Hippeastrum calyptratum
320083817243-0001@t-online.de (Wed, 18 Aug 2004 14:30:14 PDT)

Dear Joyce,

Thank you for the message on Hippeastrum calyptratum. I have a good potful of
mature bulbs but only one had flowered some time ago and I did hand-pollinate
it but no seed was set. The plants look very good, though so I am hoping for at
least two flowers opening and then hopefully I will have seed. I had the plant
indoors when it flowered and it took some time to realize that this strange
smell in my house came from its flowers. Almost revolting from close by, It
must be bat pollinated.

In the meantime there was a good harvest of seed of Hippeastrum cybister and my
own seed made a 100% germination floating in water. The seed is planted now and
makes good dark green leaves. Unfortunately most of this seed was lost in the
mail as I had sent it to the BX, it never reached. This is the first time ever
to happen since I send seed or bulbs around the world. We seem to have a lot of
problems with letters getting lost or being returned for no obvious reasons at
present here in Germany, there are more things that did not arrive......

After this a Hippeastrum species has flowered with two long narrow
greenish-yellowish white elegant trumpets and they have set seed, it seems so
at least. If it works, I will send it to the BX.......

Bye for now, Uli