Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Steve Garvie on September 12, 2017, 09:28:58 AM

Title: Haemanthus identification
Post by: Steve Garvie on September 12, 2017, 09:28:58 AM
I would be grateful for help in identifying this large Haemanthus.

I have had this bulb for many years.
The label has long gone but the plant was purchased as a seedling and I had thought it was a form of H. pubescens.
It began to flower a few years ago and the flower does not fit any of the forms of pubescens. The spathe valves are quite numerous and on the small side giving the flowerheads a very untidy appearance. The flowers do not seem to match images of either sanguineus or coccineus though I gather that both can be very variable.
The leaves are massive, hairless and rubbery with a circular-oval shape and no markings on either surface. The flowerhead is pictured below.
Does anyone know what this is?

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4419/36764940810_fe8c4c6dc3_o_d.jpg)

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4419/36764940700_5eb07a1a25_o_d.jpg)
Title: Re: Haemanthus identification
Post by: Steve Garvie on September 18, 2017, 08:50:30 AM
Bumping this in the hope that someone can put a name to this Haemanthus.

 ???   ???   ???   ???
Title: Re: Haemanthus identification
Post by: Auricular on September 19, 2017, 08:11:38 AM
Hello Steve,

the flowers and your description of the leaves sounds that it could be a plant similar to the Haemanthus species from near Lüderitz.
Some say this is a form of coccineus with untypical leaves. Haemanthus coccineus is very variable, the color of the bracts can be coral red or also brilliant red. The bracts can be thin or waxy, the number of the bracts is also very variable, some plants have only 4-5 bracts, others 12.
So it´s not so easy with the ID

I try to find photos from the leaves of my spec. Lüderitz on my phone

Best wishes

Bernie
Title: Re: Haemanthus identification
Post by: Auricular on September 19, 2017, 08:18:01 AM
Here are photos
Title: Re: Haemanthus identification
Post by: Steve Garvie on September 19, 2017, 01:07:38 PM
Many thanks Bernie!
Your image of the leaves of this form are very similar to the plant that I grow.
My plant is already coming rapidly into leaf -I will post some images when fully open.
Many thanks for your help.
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