Acanthus mollis

THE ACANTHUS MOLLIS MYSTERY is still unsolved; perhaps someone has some

clues...

In Rome - Casal Palocco to be exact, 3km from the sea, and more or less 2
meters above sea level - has been a perfect place for growing Acanthus for
the 37 years we have been gardening in the same small garden.

Last year - much to our surprise and puzzlement - we had 8 very strong and
happy seedlings that were stark white.

We eliminated the possibility of a virus as the leaves had no trace
whatsoever of any green.  They were not 'varigata alba'.  The people at
Rome's Botanical Gardens simply shook their heads and said they had never
seen the likes of such.  They gave no suggestions as to why this happened.

Naturally, when the nourishment of the seed had been depleted, the - by
then 4 - leaves browned, withered and died.  I have pressed an example and
photographed them.

Now, at the end of October 1999, I have just discovered new stark white
leaves peeping from several seeds in the same spot.

We have acanthus nearby, but the only mamma plant that seems to have
produced these odd offspring, is a well established Acanthus mollis,
growing in very heavy, badly drained compact clay soil.  It has been there
for years, and only the 1998 and now the 1999 seeds have sprouted white. 
Not all the seedlings from this plant are white.  About half are rich green
and normal.> The plant shares an area with moss, Lauro nobilis an Kumquat
and a small Clementino.

My thoughts is that somehow the plant has been affected by pollution. 
Could it be unfiltered sun rays which are causing burns to bathers and
cataracts to gardeners?  Could it be dirty air?

Does anyone have any Ideas?  

Thanks for the interest.

Helene Pizzi
Garden writer, lecturer and Rosarian
Viale Alessandro Magno 174
00124  Rome, Italy
e-mail  e.pizzi@agora.stm.it
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