ref Bulbous Genus 'BRODIAEA' in Alliaceae

Mary Sue Ittner msittner@mcn.org
Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:11:37 PDT
Many of the species we are talking about grow in such diverse places that 
they do not all behave the same. Nor do they all look the same. There is 
incredible variation in size and color of the different forms. So it is 
hard to come up with a hard and fast rule about each species. My experience 
isn't the same as Jane. The earliest ones for me to bloom are Triteleias. 
They bloom months before Dichelostemma capitatum. Triteleia ixioides, the 
one that the Robinett's called 'Tiger' starts blooming for me in January or 
February. Another one I got from the Robinetts, a tiny Triteleia 
hyacinthina that doesn't look at all like some of the other Triteleia 
hyacinthinas I grow they called 'Dwarf Blue' starts blooming some years in 
February.  Triteleia clementina also is early to bloom, January or 
February. That doesn't mean there isn't a Dichelostemma capitatum that 
would bloom before these. I just don't have a form that blooms before April 
and I have a couple of different kinds.

Triteleia laxa is also very variable, from tall to short, from dark purple 
to a very pale blue with pink tones. The local one that grows where I live 
is a nice rich dark purple and very short. It needs no support at all.

Once I discovered this variation I started ordering seeds of the same thing 
from Ron Ratko and have found in cultivation the variation continues with 
seed grown plants from different locations. I wonder if some of those who 
got some of the old Robinett seed that Dell distributed have grown any of 
it to flowering and are discovering some exciting plants.

Mary Sue


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