Ismene seedling -- is this the ture narcissiflora?

J.E. Shields jshields@indy.net
Sun, 15 Aug 2010 08:58:33 PDT
Until Alan Meerow comments, I'll hazard some guesses.

I agree that the Ismene (Hymenocallis no longer includes Ismene) shown is 
x-Festalis.

Lots of amaryllid genera produce fleshy seeds, while most of the rest 
produce flat, dry, papery seeds.  There are a few apparent exceptions.  The 
fleshy seeds in Crinum, Brunsvigia, Nerine, Hymenocallis, Clivia, 
Haemanthus, Scadoxus, and probably some more genera  that have slipped my 
mind, are true seeds most of the time.  Self-pollination in Crinum tends to 
produce huge lumpy seeds while pollination from a different individual 
often produces much smaller, round seeds.

However, I don't know what the Ismene x-Festalis flowers are producing!  I 
always thought that they were completely sterile.  Since this is obviously 
not the case, they could be either apomictic or true (sexual) seeds.  Let 
us know what the offspring's flowers look like when they eventually bloom, 
please!

Jim Shields


At 11:41 AM 8/15/2010 -0400, you wrote:



>David Ehrlich asked " this the ture narcissiflora?"
>
>
>No, David, your parent plant is one of the plants known as x festalis, an
>old hybrid between narcissiflora and longiflora. At least two clones of x
>festalis are in commerce, maybe more. One, a big robust one, is called
>Zwanenburg.
>
>Hymenocallis longipetala is also known as Elisena longipetala.
>
>Also, I'm not sure those big green marbles are true seeds. I'm pretty sure
>they are a form of asexual reproduction seen in other amaryllids, too (such
>as Crinum).
>
>However, many amaryllids evidently produce nothing but these big soft
>"seeds". I'm not sure what to make of them. I would like to hear what the
>other amaryllid enthusiasts say about them.
>
>Amaryllid experts, speak up please!
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]
>On Behalf Of David Ehrlich
>Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 10:10 PM
>To: Pacific Bulb Society
>Subject: [pbs] Ismene seedling -- is this the ture narcissiflora?
>
>   Some years ago I purchased a bulb or bulbs of Hymenocallis or Ismene
>species
>calathina or narcissiflora at a big box store.  I also bought a Sulphur
>Queen,
>and put them in the same pot.  After the first year or two, the Sulphur
>Queen
>ceased existing, but the white-flowered plant continues to increase.  Today
>I
>have 9 scapes, 5 of which are already in bloom.  I don't know whether I have
>the
>true Ismene narcissiflora or not, but my plant is fertile and produces a few
>¾
>inch green immies (spheres) every year.  I'm still learning how to raise the
>
>seedlings.  I have been growing a seedling from one of last year's seeds for
>
>about 2 months.  I planted the seed just below the soil last September or
>October, and left it outside during our very wet winter.  The cotyledon
>emerged
>above ground around mid-June.  It already has two stems (it could be that
>the
>second stem is from a second seed, but I did not plant them that close
>together).
>   The parent plant stands about 3½' tall, leaves are 2' x 2".
>
>
>
>  You are invited to view David's photo album: Ismene seedling
>   Ismene seedlingAug 14, 2010
>by David
>This is my seedling. The parent may be Ismene narcissiflora -- it's a bulb
>or
>bulbs that I've had for years.
>
>View Album
>Play slideshow
>Contribute photos to this album
>
>Message from David:
>My several year old Ismene, which I purchased at a big box store as
>??.calathina
>or narcissiflora regularly produces a few 3/4" green seeds which I am
>learning
>how to raise. After the photo of the parent flower I have photos of the
>seedling. It is now about 2 months old, either has 2 stems or a second seed
>has
>germinated.
>If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following
>into
>your browser:
>http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir/…
>05435137612042161&authkey=Gv1sRgCJyvo9qqkvfCmgE&feat=email
>
>To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos,
>get
>your own free Picasa Web Albums account.
>_______________________________________________
>pbs mailing list
>pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
>http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php
>http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/
>
>_______________________________________________
>pbs mailing list
>pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
>http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php
>http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/

*************************************************
Jim Shields             USDA Zone 5             Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92              WWW:    http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344     or      toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA


More information about the pbs mailing list