Paul, from the description I found, I am under the impression that Aristea is more Sisyrhynchum-like, while Libertia actually carries the flowers in hanging umbels. I found a picture in a book of a Libertia and the umbels were very distinct and somewhat free-hanging, while the shot of Aristea showed the blooms quite tight on the stem and covering more than half the length. Libertia was more apical. I cannot say when these are culturally influenced or type specific. Good luck, Jamie V. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Tyerman" <ptyerman@ozemail.com.au> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 12:50 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] Aristea ecklonii v Libertia caerulea >to add to Arnold's bit, there is a Libertia coerulescens: clump-forming, >rhizomatous, linear, rigid and leathery leaves (30-45cm). Spring flowering, >one-two leaves on stem, flowers in umbels on short branched terminus. Pale >blue. Chile, takes -5°C > >From the descriptions of A. ecklonii, the flowers are carried up the stem in >a spike-like (panicle) manner. The flowers appear to be a much deeper blue >and are born in Summer. The plants seem to be similar in stature. Only >listed as frost hardy! South Africa > Jamie, Thanks for the correction in spelling, that may be the key ingredient I need to find it <grin>. Does anyone grow these plants and can verify what the flower arrangement and stem are like? The plant they had had very distinct flat stems, even those stem pieces branching off the main stem. The description we could find in the book at the time listed Aristea as having the branching stem with umbells, the same as you're describing the Libertia.... so it is still a bit unclear. Murphy's Law will dictate of course that both of them have the flat stems too <grin>. And flower colour is so subjective when we have an apparently single plant under both names and trying to work out what it is. I really feel that what the nursery have may be the same thing under both names, but given how close it is appearing that the plants resemble each other.... that may not be the case? I'll go and do some looking on google under that spelling and see if I can come up with anything. I am hoping that there may be people who grow each of them and have observations about stems etc? Thanks again to those who have rsponded. It would be great to be able too track down what the differences really are. Cheers. Paul Tyerman Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9 mailto:ptyerman@ozemail.com.au Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Cyclamen, Crocus, Cyrtanthus, Oxalis, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything else that doesn't move!!!!! _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php