DNA of Scilla peruviana
Paul T. (Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:58:42 PDT)
Brodiaea howellii (which has some other name now) occurs only at one site on
Vancouver Island, according to my botanical friends. I collected a few tiny
bulbs from that site many years ago and (foolishly, as it happened) planted
them in a raised bulb bed.
Over the years, very few flower stems have formed, none have set seed, but
underground the soil is filled for several feet in all directions
with offsets
formed at the ends of stolons or rhizomes.
No DNA analysis to confirm my suspicion, but the behavior strongly suggests
I've got a sterile triploid form.
Roger,
One of the Scilla peruviana (var harrisiana I think?) produces offset
bulbils all along the roots, unlike the other varieties I have
seen. It flowers too, just as well as the straight species, but it
is never going into the ground for me because it would become a weed
pretty quickly here I'd imagine.
Cheers.
Paul T.
Canberra, Australia - USDA Zone Equivalent approx. 8/9
Growing an eclectic collection of plants from all over the world
including Aroids, Crocus, Cyclamen, Erythroniums, Fritillarias,
Galanthus, Irises, Trilliums (to name but a few) and just about
anything else that doesn't move!!