Cosmos atrosanguinea, was Re: chocolate scented bulbs
totototo@telus.net (Fri, 07 Jul 2006 10:05:41 PDT)
On 6 Jul 06, at 11:27, Lee Poulsen quoted the Wikipedia on Cosmos
atrosanguinea:
Cosmos atrosanguineus (Chocolate Cosmos) is a species of Cosmos,
native to Mexico, where it is extinct in the wild. The species was
introduced into cultivation in 1902, where it survives as a single
clone reproduced by vegetative propagation.
I look askance at that "extinct in the wild" part and wonder who is
bold enough to make such a broad statement, unless they've personally
scouted out Mexico in its entirety.
However, Fred Boutin says he collected seed of this Cosmos in
meadows of herbs under tall pines on a hillside in Jalisco, Mexico.
Which is, I'd think, pretty good counter-evidence.
I hope Fred Boutin is taking steps to get viable seed and spread it
around; these single-clone plants are prone to succumbing to viral
infections, though there are counterexamples such as Dahlia 'Bishop
of Llandaff'.
Another example of supposedly extinct but not quite is Tecophilaea.
--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate
on beautiful Vancouver Island