Mystery bulb - Ismene x Festalis?

Paul Tyerman ptyerman@ozemail.com.au
Fri, 17 Jun 2005 14:52:13 PDT
At 02:56  18/06/05, you wrote:
>Dear Alberto:
>
>Thanks, I guess the mystery bulb remains just that, a mystery! Cheers,
>John

John et al,

This sounds like Ismene x Festalis (Not Hymenocallis, although for some 
reason in the US in particular Ismene are called Hymenocallis all the 
time?).  Ismene and Hymenocallis are not the same thing despite this cross 
usage of the name.  My understanding is that the difference between Ismene 
and Hymenocallis is the fact that Ismene have the leaves bound together at 
the base by a sheath, whereas the Hymenocallis have their leaves free 
immediately they exit the ground.

If memory serves me it was Alberto Castillo who gave this wonderfully clear 
differentiation about a year or so ago, but I am not sure which list it was 
on.  I think from memory I kept the email (as I found it so useful to clear 
up the whole Ismene / Hymenocallis thing) so I can try to dig it up for you 
if you would like?

I would definitely say that the mystery bulb sounds 100% like Ismene x 
Festalis as it matches perfectly what we have under that name here in 
Australia and they are distinctly different from any of the Hymenocallis 
that I grow.


Cheers.

Paul Tyerman
Canberra, Australia.  USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9

Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Trilliums, Cyclamen, 
Crocus, Cyrtanthus, Oxalis, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just 
about anything else that doesn't move!!!!!


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