
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Beautiful Calochortus amoenus Steve.
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the pendulous Calochortus are so elegant and refined, such a shame you never see them here
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Calochortus kennedyi var. munzii
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2932/14426164255_347a4777b7_b.jpg)
Unfortunately the flowers are past their best (-one of the many drawbacks of work is being unable to check on plants daily!).
I bought seed of this variant and the nominate kennedyi from Jim & Jenny Archibald many years ago. The labels were long ago mixed up by the cat (who took to sleeping in the dry sunny frame housing the Mariposas) and I had assumed that I had lost both variants. It is distinguished from other similar yellow flowered Calochortus by the Peacock Moraea-like blotches on the base of the petals.
Now I need to get some seed of kennedyi kennedyi!
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Wow that Purple- fairy lantern is so lovely, thanks for sharing.
Angie :)
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The amoenus photos are superb.
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A sampling of the thousands of Calochortus nudus / minimus I saw today in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. In this one area, they were all different; gradations in size, flower color, shape, and other characteristics.
I see this with some of our other local, native Calochortus species. Nature is in constant change - it keeps me looking, looking, breathlessly!
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Diogenes' Lantern (Calochortus amabilis)
Not the best of images as the plant has grown particularly well this season and has rooted out of the pot into the plunge so I couldn't move it for photographs.
This individual opened its first flower in the 2nd week of May and is still currently in flower.
Diogenes was a notorious Greek philospher who frequently challenged the establishment and conventions of the day. He was renowned for his cynicism and critical views of society whilst his followers set themselves up as the watch dogs of morality. Many stories are associated with Diogenes but perhaps the most famous concerns his search for an honest man with the aid of a lit lantern (in broad daylight). Needless to say Diogenes never found his honest man!
Perhaps this Calochortus could be adopted as the floral emblem of bankers. :o
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/14488474876_419fa38632_o.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/14324923490_abbee1d8ef_o.jpg)
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Diogenes' Lantern (Calochortus amabilis)
Not the best of images as the plant has grown particularly well this season and has rooted out of the pot into the plunge so I couldn't move it for photographs.
This individual opened its first flower in the 2nd week of May and is still currently in flower.
Diogenes was a notorious Greek philospher who frequently challenged the establishment and conventions of the day. He was renowned for his cynicism and critical views of society whilst his followers set themselves up as the watch dogs of morality. Many stories are associated with Diogenes but perhaps the most famous concerns his search for an honest man with the aid of a lit lantern (in broad daylight). Needless to say Diogenes never found his honest man!
Perhaps this Calochortus could be adopted as the floral emblem of bankers. :o
What an attractive plant and photograph. I love the green hue to the yellow.
Chris
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Alkali Mariposa Lily(Calochortus striatus)
Apparently this is a plant of seasonally damp alkaline flats in the Mojave desert.
Surprisingly it is not difficult to grow in a pot under glass where it produces a long entwining flower stalk. It does seem to need a summer cooking however.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3854/14667863009_3ee71a90f5_o.jpg)
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Calochortus obispoensis
This species and clavatus are always the last to flower here.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/14936769141_096a756562_o_d.jpg)
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wow how unusual
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That is absolutely stunning Steve, that made my wants list. Your photographs are wonderful too. More please. :)
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The start of the Calochortus season in our garden:
Calochortus pulchellus from AGS Seedex 2008, first flower yesterday,
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
I will enjoy seeing Calochortus season a second time around.
The first flowers look great and very well grown!
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I will enjoy seeing Calochortus season a second time around.
Robert,
here's the next lot!
Calochortus venustus grown from seed - there is variation amongst the seedlings and not all have the reddish stripe;
Calochortus clavatus ssp recurvifolius bought from Marcus Harvey last summer,
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
Thanks for the good photographs.
I like the C. venustus. I'm going to recheck all of my information, as when I see the yellow ring around the purple I always think C. superbus.
To the south of us one finds the two species and others. They can and do hybridize in the wild all the time. The botany with C. venustus can be confusing - at least for me. What I find in the field does not always key out and I use multiple keys as they do not always agree either.
Not matter - the plants are beautiful and I enjoy seeing them.
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Robert,
I thought I'd posted a reply earlier but it seems to have disappeared or maybe I didn't click the right button!
I'd wondered about this clump of Calochortus as at last one looks exactly like what I grow as C. superbus, but most have this central stripe. Let me know if you decide it's here under false pretences!
Here's Calochortus umpquaensis, a bit smaller this year I think - maybe it needs some of Ian's magic powder?
cheers
fermi
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Robert,
I thought I'd posted a reply earlier but it seems to have disappeared or maybe I didn't click the right button!
I'd wondered about this clump of Calochortus as at last one looks exactly like what I grow as C. superbus, but most have this central stripe. Let me know if you decide it's here under false pretences!
cheers
fermi
Fermi,
Our farm is located in El Dorado County, California the northern limit of C. venustus. C. superbus is very common in our area, even growing naturally on the farm as well as throughout the countryside. Personally, I have never seen C. venustus in El Dorado County. There are some that claim C. venustus even grows in Placer County, the next county to the north. I definitely have my doubts about this. A number of other Calochortus species also grow in the area. C. luteus is no longer common, however it can hybridize freely with C. venustus and C. superbus. Adding to this, not all the botanical keys agree and some were created from herbarium specimens without any, or little, field work being done by the author.
Having said all of this, I use the following to distinguish C. venustus from C. superbus:
Mariposa brand peach packing crates have a beautiful and accurate print of a C. venustus on them. It clearly shows the recurved tips of the sepals, something I use to distinguish this species.
The yellow surrounding the dark spots on the petals generally distinguishes C. superbus. Also, the inverted "V" at the base of the petals is helpful but is sometimes hard to see clearly.
Beyond that I get confused and start thinking the plant might be a hybrid. They are somewhat common throughout the range of both species. Seed of garden origin will easily hybridize with other species if measures are not taken to control pollinization.
I've been long winded and maybe not of much help.
I do enjoy your photographs. No matter what species, are they are very beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing them.
Also, maybe someone that is an expert in this field will come forward with the definitive answer on how to ID the two species.
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I posted a pic of this Calochortus in the Southern Hemisphere Thread and Marcus has confirmed that it's Calochortus plummerae
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
Thanks for posting the photographs of this beautiful Southern California Calochortus species. They look great.
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Thanks for posting the photographs of this beautiful Southern California Calochortus species. They look great.
I'm happy to post pics of any of "your" bulbs that I can grow, Robert ;D
Here's another that has lost its label because of the echidna!
It's possibly Calochortus clavatus, not fully open this morning,
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
They sure look like C. clavatus to me.
I definitely will not tire of photographs of "our" Calochortus, especially out of season. Right now, for us, the C. clavatus are nothing more than little green shoots poking out of the ground, a tiny amount. Same for most of the other low elevation species.
Some of the species from high elevations and/or winter snow cover have been a little tricky for me to grow - but not all of them. C. nudus has been an easy and a reliable bloomer. They wait until spring to poke their heads above ground.
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Robert have you seen the photos of Calochortus on Phil & Gwen Phillips Wild Plant Gallery?
Nearly all taken in the USA. Gwen did grow quite a lot at one time. Really wonderful selection of plants & photos.
Link to their site :- http://www.wildplantgallery.co.uk/Index2.htm (http://www.wildplantgallery.co.uk/Index2.htm)
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Robert have you seen the photos of Calochortus on Phil & Gwen Phillips Wild Plant Gallery?
Nearly all taken in the USA. Gwen did grow quite a lot at one time. Really wonderful selection of plants & photos.
Link to their site :- http://www.wildplantgallery.co.uk/Index2.htm (http://www.wildplantgallery.co.uk/Index2.htm)
And, thanks to Mike's help, all these photos now form part of the Phillips Archive, including all the trip logs of Phil and Gwen, which are now presented to the SRGC for preservation. All to come when time allows!
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Robert have you seen the photos of Calochortus on Phil & Gwen Phillips Wild Plant Gallery?
Nearly all taken in the USA. Gwen did grow quite a lot at one time. Really wonderful selection of plants & photos.
Link to their site :- http://www.wildplantgallery.co.uk/Index2.htm (http://www.wildplantgallery.co.uk/Index2.htm)
Mike,
Thank you for the link. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I was not aware of their photo gallery. I have to admit that I do not spend much time on the internet; just this one, the weather, and a few others. Too busy I guess. However, I will give their site a look. The Calflora web site has photographs of a majority of our California flora, plus a link to Jepson's (Plant key). Kind of one stop shopping, at least for me.
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They sure look like C. clavatus to me.
Hi Robert,
I got a better pic later in the day and found a piece of broken label nearby which might confirm its identity - if it is then it has a good pedigree if it comes from the La Fong "stables" ;D
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
Calochortus clavatus var. avius grows right up the road from the farm here. Much of the habitat was burned over by the King Fire this past summer. Fire generally does not hurt the bulbs, on the contrary, in a few years they should be blooming better than ever - more light and the nutrients released by the fire help with this. There are a number of interesting plants in this burned over area, such as Lewisia serrata, that I want to check on latter in the coming season. Its habitat was in the bullseye of the most destructive part of the fire. I hope to get some good photographs of Calochortus clavatus var. avius at that time.