Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Amaryllidaceae => Topic started by: Rogan on April 23, 2009, 03:36:25 PM

Title: Green monster!
Post by: Rogan on April 23, 2009, 03:36:25 PM

My green monster, Hippeastrum calyptratum, is filling the greenhouse with the stench of old plastic once again . I grew this plant from seed quite a few years ago and it produces four flowers for me to enjoy annually - weird but certainly wonderful.

Title: Re: Green monster!
Post by: mark smyth on April 23, 2009, 06:08:37 PM

It looks very interesting. How big is it?

Title: Re: Green monster!
Post by: Paul T on April 24, 2009, 04:31:48 AM

Rogan,

Very cool!  I was given a bulb of this by a friend last year..... had no idea it was quite that shape.  Different (and therefore generally interesting to me.  ;D)

Thanks for sharing.  8)

Title: Re: Green monster!
Post by: Rogan on April 24, 2009, 08:35:50 AM

"It looks very interesting. How big is it?"

A very rough guess: 150mm long by 100-125mm wide - I'll measure it accurately for you this weekend.

This species has been used in breeding new cultivars before, I suppose to introduce greenish flowers to its progeny, however I much prefer the species as it is as I think destroying its unique structure and colouration through hybridisation is a crime.

This is a more "frontal" view of the flower:

Title: Re: Green monster!
Post by: Maggi Young on April 24, 2009, 10:55:14 AM

I have a distinct liking for green flowers and this is a bosker!  8)
I am kind of puzzled, though, by the description ofthe scent as being that of "old plastic" ..... this has caused me to spend two days  wandering around, sniffing all sorts of plastic objects, to see if I can pin down just what this scent might be.... so far I have no firm conclusions..... perhaps none of my plastic is old enough :P ???

Title: Re: Green monster!
Post by: Rogan on April 24, 2009, 03:45:30 PM

There is a variety of plastic in this country that auto-destructs, i.e. falls to pieces after a number of years. Before it does so it releases quite a strong smell (...and probably nasty chemicals as well!) that is difficult to describe but quite distinctive -  :P H. calyptratum has a similar smell but not quite as strong nor as repulsive - apparently bats are attracted to the flowers in nature where the plants grow on trees in the Atlantic forests.

Title: Re: Green monster!
Post by: mark smyth on April 24, 2009, 07:15:35 PM

The whole plant I meant to say

Title: Re: Green monster!
Post by: Renate Brinkers on July 23, 2009, 11:11:27 PM

Rogan,

wonderful pictures of H.calyptratum. I am waiting for flowers of mine but I didn´t know that they have such a smell.