Crinums in floristry trade
Jim Lykos (Wed, 16 Jun 2004 23:12:07 PDT)

Hi

I do recall reading in a 1930's Herbertia that a beautiful long lasting
soft pink Crinum hybrid was being sold in a southern State of USA for
floristry arrangements and that the owner of the Crinum refused to sell
any of the clonal material.
Johns comment about xAmarcrinum being on sale in Holland points to
the potential of these hybrids. I've noted in my collection that
contributing to the extended flowering period (sufficient water/rain
storms permitting) of xAmarcrinum's is the fact that they are
invariably sterile. The total sterility or disolution of their pollen
within hours allows the flowers to open and remain in a relatively
fresh condition for a couple of weeks. I have found that flowers
from autumn flushes of Amarcrinum's made with xAmarygia last the
longest - up to a month before the whole umbel of usually around 16
flowers have faded.
However, if pollen is applied to these flowers from a Crinum or
Amaryllis they will fade virtually overnight.

Jim Lykos
Blue Mountains
Australia

johngrimshaw@tiscali.co.uk wrote: