Lilium formosanum is abundantly naturalised in South Africa, Zimbabwe & Malawi in Africa, less frequently in Kenya & Tanzania, and excessively in parts of Australia where it is a noxious weed. I have recently written-up the species for the Liliaceae section of Flora of Tropical East Africa (published by RBG Kew, 2005) and uncovered the problem that the name is a bit dubious: the publication is casual, even by 19th C standards, and no type specimen is designated. However, the entity has always been known under this name so there seemed little reason to meddle unnecessarily with the taxonomy (i.e. let sleeping bulbs lie). Unfortunately L. formosanum does not do particularly well here: it seems to like a hotter summer than England affords, but with its red-stained exterior and long trumpets it is a real beauty. John Grimshaw Dr John M. Grimshaw Garden Manager, Colesbourne Gardens Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Nr Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP Website: http://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Sue Ittner" <msittner@mcn.org> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 2:37 AM Subject: Re: [pbs] Lillium formosanum > Hi, > > I am assuming that the seeds that Joe is offering is of Lilium formosanum > (not formosum). This tall elegant lily is very quick blooming from seed > (one to two years) and in my Mediterranean climate has done really well > with not much summer water, no feeding and a lot of rain in winter. My > first seeds came from a BX offering. I understand this species has > naturalized in South Africa so I suppose I should worry about it, but this > doesn't seem to be happening in my garden. New seedlings seem to replace > plants that are no longer there. I had a couple of the short form, but they > seem to have disappeared, whereas the tall ones continue to please me every > year. So I recommend it as a trouble free plant. > > Mary Sue > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >