Another Roscoea for ID

[Gabriela]

I start another discussion because this is a totally different Roscoea. Grown as 'tibetica' - which is not after the way the capsule develops. I suspected to be R. australis and asked the opinion of someone who has lots of Roscoea, who said the flower doesn't look the same.
Here are the images. As far as I know it was a collection from Zhongdian, Yunnan. It makes a beautiful species for a rockery or trough in part-shade.

Some years the flowers remain enclosed in the leaf sheats:


When in the mood it shows like this:


Flower close-up:


Capsule develops inside the pseudostem and splits it open when ripen:


Fresh seed with lacerate arils (2 mm grid):


It grows better in part-shade than in full sun exposure. Of course I have few seeds if someone wants a ?Roscoea.
Gabriela
Ontario, zone5, Canada
http://botanicallyinclined.org

[Growild]

Very odd ... flowers look like tibetica, foliage looks like tibetica - so do does the seed size and height but the developing seed capsule points too australis? Below are photo's of australis to compare. Seed size in australis is at least twice the size to the ones you show of your plant.

[Gabriela]

Thanks for the images Lisa. This is what I would think as australis. How is the seed capsule formed? (height, inside/outside the pseudostem).
My little one may be tibetica, but then another that I give as tibetica should be something else. Such a mess
Is there a holder of Roscoea national collection in UK?

[Growild]

Thanks for the images Lisa. This is what I would think as australis. How is the seed capsule formed? (height, inside/outside the pseudostem).
My little one may be tibetica, but then another that I give as tibetica should be something else. Such a mess
Is there a holder of Roscoea national collection in UK?

Hi Gabriela, in australis the seed capsule is formed inside the pseudostem - I could have took a photograph last week and measured its height but I've collected all my seed already ... the national collection holder in the Uk is Roland Bream rgbream62@talk.talk.net.

[Gabriela]

Thanks Lisa. I'll mark down his address and see what I can clarify about the Roscoeas later in the winter when I have more time.
I keep a good photographic record and probably it will help.
Gabriela
Ontario,zone 5, Canada
http://botanicallyinclined.org

[Growild]

Please keep me updated