Bulbils on the roots?
Brian Whyer (Sat, 25 Aug 2007 02:32:05 PDT)

Thank you, all

I have a form of Scilla peruviana here, which also makes bulbils on the
roots. These bulbs are splitting less then the usual S. peruviana. On the
other hand your bulb could be S hughii, which I was given with that name:
looses its leave later and also produces bulblets on the roots. I think
that Angelo Porcelli can give more information on this species.
Greetings

The mist is clearing, I think, well it is sunny today for a change.

Once, maybe twice, I have grown "Scilla peruviana" from seed exchange
donations, at least one was labelled "Alba", but when it eventually flowered
turned out to be a dull, muddy, pale grey blue. Could this be "hughii"? The
closest in colouring from memory, is that of Scilla dimartinoi on the pbs
wiki, though I can't remember if the flower scape differed at all from my
other S. peruviana. The only trouble is yesterday I labelled another pot,
with no root bulbils, as "pale form", which was what I originally called it
to differentiate it for my own purposes, so maybe this was not this form but
another that has lost its label over the eons. Now I will have to flower
them both to see if they are different flower forms, and that may take more
than a year from the smallish sized bulbs. (only 1 has the root bulbils)

Brian Whyer, Buckinghamshire, England

it was the same as the Scilla peruviana which I am splitting up. Hardy -

it

has been outside under a tree. Bulbs currently 2 - 3cm in diameter.
But
a) it is not shooting new growth like all the others, but still has this
years tired leaves
b) it looks very similar to the scilla bulbs, and increases the same in

that

I am splitting old root plates. Brownish tunic, some signs of yellowing
around neck.
c) it does not smell quite the same, sort of sweetish, (not pungent like
allium)
d) it has small bulbils forming along some of the roots

In thought at first I had thrown seed in with the bulbs, but no, they

are

growing on the roots. Likely candidates are camassia, other than

leichtlinii

(quamash or cusukii?), ornithogalum, galtonia; or something I have

forgotten

all about. Leaves were probably long and channelled, not broad.