Nothoscordum inodorum
Antennaria@aol.com (Sun, 09 Jan 2005 13:38:17 PST)

Since I was given a nothoscordum collection some years ago, I still have many
of them, even though I don't have a greenhouse. I winter them over inside
squeezed onto a small windowsill, and some pots I've moved to my office
windowsill at work. Of course, the delightful & desirable miniature yellow-flowered
species (with fragrant flowers too), are species such as N. montevidense.

I also have one pot with Nothoscordum inodorum (the ~bad~ one). I've always
been amused by the name, considering the fact the flowers are intensely sweet,
but the "inodorum" part refers to the fact the plant is lacking an alliaceous
odor, distinguishing it from the closely akin genus Allium. I also had N.
nocturnum (or N. inodorum var. nocturnum), which is very similar to the type
inodorum, except the flowers are crepuscular (opening at dusk), and also
intensely fragrant. Only had one flower stem last year. Not sure if I still have it,
it might be on my office windowsill... will check tomorrow when I'm at work.

If you want a "safer" plant to grow (not invasive), that also has a
powerfully sweet perfume and is easily grown, try Tulbaghia simmleri (T. fragrans).
For years I grew it in my office, and it would bloom for weeks and even a single
small flower can fill the room with fragrance. Last year it died after
flowering, not sure why but I think I didn't water it enough... sheer neglect on my
part.
http://plantbuzz.com/Alliaceae/Tulbaghia/…

Mark McDonough Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States
antennaria@aol.com "New England" USDA Zone 5
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