Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: mark smyth on September 07, 2009, 08:48:40 PM

Title: Toad Lily - why?
Post by: mark smyth on September 07, 2009, 08:48:40 PM

Is this why Tricyrtis got their common name toad lily?

Title: Re: Toad Lily - why?
Post by: FrazerHenderson on September 07, 2009, 09:58:42 PM

Mark - good shot, thanks it raised a wry smile...

...but just in case a non-gardener is reading, the myth is that the flower petals are said to resemble in colouration the skin of toads.

Title: Re: Toad Lily - why?
Post by: Maggi Young on September 07, 2009, 10:58:29 PM

Quote

the myth is that the flower petals are said to resemble in colouration the skin of toads

........a feature which can be clearly seen here:

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4120.0

Title: Re: Toad Lily - why?
Post by: mark smyth on September 07, 2009, 11:04:16 PM

oh I see. I though it was because of the bulging nectaries while the flower is in bud

Title: Re: Toad Lily - why?
Post by: Anthony Darby on September 07, 2009, 11:10:18 PM

I think it refers to the blotches on the flowers. Toads were never this pretty, but are covered in blotches that we would call 'warts'.

Title: Re: Toad Lily - why?
Post by: mark smyth on September 07, 2009, 11:22:04 PM

like this

Title: Re: Toad Lily - why?
Post by: Maggi Young on September 07, 2009, 11:47:49 PM

.... for goodness sake, Mark, don't put that tongue back in your mouth!  :P