Nomocharis 2013

[Claire Cockcroft]

This is the first flowering of a seedling nomocharis.  The seed came as Nomocharis farreri, but it is more likely Nomocharis x finlayorum.  The leaves are in threes, not whorls.  But it's still a lovely thing.   

[fleurbleue]

I think  the same too, Claire 

[Maggi Young]

I believe it is almost impossible to keep nomocharis species "pure" in cultivation - luckily they are all absolutely beautiful - so that's a comfort, at least!

[David Pilling]

Hi,

I think Chelsea 2006, a grinning Carol Klein popped up and said "Oooh these are nice, you'd like some of them", of Nomocharis. So I filled in the SRGC seed ex form for some seed, thinking that was easy enough. First snag seed is scarce. There then followed the hunt for seed, then the problem of getting it to germinate. At first I blamed my lack of success on not having as much seed as Ian Young has. Then came murderous slug attacks, a collapsing greenhouse and a lot of mistakes. By the end of 2012 I'd come to the conclusion I'd killed every one.

However, shock, I found this in the greenhouse recently and the flower was open today, the pot said SRGC seed ex 2009/2010 N. Aperta.

I reckon I've had over 250 seeds, the majority from commercial sources, quite a lot of which was not viable. Alas quite a lot was viable and I killed it.

What strikes me about this never having seen a flowering specimen in real life before is how small it is - a good thing I could fit a lot in the greenhouse.

Does anyone feel like saying if this is really Aperta or not. I've read the PBS wiki Nomocharis page, seemingly I need to look for warts in the light of day...

(http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Nomocharis)

[TC]

 I have had successful germination from SRGC seed but the problem seems to be keeping the plant over winter - in the greenhouse.
I know there were small tubers in the pots in Autumn, but when I have a look in March - nothing.  However, I did manage to plant out one specimen which has survived three years.  It was labelled Aperta but I have no idea if it is true to type.  For the past two years it has been about 20 cms. high at flowering.  This year it is 50 cms. high and has 11 flowers on it - most still to open.
 I am trying a different approach with my seedlings this year. In September, I am going to plant them in the soil next to my flowering plant.
As this one has survived two really bad cold and wet winters, maybe this is the way to treat them.  All my lilies survive this way.

[David Pilling]

Tony your flowers look much like mine - the wiki page comments that Nomocharis come from places with cold dry winters. Which might imply the bulbs are prone to rot if kept wet in winter.

[Tony Willis]

Two nomocharis in flower now with me. I use the names that came with them but I think the second is probably N. aperta, the first I cannot name. I have crossed them and have a good number of seedlings coming on


Nomocharis forrestii

Nomocharis meleagrina var

[greenspan]

according to the Nomocharis key in flora of china, only 2 of the chinese Nomocharis species have alternate leaves (aperta (syn. forrestii) + saluenensis). the other 4 species basilissa, meleagrina, pardanthina + farreri have whorled leaves.

in my opinion, if your plants are not crossed, the first photo shows Nomocharis farreri => whorled leaves, leaf shape linear to narrowly lanceolate (leaves of pardanthina + meleagrina are significant broader, inner tepals of basilissa neither spotted nor blotched),
the second has alternate leaves + when i zoom in the photo, the style seems to be distinctly longer than the ovary => Nomocharis aperta

[Tony Willis]

Thank you for your comments which I agree with. I made an error in my post in that I attached the pictures in the wrong order and meant to say the second was aperta and I have amended it.