ISHS Acta Horticulturae 813: VI International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
EVALUATION OF SELECTED SOUTH AFRICAN GEOPHYTES AS WINTER-BLOOMING POTPLANTS FOR THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE |
| Authors: | M. Daly, K. Henry |
| Keywords: | Lachenalia, bulbs, genetic resources, CBD, Convention on Biodiversity |
| Abstract:
Bulbous plants are commonly grown indoors and forced into bloom so that cold-climate consumers can experience the joy and satisfaction they offer indoors in the winter months. Lachenalia, and many other South African geophytes, have horticultural qualities yet to be discovered by gardeners, especially by those in cold-winter climates of the Northern Hemisphere. The purpose of this research was to evaluate a selection of South African geophytes as winter-blooming potplants. This paper focuses on the research done on Lachenalia. All 13 species/cultivars of Lachenalia evaluated were obtained through specialty bulb catalogs in the United States. A specific evaluation system focused on flower and foliage qualities such as flower interest, fragrance, bloom period and bloom performance, foliage interest, vigor and foliage appearance, and resistance to insects and diseases and adverse growing conditions. The popular, standard forcing bulb, Narcissus ‘Ziva’, was used for comparison. The top, overall season performer was L. contaminata (88). L. aloides var. quadricolor (79.2), L. ‘Pearsonii’ (78.6) and L. ‘Rupert’ (76.2) also had commendable season scores. L. ‘Pearsonii’ had the highest Lachenalia flower score (80.1) following just behind N. ‘Ziva’ (84.9). L. contaminata had the highest foliage score (97) followed by L. ‘Rupert’ (89). Though L. viridiflora and L. liliflora were not stellar performers, both are critically endangered (Duncan 2003; Harrower, 2003). Bringing threatened plants into cultivation through reputable resources helps conserve these endangered plants. Commercialization of South Africa’s unique flora should be done within the framework of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). The intended outcomes of this research are to help people appreciate South Africa’s unique flora; to encourage people to grow South African geophytes as winter-blooming potplants; and in so doing support South Africa’s efforts to profit from its rich floral heritage. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
