Stylidium graminifolium comparisons

[shelagh]

Last year I posted some shots of our Stylidium graminifolium which won a Farrer medal a few years ago.  Since then Brian and I have given lots of seed to growers interested in trying it.  It is not easy the seed comes through like cress and then sits there and dies, if it does hang on it takes 2/3 years to make a plant the size of your little finger nail.

Just recently another grower has been growing Stylidium graminifolium which grows very easily.  So ofcourse we had to have one.  I am now posting pictures of the two for you to see the differences.  The pictures of our 'original' and to my mind superior plant come from a SSS (self sown seedling) inside the original pot.

OK shots are labelled so you will know which is which.  I would appreciate comments from those in the know as to whether they are just different clones or whatever the botanical term is.

[Peter Maguire]

Shelagh,
I grow the loose racemed form that you have pictured, and would agree the yours is a far superior form. I would have thought that they are just different clones of the same species; perhaps there is a need to introduce fresh material of the clone (wherever it came from) that you have so that there is a possibility of stronger seedlings from a crossing.
Of course as you have both in flower, I assume that you are going to get the paintbrush out and cross pollinate these two plants in the spirit of scientific enquiry. 

[Stephenb]

Can't answer your questions, but I remembered being struck by this species in full flower on the coast of Tasmania many years ago more or less the only plant growing on what was very poor soil right next to the sea. Have a picture, but it's on a slide... I had seed once but I don't think I succeeded germinating it..

[Lesley Cox]

I don't have it now but agree they are separate clones of the same species. - well, pretty sure anyway, though there are other species I think. When I grew it, it was the looser form but it was also a much paler pink. Both yours are superior in that respect. It did set seed and again, the seedlings were VERY slow to grow on to any size.

[rob krejzl]

Shelagh,

I think that when you posted the original pictures I suggested it looked like the tetraploid form of graminifolium, which was separated out as Stylidium armeria. Did you ever try to key it out? Armeria has very stiff flower stalks and much thicker leaves than graminifolium.

I have to say that in my garden self-sown plants of graminifolium usually flower the second year as quite robust plants,  so fresh seed may be a good idea.

[shelagh]

Rob I remember your comments and when you (as I did) Google Styldium armeria and graminifolium you get pictures which could be either of the ones I posted.  The foliage looks the same and the only good it has done me is to show huge swathes of S. ? which I would love to see because it takes me so long to grow just the odd one.

[rob krejzl]

Sorry. If it isn't armeria I can't offer much help.