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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] Fallopia/Tovaria

In a message dated 98-01-17 17:35:04 EST, you write:

<< As far as taxonomy, I don't think that either one of these is a polygonum,
 since they have both genus and species names of their own...though, of the
 two, the tovaria most resembles the polygonum. However, neither Hortus Third
 nor Jellito nor Armitage nor Clausen list either one....so I'm just flying
 by the seat of my pants. My theory is that they both come out of the far
 East....since the naming bodies tend to be European....perhaps they haven't
 been 'noticed' yet. The Fallopia is quite beautiful! Incidentally, I will
 second someone's mention of Alan Armitage's book as outstanding! I like his
 style as well as his knowledge. Jean Bawden-Madison,  >>



This is a mystery plant in the catalogs and in the books.  Another place to
look is in the RHS dictionary of plants or the new American Horticultural
Society Dictionary of Horticulture which weighs 20 lbs.

Phillips and Rix in their two part "Perennials" call Fallopia japonica var.
compacta a synonym for Polygonum cuspidatum var. compacta.

More interesting is that flowers are both male and female.  The female form is
compactum in cultivation.  Apparently the male form is the one that cannot be
controlled.  AHS Dictionary mentions Tovara along with persicaria (sold as a
new perennial in a few catalogs) as all being polygonum.  Ditto for
Phillips/Rix.

There is more information in the English references just now.  Phillips and
Rix list this plant as native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.

Has anyone grown the form labelled Tovara for a few years?

Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY
zone 4
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