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Re: what is this seed?

Oh, I just cannot resist this, but these posts regarding Jewels of Opar have
reminded me of the never-ending need to make every effort to learn and use
botanical epitats instead of common vernacular. Then there can be little
confusion about what plant people are referring to. 

Nigella damescena is sometimes referred to as "Persian Jewels", but I've not
heard it referred to as Jewels of Opar. 

Jewel of Opar is a generic common name applied to several different talinum
species, mostly the annual ones. Having just received plants under this name
from a lady named "Denise", whom I will not identify further, I assumed that
the person originally asking the question might have too. In the case of
Denise's seed, the correct botanical that she gave me was Talinum
paniculatum. If you received your seeds from the same source, or indirectly
from her through another source your species is Talinum paniculatum. (This
also assumes she has it correctly identified). 

The entry in her seedlist was as follows:

jewels of opar	x	a	talinum paniculatum	carmine

To satisfy keeping on topic: Talinums can be either very easy or very
difficult to germinate, depending on the species. Talinum paniculatum should
prove to be fairly easy. It usually performs as an annual. Germinate them in
warmth and light and treat like you would a portulaca, or broadcast them on
raked soil in late spring and water in gently. On the other hand, two
perennial species that I grow T. calycinum and T. parviflorum are both a
little tricky to germinate, requiring either outdoor treatment or a cold
chilling followed by oscillating temperatures, followed by high temperatures
in excess of 70 degrees F. There is also some evidence that light is
required with some species. It is definitely a good idea not to bury the
seeds too deeply as the seedlings are inordinately tiny. Do not overwater
seedlings as they grow on, allowing them to dry out almost completely
between waterings. . 

By far the best recommendation is to place seeds directly outside. Seedlings
will not usually show up until night temperatures are into the 60's F and
days are hot and sunny. June-July here. Then you can expect to see the
seedlings popping up after a brief summer shower.

Most of them are of fairly easy culture, provided they have pretty much an
entire day of sunlight and good drainage in lean, sandy soil. They do not
appreciate rich conditions and will rot in excessive moisture. They also do
not tolerate overcrowded conditions well. Both of the perennial species I
mentioned above reseed under these conditions. More so than I would like,
but they are very easy to pull out and I can always find someone willing to
take the excess. They overwinter easily if well-drained, but you can go out
to the garden and find the carrot like tubers with their heads sticking out
of the ground from frost heaving. Do not push them back in as this seems to
be a naturally adapted mechanism to avoid rot in winter wet. The first year
I had T. calycinum I went out each thaw and pocked them back into the
ground. Only a few survived, the remainder turned to mush. The next year I
did not do this and nearly every plant survived and flourished. Talinum
calycinum is on the endangered species list here in Illinois.   

Grow well,
Amber Hearn


>I think Jewel of Opar is another name for nigella, a beautiful flower used as
>an everlasting (it's seed pod is used, I think.)  I'm a little rusty here, but
>look up nigella in a seed catalog like Parks to see a picture.  Or look in a
>book of dried flowers.
>
>Judy
>Jalust@aol.com
>zone 5
>
>
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Amber & Wayman Hearn                    jadare@accessus.net
Whippoorwill Creek Nursery              USDA Z-5
943 Foxville Road                       mintemp = -15F/maxtemp = 102F
Kell, IL 62853
618-822-6000
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