February 2017 in the Southern Hemisphere

[David Lyttle]

Hi Jamus,

I have in front of me a paper on the taxonomy of Azorella but I don't need to bore you all with the details. These authors state that there are two currently accepted species of Bolax (Bolax gummifera, Bolax caespitosa) and that are only distantly related to Azorella. There is utter confusion in the literature in respect of the synonymy between Azorella and Bolax and it appears many people think Azorella trifurcata and Bolax gummifera are the synonyms that apply to the same plant (Azorella trifurcata). My internet searching only unearthed more confusion. So Thomas is completely correct and you can tell your supplier gently that they are wrong. A refund of $8.00 would be a modest price for this piece of information.

[Jupiter]

Cheers David! I did some research myself and decided Azorella trifurcata was the right name for my plant, but the Bolax synonym is deeply (and fallaciously) embedded  within Azorella trifurcata's identify all over the internet. I changed it in my rock garden spread sheet and have been mumbling to myself about it all day. I didn't chase the real Bolax yet. looks like you had some time up your sleeve? Feel free to share any info on Bolax gummifera, if you find a confirmed picture or description. Very curious! Thanks again.

[Jupiter]

Thomas your picture of Bolax gummifera is beautiful. What a lovely little plant. I don't think it's in cultivation in Australia... but could easily be wrong.

[Leucogenes]

Hello David,

Thank you for the informations. Bolax caespitosa I did not know yet. I am always happy when I get to know new plants from the southern hemisphere. I've looked at the Internet. An interesting species. The foliage is not as beautiful as B. gummifera but for that the flowers are ingenious.

Did you get my PM?

Thomas

[Jupiter]

Check out these fabulous photos of Bolax caespitosa and Bolax gummifera growing intermingled with fruiting Empetrium rubrum!

http://photos.v-d-brink.eu/Flora-and-Fauna/South-America/Argentina-South-Patagonia/i-TcCJf5C

[Leucogenes]

I know this picture ... just gigantic. Thanks again for the link.

[Leucogenes]

Thomas your picture of Bolax gummifera is beautiful. What a lovely little plant. I don't think it's in cultivation in Australia... but could easily be wrong.

Thank you ... it can be a bit too hot with you in Australia. Even with me in Central Europe it is almost too warm for the South Americans. I try to place them so that they do not get any sun at noon. And some wind they like.

But your Azorella looks very good. It also blooms reliably. So do not annoy.

[Leucogenes]

Thank you people for the help with identification. I'm slightly miffed about the Azorella, I PAID actual money for something called Bolax gummifera from a very well known seller here in oz. I won't name names. It's good to have an accurate identity.



... this has certainly happened to us all. One buys a certain plant and then establishes that it is not these. With me it was last year also an Azorella. I ordered an A. patagonica and it was then an A. filamentosa.

I have photographed some Azorella for you today. There are presumably also within a kind of different forms. A photo shows A. trifucata from Las Lenas in Argentina. It does not look as compact as yours and has very large foliage.

Unfortunately not all have survived the winter. A. madreporica I have lost. But I have a good source and will buy new in spring.

[Jupiter]

Thanks Thomas and very interesting group of plants. My Azorella just came through a heatwave unscathed and is making flower buds. I'll post pictures for you when it flowers. It looks very healthy; seems it likes heat more than cold! I have Bolax on my wants list.

[Jupiter]

Look what I found at the 'B' store. It's a new dwarf Punica, they are marketing as MiniMagic. The label says 20cm tall. A nice rock garden specimen shrub I reckon!

[johnw]

Jamus  - Back in 2013 I noticed them used as annual bedding plants around the city here.  More surprising were the pomegranates.  I never thought to look for a cultivar name.

john

[Jupiter]

This one is even drawfer than in your photos John so could be a new one. The leaves are tiny and the whole plant is very neat and compact. We'll see how it likes its new home in the rock garden.

[johnw]

Jamus  - I grew a dwarf one from American seed back in the late 70's, it wasn't really that dwarf, about waist high and that was with a good deal of pinching.  So appears they are making great headway with pomegranates. Yours is certainly a beauty.

john

[Otto Fauser]

Hello Jamus and Thomas , just read your discourse on Bolax and Azorella , To the best of my knowledge Bolax gummifera is not growing in Australian gardens - looks desirable . Woodbank Nursery (Ken Gillanders ) in Tasmania some 15 years ago sold Bolax glebaria which turned out to be Azorella trifurcata . xLeucoraoulia  loganii tends to  open up in the middle of the cushion and dies back after 3-4 years , so it is important to take cuttings yearly which root easily ,as does Leucogenes grandiceps and Ozothamnus  (Helichrysum ) coralloides .

     Marcus I think your Dianthus is deltoides ssp. myrtinervius - you will find plenty of seedlings around .
What a novel idea to embryo culture Juno Irises ! have not known anyone doing it . Perhaps pot the seedlings up before the leaves show  some green ?Juno seeds can sometimes be very stubborn to germinate . Good luck .

[anita]

I spent yesterday in the garden enjoying the weather – because it was under 40deg C for the first time in a few days.
It feels amazing that the garden is still out there and still looking pretty good and some truly brave amaryllids are flowering happily.
It is really hard to get across how revoltingly hot it’s been. Check out http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4216050/Australia-home-15-hottest-places-earth.html
For those of you not familiar with Centigrade it’s been over 100 degrees F – try setting your oven to that and then sticking your arm in there for a bit! Hot enough to cook… http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-12/queensland-police-fry-egg-on-car-bonnet/8263328
Anyway a cool change has come in thank goodness.
The Easter lollies (Amaryllis belladonna) are up in force as are a bunch of Habranthus and Zephyranthes. I might have some of these names wrong… I find the whole Habranthus and Zephyranthes groups a bit confusing, so feel free to amend.
The Habranthus have been pretty amazing as we've been having unusual summer rains followed by hot spells the Habranthus robustus have flowered three times. They have set seed twice already (the picture shows the second seed set maturing as the third lot of blooms opens).
Habranthus tubispathus and the Zephyranthes are repeat flowering and seeding too!
Some downsides to the unusual weather - a Brunsvigia josephinae bulb that has been growing happily in the garden for the past six years just rotted, another bulb of the same species about 50 cm away still seems okay. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will make it.