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Chasmanthes/crocosmias

Sean wrote:

> I
>have heard the Chasmanthe floribunda genes are present in the hybrid
>Crocosmia 'Lucifer', which supposedly also contains various other
>genes from a variety of closely related genera and species.  The
>vigor and size of this cultivar would certainly uphold this claim,
>being almost twice as tall as many Crocosmias. 

I'm pretty sure that "Lucifer" was one of Alan Bloom's hybrids.  If so, one
of the aims of his breeding programme was to introduce the size and vigour
of Crocosmia paniculata into hybrid crocosmias.  C. paniculata used to be
called Antholyza paniculata, which might explain where the mixed blood
theory arose.  Certainly C. paniculata - which grows to 1.8m high - could
explain the size.  The smaller, "Montbretia" type crocosmias are reputedly
hybrids of C. aurea and C. pottsii, both of which are half the size of C.
paniculata.  The other problem with using Chasmanthe would be its winter
growth cycle - the Crocosmias come from the summer rainfall area of S.
Africa, and are barely above ground when the Chasmanthes are flowering.

However, none of this is to say that it ain't so!  It would be interesting
to find out definitively.....

Ian
***************************************
Ian Black  (ianblack@easynet.co.uk)
Lower Froyle, Alton, Hampshire, UK   
mintemp -8C  
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~ianblack/
***************************************
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