Dear Jane, I will take advantage of this answer to your post in order to clarify some points of my original mail on hardy Alstroemeria. Before starting my post I should also mentionned your most interesting contribution to the "dwarf Alstroemerias" that I found in the pbs archives that can be found at: http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/old.php/… You wrote: That is a misleading statement because A. patagonica is extremely different from A. aurea and indeed any other species (it was once placed in a monotypic genus, Schickendantzia). I never meant that Alsteomeria aurea is the same species as Altroemeria patagonica. They are perfectly distinct (Bayer, 1987; Muñoz Schick & Moreira Muñoz 2003). When I wrote that A. patagonica replaces A. aurea in southernmost Chile (and adjacent regions of Argentina), I only wanted to point out that A. patagonica is the southernmost species of Alstroemeria (Ultima Esperanza, Magallanes and Tierra del Furgo Regions) and that its geographical range does not overlap with A. aurea (see distribution maps in Muñoz Schick & Moreira Muñoz 2003). Schickendantzia was originaly introduced as a monotypic genus by Pax (1889 - sometimes quoted 1890) based on S. hieronymi first described by the same author after argentinean plants from the Tucuman and Catamarca region. Speggazini (1903, 1907) considered that the peruvian species A. pygmaea Herbert is a junior subjective synonym of S. hieronymi and as a consequence A. pygmaea should therefore be considered as the type species of Schikendantzia. Most recently Sanso & Xifreda (1999), after reevaluation of the status of S. pygmaea, showed that Schickendantzia should be considered as a junior subjective synonym of Alstroelmeria. According to these authors: "Morphological and anatomical investigations confirm the reduction of Schickendantzia Pax to Alstroemeria L. Schickendantzia pygmaea (Herb.) Speg., a small herb growing in the Andean mountains, 3500-4400 m above sea level, was first described in the genus Alstroemeria. Particularly valuable in determining the correct taxonomic position are: the presence of axile placentation, a trilocular ovary, two inner usually spotted, upper tepals, a rhizome with some fleshy-starchy white roots, a six-ribbed loculicidal capsule, umbonate towards the apex with explosive dehiscence, light brown and globose seeds, the outer integument of seed coat dry, with a sculptured surface, ballistic dispersal and pollen grains with striato-reticulate sexine". This view seems to be accepted since by most, if not all, botanists working on South American floras. Moreover chromosome studies on Andean Alstroemeria by Sanso (2002) has shown that karyotypes of A. andina ssp. venustula and A. pygmaea revealed similarity to all other analysed taxa (A. hookeri ssp. cummingiana, A. hookeri ssp. recumbens, A. pallida, A. patagonica and A. pseudospathulata). Thus, to all existing arguments for not retaining Schickendantzia as a separate genus, the karyotype analysis merges A. pygmaea with other Alstroemeria species, and does not support its taxonomic uniqueness in a separate genus. Additional arguments based on cladistic analysis is to be found in Aagesen & Sanso (2003). To my knowledge the only other species that was formaly included in Schickendantzia is S. trichosepala Speggazini. As far as I know A. patagonica (syn. A. nana according to Bayer, 1987) was never formaly included in Schikendantzia, even if Hofreiter & Rodríguez (2006, p. 20) mentioned in their taxonomic notes about A. pygmaea that "the next relative is the very similar A. patagonica". Soory for the long and most likely boring taxonomic discussion but I thought that it could be of interest to some of us... Luc Selected references. Aagesen L. & Sanso A. M. 2003. The Phylogeny of the Alstroemeriaceae, based on Morphology, rps16 Intron, and rbcL Sequence Data. Systematic botany, vol. 29 (1), pp. 47-69. Bayer E. 1987. Die gattung Alstroemeria in Chile. Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung. München 24: 1–362. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Hofreiter & Rodriguez 2006. The Alstroemeriaceae in Peru and neighbouring areas. Revista peruana de biologia, Vol. 13 (1), pp. 5-69. Muñoz Schick, M. & Moreira Muñoz, A. 2003. Alstroemerias de Chile. Santiago. Chile. Sanso A. M. 2002. Chromosome studies in Andean taxa of Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. 138 (4), 451–459. Sanso A. M. & Xifreda C. C. 1999. The Synonymy of Schickendantzia with Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae). In: Morphology, Anatomy and Systematics at the Centenary of Wilhelm Troll's Birth, Systematics and Geography of Plants, Vol. 68, No. 1/2, (1999), pp. 315-323. Schickendantzia was originaly introduced as a monotypic genus by Pax (1889 - sometimes quoted 1890) based on S. hieronymi first described by the same author after argentinean plants from the Tucuman and Catamarca region. Speggazini (1903, 1907) considered that the peruvian species A. pygmaea Herbert is a junior subjective synonym of S. hieronymi and as a consequence A. pygmaea should therefore be considered as the type species of Schikendantzia. Most recently Sanso & Xifreda (1999), after reevaluation of the status of S. pygmaea, showed that Schickendantzia should be considered as a junior subjective synonym of Alstroelmeria. According to these authors: "Morphological and anatomical investigations confirm the reduction of Schickendantzia Pax to Alstroemeria L. Schickendantzia pygmaea (Herb.) Speg., a small herb growing in the Andean mountains, 3500-4400 m above sea level, was first described in the genus Alstroemeria. Particularly valuable in determining the correct taxonomic position are: the presence of axile placentation, a trilocular ovary, two inner usually spotted, upper tepals, a rhizome with some fleshy-starchy white roots, a six-ribbed loculicidal capsule, umbonate towards the apex with explosive dehiscence, light brown and globose seeds, the outer integument of seed coat dry, with a sculptured surface, ballistic dispersal and pollen grains with striato-reticulate sexine". This view seems to be accepted since by most, if not all, botanists working on South American floras. Moreover chromosome studies on Andean Alstroemeria by Sanso (2002) has shown that karyotypes of A. andina ssp. venustula and A. pygmaea revealed similarity to all other analysed taxa (A. hookeri ssp. cummingiana, A. hookeri ssp. recumbens, A. pallida, A. patagonica and A. pseudospathulata). Thus, to all existing arguments for not retaining Schickendantzia as a separate genus, the karyotype analysis merges A. pygmaea with other Alstroemeria species, and does not support its taxonomic uniqueness in a separate genus. Additional arguments based on cladistic analysis is to be found in Aagesen & Sanso (2003). To my knowledge the only other species that was formaly included in Schickendantzia is S. trichosepala Speggazini. As far as I know A. patagonica (syn. A. nana according to Bayer, 1987) was never formaly included in Schikendantzia, even if Hofreiter & Rodríguez (2006, p. 20) mentioned in their taxonomic notes about A. pygmaea that "the next relative is the very similar A. patagonica". Soory for the long and most likely boring taxonomic discussion but I thought that it could be of interest to some of us... Luc Selected references. Aagesen L. & Sanso A. M. 2003. The Phylogeny of the Alstroemeriaceae, based on Morphology, rps16 Intron, and rbcL Sequence Data. Systematic botany, vol. 29 (1), pp. 47-69. Bayer E. 1987. Die gattung Alstroemeria in Chile. Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung. München 24: 1–362. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Hofreiter & Rodriguez 2006. The Alstroemeriaceae in Peru and neighbouring areas. Revista peruana de biologia, Vol. 13 (1), pp. 5-69. Muñoz Schick, M. & Moreira Muñoz, A. 2003. Alstroemerias de Chile. Santiago. Chile. Sanso A. M. 2002. Chromosome studies in Andean taxa of Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. 138 (4), 451–459. Sanso A. M. & Xifreda C. C. 1999. The Synonymy of Schickendantzia with Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae). In: Morphology, Anatomy and Systematics at the Centenary of Wilhelm Troll's Birth, Systematics and Geography of Plants, Vol. 68, No. 1/2, (1999), pp. 315-323. I never meant that Alsteomeria aurea is the same species as Altroemeria patagonica. They are perfectly distinct (Bayer, 1987; Muñoz Schick & Moreira Muñoz 2003). When I wrote that A. patagonica replaces A. aurea in southernmost Chile (and adjacent regions of Argentina), I only wanted to point out that A. patagonica is the southernmost species of Alstroemeria (Ultima Esperanza, Magallanes and Tierra del Furgo Regions) and that its geographical range does not overlap with A. aurea (see distribution maps in Muñoz Schick & Moreira Muñoz 2003). Schickendantzia was originaly introduced as a monotypic genus by Pax (1889 - sometimes quoted 1890) based on S. hieronymi first described by the same author after argentinean plants from the Tucuman and Catamarca region. Speggazini (1903, 1907) considered that the peruvian species A. pygmaea Herbert is a junior subjective synonym of S. hieronymi and as a consequence A. pygmaea should therefore be considered as the type species of Schikendantzia. Most recently Sanso & Xifreda (1999), after reevaluation of the status of S. pygmaea, showed that Schickendantzia should be considered as a junior subjective synonym of Alstroelmeria. According to these authors: "Morphological and anatomical investigations confirm the reduction of Schickendantzia Pax to Alstroemeria L. Schickendantzia pygmaea (Herb.) Speg., a small herb growing in the Andean mountains, 3500-4400 m above sea level, was first described in the genus Alstroemeria. Particularly valuable in determining the correct taxonomic position are: the presence of axile placentation, a trilocular ovary, two inner usually spotted, upper tepals, a rhizome with some fleshy-starchy white roots, a six-ribbed loculicidal capsule, umbonate towards the apex with explosive dehiscence, light brown and globose seeds, the outer integument of seed coat dry, with a sculptured surface, ballistic dispersal and pollen grains with striato-reticulate sexine". This view seems to be accepted since by most, if not all, botanists working on South American floras. Moreover chromosome studies on Andean Alstroemeria by Sanso (2002) has shown that karyotypes of A. andina ssp. venustula and A. pygmaea revealed similarity to all other analysed taxa (A. hookeri ssp. cummingiana, A. hookeri ssp. recumbens, A. pallida, A. patagonica and A. pseudospathulata). Thus, to all existing arguments for not retaining Schickendantzia as a separate genus, the karyotype analysis merges A. pygmaea with other Alstroemeria species, and does not support its taxonomic uniqueness in a separate genus. Additional arguments based on cladistic analysis is to be found in Aagesen & Sanso (2003). To my knowledge the only other species that was formaly included in Schickendantzia is S. trichosepala Speggazini. As far as I know A. patagonica (syn. A. nana according to Bayer, 1987) was never formaly included in Schikendantzia, even if Hofreiter & Rodríguez (2006, p. 20) mentioned in their taxonomic notes about A. pygmaea that "the next relative is the very similar A. patagonica". Soory for the long and most likely boring taxonomic discussion but I thought that it could be of interest to some of us... Luc Selected references. Aagesen L. & Sanso A. M. 2003. The Phylogeny of the Alstroemeriaceae, based on Morphology, rps16 Intron, and rbcL Sequence Data. Systematic botany, vol. 29 (1), pp. 47-69. Bayer E. 1987. Die gattung Alstroemeria in Chile. Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung. München 24: 1–362. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Hofreiter & Rodriguez 2006. The Alstroemeriaceae in Peru and neighbouring areas. Revista peruana de biologia, Vol. 13 (1), pp. 5-69. Muñoz Schick, M. & Moreira Muñoz, A. 2003. Alstroemerias de Chile. Santiago. Chile. Sanso A. M. 2002. Chromosome studies in Andean taxa of Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. 138 (4), 451–459. Sanso A. M. & Xifreda C. C. 1999. The Synonymy of Schickendantzia with Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae). In: Morphology, Anatomy and Systematics at the Centenary of Wilhelm Troll's Birth, Systematics and Geography of Plants, Vol. 68, No. 1/2, (1999), pp. 315-323. Schickendantzia was originaly introduced as a monotypic genus by Pax (1889 - sometimes quoted 1890) based on S. hieronymi first described by the same author after argentinean plants from the Tucuman and Catamarca region. Speggazini (1903, 1907) considered that the peruvian species A. pygmaea Herbert is a junior subjective synonym of S. hieronymi and as a consequence A. pygmaea should therefore be considered as the type species of Schikendantzia. Most recently Sanso & Xifreda (1999), after reevaluation of the status of S. pygmaea, showed that Schickendantzia should be considered as a junior subjective synonym of Alstroelmeria. According to these authors: "Morphological and anatomical investigations confirm the reduction of Schickendantzia Pax to Alstroemeria L. Schickendantzia pygmaea (Herb.) Speg., a small herb growing in the Andean mountains, 3500-4400 m above sea level, was first described in the genus Alstroemeria. Particularly valuable in determining the correct taxonomic position are: the presence of axile placentation, a trilocular ovary, two inner usually spotted, upper tepals, a rhizome with some fleshy-starchy white roots, a six-ribbed loculicidal capsule, umbonate towards the apex with explosive dehiscence, light brown and globose seeds, the outer integument of seed coat dry, with a sculptured surface, ballistic dispersal and pollen grains with striato-reticulate sexine". This view seems to be accepted since by most, if not all, botanists working on South American floras. Moreover chromosome studies on Andean Alstroemeria by Sanso (2002) has shown that karyotypes of A. andina ssp. venustula and A. pygmaea revealed similarity to all other analysed taxa (A. hookeri ssp. cummingiana, A. hookeri ssp. recumbens, A. pallida, A. patagonica and A. pseudospathulata). Thus, to all existing arguments for not retaining Schickendantzia as a separate genus, the karyotype analysis merges A. pygmaea with other Alstroemeria species, and does not support its taxonomic uniqueness in a separate genus. Additional arguments based on cladistic analysis is to be found in Aagesen & Sanso (2003). To my knowledge the only other species that was formaly included in Schickendantzia is S. trichosepala Speggazini. As far as I know A. patagonica (syn. A. nana according to Bayer, 1987) was never formaly included in Schikendantzia, even if Hofreiter & Rodríguez (2006, p. 20) mentioned in their taxonomic notes about A. pygmaea that "the next relative is the very similar A. patagonica". Soory for the long and most likely boring taxonomic discussion but I thought that it could be of interest to some of us... Luc Selected references. Aagesen L. & Sanso A. M. 2003. The Phylogeny of the Alstroemeriaceae, based on Morphology, rps16 Intron, and rbcL Sequence Data. Systematic botany, vol. 29 (1), pp. 47-69. Bayer E. 1987. Die gattung Alstroemeria in Chile. Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung. München 24: 1–362. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Herbert, W. 1837. Amaryllidaceae. James Ridgeway and Sons, London. Hofreiter & Rodriguez 2006. The Alstroemeriaceae in Peru and neighbouring areas. Revista peruana de biologia, Vol. 13 (1), pp. 5-69. Muñoz Schick, M. & Moreira Muñoz, A. 2003. Alstroemerias de Chile. Santiago. Chile. Sanso A. M. 2002. Chromosome studies in Andean taxa of Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. 138 (4), 451–459. Sanso A. M. & Xifreda C. C. 1999. The Synonymy of Schickendantzia with Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae). In: Morphology, Anatomy and Systematics at the Centenary of Wilhelm Troll's Birth, Systematics and Geography of Plants, Vol. 68, No. 1/2, (1999), pp. 315-323.