Loasa nana

[PaulM]

I got this seed from the SRGC Seed ex 2011/12 as Loasa nana. If you google the species most images show a light yellow flowered form, but a few show a white too, but in these the leaves are entirely different. There seem to be an abundance of white flowered species with red and yellow markings in the center, Loasa triphyllum, triloba, tricolor....
Has anyone else grown seeds from this batch, or happen to know which species this really is ?

[Darren]

Paul - I think this is Blumenbachia hieronymi, which often masquerades as various Loasa species in seed exchanges. I've had this happen too and Panayoti kindly identified it for me on Alpine-L about 12 years ago.

[Darren]

Incidentally - it is worth keeping to see the weird seed capsules!

[PaulM]

Thank you Darren ! Is there any significant difference between Blumenbachia seed capsules and Loasa seed capsules ?

[Darren]

Don't know Paul - I've never seen a Loasa capsule!

[Lesley Cox]

But mind the hairs. Do they sting?

[Darren]

The ones on mine did Lesley - not badly, but not pleasant either.

[robg]

Extract from the Chilterns Seeds website

"Blumenbachia hieronymi

Sting Lily

    Troubled by trespassers or poachers? Then you could always try this one! Because this lovely plant is armed with viciously stinging hairs - said to be more painful than a Nettle (if only of short duration) - this fact, however, we have no intention of verifying, but don´t let us stop you. Apart from that, it is a vigorous, trailing annual with quite pretty, white flowers with red and yellow centres: indeed, close inspection reveals them to be exquisitely moulded. These are borne all summer until the frost puts an end to its funny little ways."

Rob

[ChrisB]

This is exactly what I like about the forum. I got loasa nana seed from the exchange after googling it.  It’s germinated after just two weeks so now to see what it does and whether, in fact, it is what it says on the packet!

[Véronique Macrelle]

I ordered seeds of ' Loasa nana ' this year from srgc.

 I cultivated for a few years Loasa triphylla, then I lost it. sowing can be random.

it is stinging like nettle, but much less strong (almost fun). its seed capsules (according to my recollection) are conical (about 1 cm long) and crowned with sepal remains, bristling with stiff hairs, they dry when ripe by opening upwards (between the sepals remains).

 

[ruweiss]

The picture shows Loasa nana from Vojtech Holubec seeds, it flowered 1915.
It did not survive very long and I was not able to replace this attractive plant.

[Véronique Macrelle]

very pretty

[ChrisB]

I will post here when it flowers, if I manage to keep it alive that long.  I shall also be very careful how I handle it!

[Jon Evans]

Martin and Anna Sheader were awarded a Certificate of Merit for this plant at the AGS Wimborne Show in 2013.

[ChrisB]

Wow. Wonder how long it took to reach that size?