Aquatic Crinum
Joe Shaw (Sat, 12 Aug 2006 15:34:58 PDT)

-------------------------->>I grow thaianum and calimistratum (a var. of
natans). They are >>completely submerged all time. In summer I put them into
a >>little pond at full sun, in winter (I live in zone 8) I put>> them in an
aquarium with temperature at 18-20°C. I have not>> seen the flower till now,
but I hope to. There is little in>> literature about these items and less
in horticulture. >>I am experimenting!

---------------------------------

Hi Gang,

Last winter I wrote about Crinum thainum and C. natans, and a couple of
other apparently fully aquatic Crinum species. Perhaps the plants are
obligate aquatics, or perhaps they are facultative. Or maybe they really
want to be submerged most of the time, but don't require 100% underwater
existence.

Alberto (in Italy) provided a bit of information. I'd like to try growing
these plants, and looked for them in a couple of aquarium/fish stores, but
did not find them. No doubt, one or another will appear for sale in the
future-fish stores seem to have erratic shipments of stock.

Anyway, I wonder if Alberto's plants bloomed this year?

Does anyone have a clue about hybrids between these plants and other Crinum?
As near as I can tell, the genus has specialized in many ways to exploit
seriously arid environments, forests, savannahs and grasslands,
sometimes-flooded regions and bog-like areas, and streams. Such wondrous
adaptation is not without precedent, but it is special and fun to learn
about.

So, if you grow the 3 or 4 (or 5 or 6) aquatic Crinum, I'd enjoy hearing
about your experiences and observations, whether in aquaria or in the
garden.

Cordially,

Joe

Conroe TX

No rain for a week or more, and so I've been watering the summer-growing
bulbs.