South African bulbose plants 2009

[arillady]

Have not seen that Freesia species before - does it have the scent of the others? Where is it native Rafa?

[Rafa]

maybe because it was Anomatheca?  It is not scented and I think I gow this species from two different supliers, Dawie Human and R.R. Saunders.

[Ezeiza]

The Anomatheca section of Freesia has flowers with long tubes that are pollinated by butterfiles or moths.

The "normal" Freesias, with their strong scent, by bees.

[Roma]

MYSTERY SOLVED ?
The label on the pot, Srgc seed sown 2007 says Linanthus nuttallii, which is in the family Polemoniaceae, but the leaves were obviously Iridaceae.  As the flower buds developed I was thinking Ixia.  The first bud looked as if it would open days ago.  The temperature in the greenhouse today was 27C so I was surprised it still stayed closed.  About 5.30 pm when packing some plants for the Stirling show tomorrow I happened to look along the greenhouse and saw the flower had just opened. A second flower had opened by 6.30.  So it is night blooming, scented and I would guess South African.  I hope someone out there can help me.

[Maggi Young]

The pattern on the outside of the flowers is lovely ..... I have no idea what it is , though!
 I can just imagine it smells good 

 Have a good day at Dunblane, travel  safe!

[Michael J Campbell]

Moraea tricolour

[Ezeiza]

Hesperantha cucullata

( edit by M: Refers to Roma's mystery Irid, from Post 482, above)

[Roma]

Thank you, Alberto.

Roma

[ChrisB]

I thought it looked like the hesperantha's I've grown.

[Ezeiza]

Face red, Maggie...

Sorry for such telegraphic postings, only that another subject appeared at the same time.

Hesperanthas are fine plants, but drainage must be very good. Some of the species are gorgeous. They also liek it really frost free and warmish.

[t00lie]

Hello Roma

Hesperantha cucullata grows outside here in the garden without any protection --subject to year round rainfall and frosts up to -3c .
If allowed to seed will pop up everywhere.

Cheers dave. 

[Hans J]

here is flowering in this time my Veltheimia bracteata - grown by me from seed ( ex DKG ) in year 2000

[Jim McKenney]

Jim,
That's a good demonstration of the fact some of these SA bulbs are tougher than we might expect.
In the open garden here - G.tristis, A/F.laxa, G.papillio, R.tetragona.

I just re-read this post and noticed the temperature range you experience as given in your signature: you are even colder than we are in the winter, although we get hotter here in USDA zone 7 Maryland, USA. Your -26 C is extremely cold: that would put you in USDA zone 5, the sort of winter temperatures experienced in SE Canada!

And you are growing those plants in the open garden? Do they receive special winter protection?

I've been growing Gladiolus tristis in a protected cold frame where real estate is valuable: I now wonder if I should move it to the open garden?

[Michael]

Very nice Veltheimia Hans
Is it the first flowering?

[Paddy Tobin]

Hans,

Is this velthemia growing outside? We grow several pots of velthemia bracteata here but have never ventured to plant them outdoors.

Paddy