More Pelly talk from fat-plants
----- Original Message -----
From: Peter J. Liekkio <pliekkio@connectexpress.com>
To: <Fat-Plants@onelist.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 7:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Fat-Plants] Pelargonium: Keys
> From: "Peter J. Liekkio" <pliekkio@connectexpress.com>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Phil Bunch <pbunch@cts.com>
> >
> > In his opening post Peter mentioned keys to Pelargonium. I would be
great
> to
> > know where these are published and to see some critical review of their
> > usefulness.
>
> Definitly the right question to ask though I don't think my answer will be
> very satisfying. Diana Miller in 'Pelargoniums a gardener's guide to the
> species and their cultivars and hybrids' Timber Press Portland Oregon (A
> very worthwhile guide to the species even if you have all of the
VanderWalt
> books). Available from Amazon.com
>
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/book-reviews/088192363X/ref=pm_dp_ln_b_
> 1/002-8043803-0404221
> In this book the author gives keys for indenifying species in each of the
> sections however her species list is limited, for example her key lists 11
> species in section Hoarea whereas Vanderwalt in his 3 volumes describes 15
> species and mentions the existance of 48. I've emailed the author of the
> latest revision of this section but have yet to recieve a copy. The end
note
> of Diana Millers books list revisions of numerous other sections however
> I've not seen them and am not aware of any single publication with a
single
> key to the genus.
>
> My suspicion is that the keying of Pelargoniums will be a very complicated
> procedure. Leaves of many species are very variable and flowers often are
> not easily distinctive. One of my favorite plants demonstrating leaf
> variability is Pelargonium bowkeri.
> http://www.connectexpress.com/~pliekkio/PBOWLF.GIF The compound leaf
pictured
> is 9 inches long. This species can have either leaf form and often has
both
> leaf shapes simultaniously though the pinnately compound leaf is the
mature
> (end of season) leaf form. This species is in section Polyactium and is a
> geophyte with an extensive system of interconnected tubers 1+ inch in
> diameter http://www.connectexpress.com/~pliekkio/images/pbowker.jpg .
The
> caudex fancier may raise the plants partially above the soil line to show
> off the tubers The leaves are pinnately compound and resemble at first
> glance delicate carrot leaves. The flowers
> http://www.connectexpress.com/~pliekkio/images/pbowk1.jpg are unique in
the
> genus in that the petals are fringed (only two other species, P. caffrum
and
> P. schizopetalum, have fringed petals) .
>
> P.bowkeri is from the summer rainfall area in the mountains of the
> northeastern cape. To accommodate the tuberous roots a well draining
> oversize pot is preferred for this species. Flowers appear early in the
> spring before the foliage. Seeds self and may be sown immediately. The
> series of interconnected tubers may be separated and used for propagation.
> This is an interesting and easy to grow species that is uncommon in
> cultivation and readily fits into any collections of succulents and
> caudiciforms.
>
> Keep Growing
> Pete Liekkio
> Seattle, Washington
> pliekkio@connectexpress.com
> www.conectexpress.com\~pliekkio
