Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Rodger Whitlock on July 22, 2009, 04:57:48 AM
-
Well, the mandrake seed has finally been cleaned. It was a disgusting task: I am sick of the slightly acrid, slightly fruity, slightly cheesy odor of the flesh of mandrakes.
A problem has arisen: I have a very good harvest of mandrake seed, far and away the best ever (cf. the picture of the fruits posted a few weeks ago). There's enough, I'm thinking, to satisfy all demand for mandrake seed. But the problem is, how much should I send to the AGS, and how much to the SRGC? Does anyone have at their fingertips statistics on the operation of the two exchanges that might guide me?
Anyone have any comment on this? I'm sure I'm not the only contributor who has been faced with this conundrum.
-
Rodger, the AGS exchange is bigger than the SRGC.... so greater amount should go to AGS, I reckon.
60/40 perhaps?
I know both exchanges will be very pleased to receive the results of your smelly labours!
-
Must send off some seed to the SRGC seed exchange as I didn't bother to send off last year. Anyone grow Mandrake in Scotland?
-
Hello Roger & Maggi,
I got to see some mandrakes in flower on my Sikkim trip this spring and I would be very glad if you could help me out how to find the tread with that picture of one in seed. (cf. the picture of the fruits posted a few weeks ago
Roger,
Great that you are able to grow them and great that you are sending to the seed exchange!
Some pictures of Sikkimese mandrakes.
-
Johan, I think others may also be intereseted, so I repost Rodger's pix and words here.......
The coin envelope at the back of the green plant saucer is 2" × 3.5", to give you a sense of scale. The black tray in the front contains such seeds as I've already harvested. Of the four fruit I've dealt with, two were dried out husks — perhaps a homeless slug hollowed them out to make a cozy nest. The other two had over 53 sound seeds between them, as shown.
You can see how some of the fruits were scalded by the brilliant sun last week.
The second photo is of my supposed Mandragora autumnalis in flower. You will note the purplish tinge to the cluster of flowers in the center of the rosette of leaves. This may, or may not, be diagnostic.
-
This page may also be of interest....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3827.msg100578;topicseen#msg100578
Also this pic of the plant in fruit before Rodger harvested it.....
-
Your M. caulescens are much more green in flower than this very dark type showed earlier by Magnar, from a Tromsø garden, Johan......
-
Here is another dark form, from Yunnan, shown by GerdK from a photo by Dieter Z. ..... and also a photo of M. autumnalis in flower, also from GerdK... from Spain .......
I hope it is handy to see some of these photos together?
-
Wow,
I missed those last two photographs, Maggi. Great colour. Must look out for those.
Paddy
-
Thanks Maggi!
Great to see different mandragora species together side by side. Anyone who knows how many species within the genus?
Your M. caulescens are much more green in flower than this very dark type showed earlier by Magnar, from a Tromsø garden, Johan......
We did see some variation. Some a little bit darker but not as dark as the ones shown here. Ive been looking through a japnese book 'Himalayan Plants Illustrated', showing a Mandragora caulescens subsp. flavida which looks similar to the one I photographed.
One very interesting thing was how the flowers sometimes bended downwards, pressed to the ground. And the flowerstem was really fixed in that position. Maybe has someting to do with it being pollinated?
a picture of a little bit darker one with flowers facing the ground.
-
Maggi,
the Mandragora autumnalis was really beautifull!
-
Thanks Maggi!
Great to see different mandragora species together side by side. Anyone who knows how many species within the genus?
My thanks to Maggi, too. I can now say that what I have been thinking was M. autumnalis isn't. What it might be, with its flat, metallic-looking leaves I do not know. It is of interest that mandragora species occur as far east as Yunnan (M. caulescens) and as far west as Spain (M. autumnalis). Does anyone know what their actual distribution is?
How many species within the genus? From what I've read in a few scattered references, it seems like mandragora is one of those genera with a taxonomy in a state of utter confusion.
Edited to incorporate range reaching Spain.
HOWEVER: my few references are all old enough that they may be completely outdated by now. \
If anyone is up to date on mandragora taxonomy, speak up and enlighten us, please.
Or is it that the botanical keys utilize the musical pitch in which the plant screams when uprooted?
I.
Plant screams on note above middle C → II.
Plant screams on note below middle C → III.
-
is it that the botanical keys utilize the musical pitch in which the plant screams when uprooted?
I.
Plant screams on note above middle C → II.
Plant screams on note below middle C → III.
Seems a more reasonable premise for a key than many I've seen, Rodger!
-
I would definitely be interested in trying these from seed. I expect they will need sharp sand for germination? Perhaps sharp sea sand, or is that C# sand? ::)
-
Maggi,
Love that black flowered one (although none of them are "bad", so to speak). ;D
-
Maggi,
Love that black flowered one (although none of them are "bad", so to speak). ;D
The good news is that Mandragora caulescens is on our "Allowed List" for seed import!
Is anyone collecting seed of it as well?
M autumnalis and M officinarum have been around here for awhile.
cheers
fermi
-
Hi Fermi
I’m a newbie so I hope i am posting in the correct place. I love mandragora of all types I have quite a few plants of Officinarum, Autumnalis and Turcomanica and others of doubtful parentage .I have been looking for other varieties for some time .So I think you can understand when I say I went all wobbly at the knees when I stumbled on the post about Mandragora caulescens .Please could you tell me Is there any information about getting seeds or roots for this species
Regards
Mel
-
Is it possible to ask for a trade (seeds) off any of this. I don't have any off them butt i have a tradlist (http://annesblomstersider.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122&Itemid=141)
-
No problem .I will organise my trade list in due course .I have looked at your trade list there is nothing I want at the moment thanks .
At the moment I am very interested in varieties of mandragora in particular Mandragora caulescens seeds or any cultivation information would be nice
Regards
Mel
-
Hi Fermi
I’m a newbie so I hope i am posting in the correct place. I love mandragora of all types I have quite a few plants of Officinarum, Autumnalis and Turcomanica and others of doubtful parentage .I have been looking for other varieties for some time .So I think you can understand when I say I went all wobbly at the knees when I stumbled on the post about Mandragora caulescens .Please could you tell me Is there any information about getting seeds or roots for this species
Regards
Mel
Hi Mel,
when I said that they are on our (Australian) "Allowed List" I didn't mean that I actually had any myself! I wish I did! Others on the Forum obviously do grow it though and one of them might answer your request. It may be worth putting in a Request on the "Seed/Plant wanted" threads,
cheers
fermi
-
Hi Fermi
thanks for your reply . Thanks for clearing that up .The seeds are proving difficult to track down .I do hope if anyone has them that they contact me .I have put a request on the seed wanted list I have had a good response but still no seeds yet .
Although there have been a few posts about Mandragora caulescens I have not found one yet that actually said they grow it ,but I am still working my way through the posts
Mel