PBS Forum

Quote from: Ron on Yesterday at 12:13:26 PM

Quote from: Too Many Plants! on November 17, 2024, 06:28:41 PMFlower pic added...of same bulb from August 2021 when the bulb was much smaller and only two headed.

What is the interesting plant in the watering basin behind the Drimia's inflorescence?

Hi Ron, that is a cycad. Encephalartos Gratus. Unfortunately, I need to move it. It's in too much sun. Always looks great like that for a while, but eventually, it gets yellow-looking by the time we get to winter. Then the wind takes its toll beating it up further. It needs a spot with some afternoon shade and some protection from heavier winds (which I'm in VERY short supply of)! 

Quote from: Carlos on Yesterday at 03:15:29 PMHi, @Too Many Plants! , typical stalks and flowers if D. numidica

The species was transferred to Drimia in 2004 but first described in 1868 in genus Squilla. The chronology is:

Squilla numidica Jord. & Fourr. in Icon. Fl. Eur. 2: 1 (1868)

Urginea numidica (Jord. & Fourr.) Grey in Hardy Bulbs 2: 632 (1938)

Urginea maritima var. numidica (Jord. & Fourr.) Maire & Weiller in Fl. Afrique N. 5: 164 (1958)

Charybdis numidica (Jord. & Fourr.) Speta in Phyton (Horn) 38: 60 (1998)

D. numidica is a huge plant, with bulbs (with all tunics) reaching a small melon's size, with coriaceous brick-red tunics and a scape reaching 1,70 m. The flowers are numerous, about 1 cm wide and nearly white, sometimes with a faintly coloured midvein. The seeds are almost 1 cm long. It is a tetraploid (2n=40)

D maritima is smaller and has whitish to brownish, more papery outer tunics. The flowers are bigger, less numerous and with a well marked reddish-brown midvein. It is a hexaploid (2n=60)

Thanks for that thorough explanation, @Carlos! Appreciate the time and effort you put into that. Maybe @David Pilling can incorporate some of that info into his Wiki...

Hi @Carlos, I added a pic to my post on prior page of my flowers from 3 years ago, if you want to check them...

Quote from: David Pilling on November 19, 2024, 02:21:03 PM

Quote from: Too Many Plants! on November 19, 2024, 01:37:12 PMif you're asking me if you can use my photos, absolutely fine with that. I can try and find some past pics of my flowers too.

Thanks. There are some forum flower pics here, question is of which one.

https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php?msg=2234


Send photos to david@davidpilling.com

David, I emailed you the Drimia pics from the post, plus one flower pic I found from Aug '21.

Quote from: Robin Jangle on November 18, 2024, 10:16:05 PMI heard my name!
Veltheimia capensis is a widespread taxon occurring in winter rain and borderline winter/summer rain. Always somewhat xeric though.

Thank you for your contributions, Robin! It's always fun to get details like that from plant folks who live around, and see them in native natural habitat!!

I purchased 6 of those "Deasii" Capensis types, planted them in the ground, and now I'm not certain how many have survived after two years. This winter may answer that question. My "standard" Capensis are reliable every year leafing out and flowering.

Quote from: David Pilling on November 19, 2024, 10:11:43 AM

Quote from: Carlos on November 18, 2024, 12:52:24 AMthose are Drimia numidica.

Seemingly it was once Urginea maritima var. numidica

What do you think the photos on the wiki are of?

https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/DrimiaSpecies#martima

How do you tell the difference?

I'll do a wiki entry for numidica using the photos from here if that is OK? Or feel free to send in photos.

David, if you're asking me if you can use my photos, absolutely fine with that. I can try and find some past pics of my flowers too. If it works better I can send my pics for you, just let me know how/where to send them...

Quote from: Uli on November 19, 2024, 11:31:44 AM

Quote from: Too Many Plants! on November 19, 2024, 08:39:56 AMAnd on that Velthemia note...

Velthemia Bracteata waking up!

A fun little tidbit on these...I found these years ago at, of all places (which I frequent so I'm pretty certain they only got a pot or maybe 2-3), my local HD! One lone pot.

...also, for a while now I've been wondering if I have these in too much full sun. They often get a bit fried looking.

I grow my Veltheimia capensis in full sun and the border where it grows will be very dry and warm in summer. But the Veltheimia bracteata would not like this. It has a rather short dormancy, I am surprised that yours are only just leafing out now. They grow in dappled shade in a border which is irrigated in summer so the roots will find some moisture. As a pot plant in a cool room Veltheimia bracteata can be virtually evergreen.

I think I may have my Veltheimia reversed, to some degree anyway. My Capensis maybe in winter 50/50 sun vs filtered sun/shade, might be happier in full winter sun. And vise versa for my Bracteata. I've thought about moving my Bracteata many times, it just never makes it near the top of my MASSIVE to-do list. 

And on that Veltheimia note...

Veltheimia Bracteata waking up!

A fun little tidbit on these...I found these years ago at, of all places (which I frequent so I'm pretty certain they only got a pot or maybe 2-3), my local HD! One lone pot.

...also, for a while now I've been wondering if I have these in too much full sun. They often get a bit fried looking.

Quote from: Uli on November 18, 2024, 01:48:10 AMLove those V. Deasii! They do strike me as V. Deasii, and definitely look different than my Capensis anyway. (Capensis Pics from previous years)

This Veltheimia was purchased as a single bulb from the succulent nursery in Vanrhynsdorp in South Africa in the year 2000. I am not sure if it is Veltheimia deasii but compared to the picture and description at Telos it could well be. I do not know if it is an acknowledged name so I prefer to put a question mark. It does increase by splitting but slowly so. With careful hand pollination it sets very few seeds, the seedlings are very slow to build up, none has got to flowering size so far. It is the first Veltheimia to flower with me.

I wonder if @Robin Jangle might have something to add on this subject?

Quote from: Carlos on November 18, 2024, 12:52:24 AMHi, as I have said many times, those are Drimia numidica. If you want real Drimia maritima, I still have some seeds on my plants.

Carlos

Hi Carlos, I know nothing about this Genus. Sorry for the improper ID, I'm just listing it as I bought it. 

FYI these have been circulated A LOT in the collection trade in California. Once in a blue moon, I'll see a 5 gal one of these in a better nursery for $75 - 100. I know there's an old-timer plant guy that lives in my area, who field grows these on at least an acre and sells them to online bulb retailers, who sell them for a pretty🪙. I've even stumbled across one in a nursery in Arizona. 

BTW...I don't see anything on PBS about the species you say it is- Drimia Numidica? My flowers are white and tall 5' - 6' tall and flower with no foliage, like some of the pics on PBS for Maritima. 

How does Numidica differ from Maritima???

Thanks

More bulbs waking up...

Urginea Maritima... Drimia now?

Very LARGE Bulbs!- 12oz Coconut Soda water for scale...

Flower pic added...of same bulb from August 2021 when the bulb was much smaller and only two headed.

Quote from: Uli on November 16, 2024, 12:51:47 AMThis combination of Veltheimia deasii (?) or capensis with Oxalis Pink Giant, Nerine sarniensi (already over) and a self sown Crocus niveus has proved reliable and is a nice combination with succulents and cacti.

Love those V. Deasii! They do strike me as V. Deasii, and definitely look different than my Capensis anyway. (Capensis Pics from previous years).

Seasons of Life. I'm not a fan of the shorter days, colder nights, and days that aren't sunny and somewhat warm...but...some of my SA winter bulbs are starting to wake up. For a plant/garden outside Geek, this brings some excitement to the unstoppable winter marching on us!

So far, I have spied emerging foliage on- Ferraria (has been), Moraea, Gladiolus, Babiana, Romulea, Ixia, Veltheimia, and my Boophone are mostly leafed out.

Of interest...of the genera mentioned above, my inground bulbs are the ones emerging while my potted ones (except for 1 Babiana pot) have yet to show activity.

This Boophone Haemanthoides (pictured) is for the first time splitting (I believe).

@Robin Jangle  ... thoughts on splitting?

Quote from: Carlos on November 10, 2024, 12:58:08 AMBrunsvigia namaquana, far from flowering but really cute.

That is SUPER Cool 😍

I planted 3 Albuca Concordiana bulbs. It appears one has split, or maybe an offset. The main head is very small which leads me to speculate the bulb split.

Any thoughts?

https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Albuca_concordiana