Jim: Did you mean that L. straminea was a parent of L. squamigera or did you mean L. longituba? James Waddick wrote: >> Is it possible that there is some genetic variation in Lycoris squamigera >> in spite of its being produced mainly by bulb chipping? >> > > Dear Anita and all, > Yes,,, and no. > Most of the L squamigera grown in the world are propagated > vegetatively - not by chip budding or scaling or quartering etc - as > far as I know. Do you have some specifics otherwise.? The bulbs are > vigorous enough and multiply fast enough to produce more than ample > bulblets and divisions to fill the commercial needs. > > Some other Lycoris are tissue cultured - right Tony ? > > L. squamigera was long believed, based on morphology and > chromosomes, to be a natural hybrid of L. straminea and L. sprengeri. > That specific cross was purposely repeated and the resulting plant > looked in all points like typical L. squamigera, but the plants were > diploid with 2n = 19. Essentially all cultivated L. squamigera are > 3n = 27. One problem with this theory is that L. straminea is also > believed to be of hybrid origin. > > Ocassionally L. squamigera will produce a seed in my garden, > but there are a variety of other species around that could act as > pollinators. I think it is safe to say it is totally self sterile. > > Tricky stuff here. > best Jim W. > -- Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdelights.com/ phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 772-4752 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent