Boophane (Boophone) disticha

[Allen Repashy]

I have slowly been building a collection of B. disticha, and B heamanthoides. I understand that B. disticha ranges from Nabia.. down the to the Cape... and then back up to Mozambique. I have forms that are clearly summer growers, winter growers, and some that are evergreen. There are flat leafs, twisted leaf's, narrow leaf's... fat leaf's.... some flower color differences.

So my question is.... What actually differentiates B. disticha from B. heamanthoides.... What makes heamanthoides something other than just a winter growing disticha.....

One thing I can think of is that I believe disticha does not offset....Is the flower structure different? Any experts out there that can shed some light on this?

Allen

[Tim Harvey]

Originally Posted by Allen Repashy

I have slowly been building a collection of B. disticha, and B heamanthoides. I understand that B. disticha ranges from Nabia.. down the to the Cape... and then back up to Mozambique. I have forms that are clearly summer growers, winter growers, and some that are evergreen. There are flat leafs, twisted leaf's, narrow leaf's... fat leaf's.... some flower color differences.

So my question is.... What actually differentiates B. disticha from B. heamanthoides.... What makes heamanthoides something other than just a winter growing disticha.....

One thing I can think of is that I believe disticha does not offset....Is the flower structure different? Any experts out there that can shed some light on this?

Allen

That is a difficult question (though let's agree on BoophOne!).

B. haemanthoides is very similar to ernestii-ruschii which has a drab yellowish flower and so might be differentiable on that characteristic. Offsetting, as you said, seems to be the domain of haemanthoides, though I am sure a few multi-headed B. disticha can be found. The original description of haemanthoides is likely to shed light on this - I have read it but with other questions in my head related to B. e-r.

Of course, one can not draw any conclusions from plants/bulbs offered in the trade in the US ;-)

T

[Allen Repashy]

Thanks for the reply Tim, you are one of the few people who has seen many of these in habitat, so your input is really nice to have around here.

Can't we just agree to disagree on BoophOne, BoophAne.... LOL....

I will bow to your experience and adopt BoophOne on your request!

Let me know if you find the original descriptions.. the type locality used for both would be interesting to know also.

Allen

[Tim Harvey]

Never take my word for anything! Here's something much more authoritative.

http://docserver.ingentaconnect.com/...701CDF1079B35E

Hope the link doesn't break,

T

Originally Posted by Allen Repashy

Thanks for the reply Tim, you are one of the few people who has seen many of these in habitat, so your input is really nice to have around here.

Can't we just agree to disagree on BoophOne, BoophAne.... LOL....

I will bow to your experience and adopt BoophOne on your request!

Let me know if you find the original descriptions.. the type locality used for both would be interesting to know also.

Allen

[jshields]

Jim Shields, here in cold, snowy central Indiana. At least you guys can grow Boophone. George Mann sent me a beauty of a big bulb of B. disticha, and I killed it in only 3 years. It tried to grow in summer, so I had to move it out of the greenhouse. The summer rains then got it. I guess they were too frequent, and the humidity between rains was too high. I'll give up on Boophone.

I'll leave it to the Greek grammarians to argue of Boophone, boophane. I have enough trouble with Latin. Greek is all greek to me.

I've been around in South Africa, but never to Namibia. I've still never seen Boophone in habitat. I'm usually there in their Spring and once in their Autumn. I saw very few bulbs in flower at ether time, but the Clivia were in bloom.

I have a couple Brunsvigia that grow in winter and are steadily increasing in size in my cool greenhouse. Ammocharis coranica (one large bulb, also from George) grows in summer and blooms on my deck.

I just can't do Boophone. Any suggestions?

Jim

[Tim Harvey]

Jim,

A couple of things spring to mind. First, it's important to know whether your plants is from a winter or summer growing part of its distribution. Smaller bulbs are faster and easier to acclimate. There are a lot of seedlings around at the moment, at least in Southern California. Finally, don't be afraid of it!

T

[Allen Repashy]

Thanks Tim,

So do you agree that these bulbs are "Hard Wired" so to speak... and that a winter growing B. disticha form could not adapt to a Summer rainfall sutuation? What about a summer grower that is grown from seed and left to fend in a Winter growing environment.....

I would have thought that the latter might be possible, but a recent experience leads me to think they really are hard wired. Last year I got some seedlings from Ken Blackford here in San Diego. He has two B. disticha in the ground only feet from each other... one a winter grower, and the other a summer grower.... He decided to cross the two by saving pollen.. and the seedlings so far have proven to be evergreen. They don't do much in the winter, but they don't drop leaf's...

Any thoughts?

[Tim Harvey]

Yes, I believe plant responses to day length are hard wired at the genetic level by the phytochrome system.

Since the response is not continuously variable, I would expect plants to be one or the other. Seedlings do no usually behave like adults, and I would expect Ken's plants to be one or the other when they mature, possibly on an individual basis.

T

[Allen Repashy]

Ok Tim,

so how do you explain the Port Elizabeth form that, at least for me, stays evergreen.... only shedding a few leaf's in the fall, but never going dormant? It is possible that I just don't get extreme enough to make it drop..... but have heard from others that this form does stay evergreen.

Good chance your right about Ken's seedlings.... but these Port Elizabeth specimens have me hoping.

Have you been able to put your finger on the twisted leaf variation with your field experience? Have you seen both flat, and twisted leaf's in the same locality?

Allen

[Tim Harvey]

My Port Elizabeth form loses its leaves. I would say you're being too nice to it. I also do not think a plant has to lose its leaves to be dormant.

Leaf twisting/spiralling etc. seems to me to be variable from year to year, particularly dependent on the conditions as the leaves are developing. Seedlings grown hard will have nice spiral leaves. A little shade can soon undo that. I believe Ken has also noticed this.

T

[Guy Wrinkle]

Allen
I have never seen a multi head (bulb) of B. disticha in nature and I have seen many specimens.
Guy

PS Please lets not get into a big deal as to how this genus should be spelled. This includes you Tim ! If you do, I will have to retaliate for the bags you conned me out of

[Tim Harvey]

You'll get your pound of flesh - I was worried you wouldn't be able to lift a full one
:-))

The spelling Boophone has been specifically conserved - sorry about the expired link, maybe this will work?

http://www.kew.org/science/directory...ations/14.html

The proposal was adopted, so it is not a matter of opinion any more. :-P

T

[Guy Wrinkle]

Tim
Thanks for the link, which did work. Conservation of names is something that should be practiced much more often. In nothing else, it puts an end to the endless fooling around regarding prioroty.

Regarding my pound of flesh - At this time, I can't lift more than five pounds without risking going back to the hospital.

Guy

[sroberts]

Hi, I am new to this genus and have a few questions.

I purchased this Boophone disticha about a week and a half ago from a small nursery on the central coast in California. It looked very healthy when I bought it and now looks like it might have mealy bugs on it. Since I've only had it a short time and it's been kept separated from my other plants it must of been purchased with root mealies?

I gave it a quick spray with an alcohol/soap/water mixture, but I know I should probably replace the soil and destroy all mealy bugs on the plant.

The leaves are starting to turn brown. Mealy bugs, going dormant, or a combination of both? Any advice would be most welcomed!

I'm also having a problem finding any kind of site that has much in the way of information on this plant/genus. Any suggestions?

One last thing..........How the heck do you pronounce Boophone?

Thanks,

Steve

[Melt In The Sun]

The lady who sold me mine said it "bow-AH-foe-knee." Could be wrong though!

Certainly looks like it's got something living in it. You know what to do!

[amarguy]

Hi Steve,

Water, perhaps drench, with the next watering containing Imidacloprid, in addition to you topical treatment. Imidacloprid is a systemic, absorbed into the plant through the roots. Any bugs munching on the plant will soon die. Mealies seem to love seedling Boophone so I proactively treat early on and have had no additional problems.

Not that I am correct, but I've pronounced it Boo - off - phone - ay. Even after the spelling was changed from Boophane (or consolidated) to Boophone.

[sroberts]

Thanks amarguy,

I will try your method before doing a complete soil change. I really want this plant to survive and reach maturity. Mature plants are really beautiful. Can't wait to see a flower!

Thanks,

Steve

[agavegreg]

I've always pronounced it Boo-off-phone-e, but -ay is probably more correct.

G

Originally Posted by amarguy

Not that I am correct, but I've pronounced it Boo - off - phone - ay. Even after the spelling was changed from Boophane (or consolidated) to Boophone.

[JohnEx]

Beeing Greek, boophone sounds correct to me, the specific scientific Latin name is derived from the ancient Greek language.

bous = ox + phonos = slaughter ( killer of ox ! ) The plant is highly poisonous.

disticha from the Greek distichos= has two rows

Hemanthoides is also derived from greek

Haema = blood + Anthos = flower ( blood-red flower )


My best wishes to all.

[Tim Harvey]

Actually, the specific epithet is derived from the plant's (superficial)appearance to the genus Haemanthus, not the color of its flower.

T

[sroberts]

Well, after treatment with the Imidacloprid, the plant seems to be making a great recovery without a soil change.

Should I treat this plant a second time on the next watering just to make sure or just water as normal?

Thanks,

Steve

[amarguy]

Looking better, Stephen. Congratulations. I would include a few drops in a quart or half gallon of water with your next couple irrigations. You might also watch out for slugs/snails ... maybe bait with traditional snail bait ... as I have had them attack Boophone and I am not certain Imidacloprid is effective against them. Even if it is, the greater damage by these larger pests is done before the treatment affects them. I also find full-winter time sun is essential for winter-growing Boophone to look their best. Less may be OK during other seasons, especially in the summer, if you have a summer-grower, but your pics seem to indicate it is putting forth new growth now.

Ken

[sroberts]

Thanks very much for all of your help Ken! It is most appreciated!

Thanks again,

Steve