Not exactly a geophyte
ConroeJoe@aol.com (Sat, 03 Jul 2004 09:31:21 PDT)

Hi,

I grow a few types of Manfreda, they are Agave relatives and could almost be
called geophytes. They don't seem to make a bulb, but they do make an
enlarged base that is bulb-like--sitting on top of the soil as well as under the
soil. Some types spread happily by rhizomes, sort of like Crinum erubescens.

Recently, I collected some pollen from M. variegata growing in far south
Texas, in Rio Grand City on the border with Mexico. I have a single plant that
does not set seed when left to its own devices. So, I brought the pollen home,
dried it down a few days, and then put it in the refrigerator over a bid of
desiccant in a small container.

Two weeks later, when my plant bloomed, I was able to pollinate most flowers
and now have big fat seed pods developing. M. variegata is an interesting
plant, sometimes blue-green leaves but usually the leaves have blotches of
purple. The leaves are very floppy, and sometimes lie upon the ground. The M.
variegata plants I saw in the wild were growing in a sandstone outcrop in
blistering heat.

I have seen M. maculosa about 100 miles west of here (Houston area) near La
Grange, TX. In this area (Houston area) we have M. virginica. They are all
very easy to grow and seem impervious to rain, drought, heat, cold, sun, etc.
Some species have fragrant flowers. I'm under the impression that many more
types grow in Mexico.

LINK: Manfreda flowers of various Texas species
http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabast/manfreda.htm

Cordially,

Conroe Joe