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Re: Nicotiana glauca

On Sat, 13 Dec 1997 19:12:39 +0100, Gordon Walker wrote re Nicotiana
glauca:

The overall effect is more interesting than
pretty but I like them. Does anyone else grow these plants and are
there any varieties with bigger flowers or different colours?

Gordon: Synchronicity! In the book by Goodspeed, PLANT HUNTERS IN THE
ANDES, which I mentioned in my last message, he talks about a RED
flowered form of N. glauca which he had collected on one of his S.
American trips and was then (late 50s/early 60s) refining in
California (presumably in the U of Cal Botanic Garden??) in the hope
that it would interest commercial nurserymen. Anyone in Cal. know what
happened to it? Is it still around? And (most importantly of all!) if
it's still around does it come true from seed? So far as I'm aware
it's never been available in the U.K. (It certainly isn't now.)

I certainly agree with Gordon about the slightly screwball charm of
this plant. 'Improved' forms and colour variations of it would be well
worth having.

Incidentally, Goodspeed also talks about various forms of Lapageria
rosea collected on one of his expeditions by the botanist Paul
Hutchison and at the time G. wrote his book being grown and flowered
in Calif. One had little bell-like flowers, another had jagged red
margins to white flowers, a third had "a lacelike petal pattern of
light and dark red." P.H. had given these variations names such as
"Pigmy Bells" and "Pink Dawn." The only one of his names which seems
to be available in the UK now (that is, the name is the same: I'm
assuming the plant is, too) is "White Cloud."  (The list of what's
available here only includes var. albiflora, 'White Cloud', 'Flesh
Pink' and 'Nash Court'.) Are those Hutchison collections still going
strong in Calif? Are they commercially available?

PS: Moira: Small world! I'll wave in the direction of
your-neice-in-Ulverston next time I'm driving through! 

Tim Longville

Celia Eddy
celia@eddy.u-net.com
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