Re: Utric

Barry Meyers-Rice (barry@as.arizona.edu)
Wed, 21 Apr 93 10:25:39 MST

>I think I also have this (or a very similar) clone of U. "capensis".
>The flowers are about 5mm across and are mostly white with a pale
>purple blotch near the corolla (I think this was fairly large, maybe
>covering 1/4-1/2 the lower corolla - I'll see if any are still
>flowering...) Maybe there are two distinct forms/subspecies (or
>different species entirely?) and this clone is the hybrid?? (Actually,
>I think my form was about the same size as the U. pentadactyla I have -
>in fact they are very similar plants (maybe only superficially so...))

Hmmm. I'd scrub the ssp. etc. idea, because there are many
intermediate forms, from big colourful flowers to small drab ones. So
probably it's best to consider it a single variable species. If there
were no intermediate forms you might have more strength to your
argument.

I've probably already said this, but I've noticed _U.pentadactyla_ in
cultivation has always been _U.bisquamata_. Look to the flowers---those
of _U.pentadactyla_, like its name says, are *deeply* incised to five
fingers---about the same relative dimensions as fingers on your hand.

>@$%#$^ The seeds of U. alpina that I bought from Allen Lowrie haven't
>germinated yet (neither have the most of the other seeds, for that
>matter...)
:-(

Good luck---as I understand it, this is a difficult plant to get going
from seed. TAYLOR rarely discusses cultural details, but mentions that
even the able people at Kew were unable to sustain seedlings. But it
could have been a freak attack of mould or something...

B