PBS Forum

One of the things I started reading early on in my plant hobbyism was that some plants had varieties with flowers from "almost" the entire spectrum or rainbow of colors. Then after stating that they'd continue to mention the one (or more) colors that were missing. One of the famous ones is the rose. And the color most often mentioned as missing was always blue. And some would mention the closest to blue that had been produced but that were really a kind of purple or lavender or mauve. I think even the Japanese tried to create a "true blue" rose by genetic manipulation, by inserting genes from some other flower that really did come in a true blue color (like delphinium I think). What they ended up with was yet another lavender rose, although a very different shade of lavender than the traditionally bred ones. Apparently there was a problem with the acidity of rose petals that altered the color of the blue genes they'd introduced. They also tried it with carnations, probably because most people weren't fooled by the "blue" carnations produced by putting white carnations in solutions of blue dye. In that case the Japanese produced some beautiful lavender and purple carnations, a color I don't think existed for traditionally bred carnations. (Google the "Moonseries" carnations.) Another genus, and much more geophyte related are Irises. And indeed, I think the word Iris means "rainbow" in Greek.

But I think when those are mentioned, many people leave out parts of the spectrum, or rather "color wheel", that humans can see and recognize, but are sometimes skipped or ignored, I'm not sure why. So I'm just going to review the basics of the color spectrum or "wheel", so that I can then post my claim as to the species that has flowers that cover the full spectrum most completely. (And it happens to be a geophyte! ) So the three primary colors of projected light, think a color flatscreen TV or computer monitor, are red, green, and blue. And from those three when used in various mixtures and relative intensities, they derive all the other colors we can see. The three "secondary" colors, which are sometimes called the three reflected primaries, think color prints made by color laser printers or printing presses which, if you have one, you know have three color toner cartridges, yellow, cyan, and magenta. Using those three, used in various mixtures and relative intensities, they can likewise derive all the other colors we can see. Even more interestingly, if you are using the light primaries, mixing equal intensities of red and green produces yellow light, green and blue produces cyan (or "teal") light, and blue and red produces magenta light. Which are the three reflective primaries. While mixing equal amounts of yellow and cyan/teal toner produces a green color, cyan/teal and magenta toner produces a true blue color, and magenta and yellow toner produces a real red color, which are the three light or projective primaries.

[Side note: color laser printers usually have at least 4 different toner cartridges, the 4th one being black (leading to the acronym CMYK, where the K is for black). The reason being that technically, mixing equal amounts of yellow, cyan, and magenta should give black, but it is usually a vary dark muddy brown. Plus, black toner is much cheaper than color toner and it uses ⅓ as much toner since you only use one unit of black instead of 3 units of each of the 3 more expensive toners. The analog of mixing the three reflective primaries to produce black is that when you mix the three light, or projective, primaries of red, green, and blue in equal amounts or intensities, you get white. Which is how it is done on TVs and monitors. You only ever have RGB, not RGBW.]

And before I get to my nominee species, I want to throw out just a few more colors, and I don't know what to call these. But they seem to be colors that are neither primary nor secondary, but that many humans seem to think of as their own independent color. For example orange. Many people do not see "true" orange as either a shade of yellow or red, or even yellowish-red, or reddish-yellow, but as "just" orange. Same with purple or violet. It's not a shade of blue or red or even magenta. And speaking of magenta, I'm going to include pink in with magenta as a less intense or maybe slightly lighter magenta. It's not "light red". (Try making "light red" with your computer by selecting red, then reducing the intensity of it. You don't get pink.) And finally, an odd one that isn't on the edge of the color wheel, which is brown, as in chocolate brown. It's basically a darkened red-orange-yellow, depending on what shade of brown you're talking about, but "chocolate" brown seems to be the standard brownest brown.

[One more side note: The rainbow or the spectrum does not contain all the colors the human brain recognizes or interprets as different colors. On the scientific standard for color, the "spectral colors" form a somewhat odd-shaped curved arch, from red through orange, yellow, green, cyan, and blue. Then they connect a straight line from one end of the curved arch to the other and call this the "line of purples". It contains the purples/violets and magenta shades. It's interesting because you can't produce these colors in people's brains using just one frequency of light--as you can with all the other colors along the "spectral" color curve. You have to use at least two different frequencies of light in different relative intensities to get the purples and magentas, even though the mind interprets it as a single color. This is why you will never see purple or lavender or magenta in a rainbow.]

Okay, and now to get to my nominee. Roses and carnations don't come in blues or teals, and true green roses I think are very rare and maybe there is only one species rose that comes in that color. Irises, in particular tall bearded types also don't come in teals or true greens, and a true red is still not there I think (although other Iris types have true red I think). Roses and irises do come in white, but not yet true black, although there are really dark purple-black irises, and dark red-black roses. There are certainly magenta and pink roses, but although there are pink irises, I don't think I've ever seen a magenta tall bearded iris. Irises win over roses for blue ones, even if not quite as intense and true blue as gentians or Tecophilaea. There are some fairly chocolatey brown irises, and some more muddy looking brownish roses. And of course teal flowers are incredibly rare, rarer than green flowers IMO. The ones I know about are two geophytes, Ixia viridiflora and Lachenalia viridiflora; two Puyas, P. alpestris and P. × berteroniana; "Jade Vine", Strongylodon macrobotrys; Ecbolium viride; and maybe one or two others I can't think of right now.

So for the most complete spectrum of flower colors, I nominate Anigozanthos or kangaroo paws, ever since they bred the teal-to-blue colored 'Masquerade' variety--which I've now seen in person, and a very nice member of PBS saw for sale up in the San Francisco Bay Area and sent me some. Yes, they have now been imported into the United States, it appears. And they really are the color you see in the photos. I think kangaroo paws may include every major color around the entire spectrum now. Meaning, red, orange, yellow, green, teal, blue, purple, magenta/pink, and also white and black, (and may some not quite chocolatey browns). Here are some links to photos out there on the web. See if you agree.

red: <https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ISfJMmfys48/XNzV0ez1QbI/AAAAAAABnzI/QlY4iEW3LPcVwwh3NVhtMvUgYt2RXhKfwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC07905.JPG>
scarlet red: <https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/anigozanthos_kangaroo-paw_landscape-scarlet-1.jpg>
orange: <https://www.ranchotissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/AnigozanthosTequilaSunrise1.jpg>
yellow: <https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/anigozanthos-flavidus-x-pulcheremis_kangaroo-paw_yellow-gem-1.jpg>
yellow-green: <https://www.ramm.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Aussie-Spirit-1.jpg>
green: <https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/anigozanthos-viridis_kangaroo-paw-2.jpg>
teal: <https://www.thejunglecollective.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Anigozanthos-Celebrations-Masquerade-Friends-of-Kings-Park-s.jpg>
blue: <https://thursd.com/storage/media/42427/Blue-Anigozanthus-on-Thursd-.jpg>
deeper blue ("true blue"?): <https://scontent-lax3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/281957091_10159664665337707_9178472396774143961_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=MbKNLQQjzL4AX_Zqcmd&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC8kql4TZa7yka77VTLzvGsvvNjqPMqX0E-Lgb0l90jCw&oe=648D2EBA>
purple: <https://nativeplantproject.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/anigozanthos-celebrations-'carnivale-pbr-1-568x764.jpeg>
magenta/pink: <https://www.benaranurseries.com/media/catalog/product/cache/29075eb501be649b1cefe83d67182d6c/w/e/website_anibusgempea5.jpg>
white: <https://gardenworld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/kangaroo-paw-white.jpg>
black: <https://www.nurseriesonline.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Black-Kangaroo-Paw-flower.jpg>
brownish (a pure species): <https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/anigozanthos-kalbarriensis_cats-paw-1.jpg>
yellowish-reddish-brown?: <https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0634/0997/9621/products/Anigozanthos_695x695.jpg?v=1682341244>

There are some things ChatGPT and Bard are good at and some things where it's so bad that it "hallucinates", which is the term they're now using for when AI makes up a perfectly reasonable sounding article with several accurate sounding references, but all the facts are false. ChatGPT actually happens to be very good at constructing computer code just by telling it in English what you want the code to do. However, you need to know how code works yourself to change the code where it needs changing so it will do what you really want it to do. However, it will set up all the variables, structure, use commands from the computer language correctly, and even knows what libraries to import, including ones you didn't know existed that do exactly what you wanted.

However, I once tried to see if it could find more information on a bulb species that I had only found a couple of things about using Google extensively. It turned out to be worse than my using Google myself. I told it to tell me about Cearanthes fuscoviolacea which is an amaryllid from Brazil. It told me all about a purple flowered orchid from Central America. I repeated my request but inserted the words "the bulb" between "about" and "Cearanthes". And it responded that *I* was mistaken that it was a bulb because it is not; it is an orchid. From Central America. 

The only things it got right were that they both had purple flowers and they were both plants.

Hi Uli,

I think what you're referring to are called "multiflora" hyacinths here in the States. There is a blue, pink, and white one in the trade. I've read that they are not the "Roman" hyacinths and may not return in our sunbelt states, whereas the "Roman" type are heirloom varieties that have been grown in the South for many decades (maybe even for more than 100 years?). I'm pretty sure they're the same species, but genetically they seem to be adapted to climates without much winter chill and do not require freezing temperatures to flower. I know they are grown in southern Europe as well. Back when Bulb 'Argence was in business they used to offer the blue and the white one. (Just checked and their website is still up, but they don't sell much at all anymore. <https://www.bulbargence.com/m_catalogue/index.php?id_categorie=109>) 

Have you tried Tecophilaea yet? They are stunning when they fill a pot with flowers. I haven't tried them in the ground, but if you have a place where it is dry in summer and not too sunny then, they should do well. (They don't seem to mind hot temperatures in the summer if they are in the shade. Last September we had a week where the high temperature was between 40°-45°C with lows between 21°-26°C every day for the entire week!) They do need sun in winter, though.

This is my attempt at trying to get more colors into Hyacinths that grow in warmer climates. I don't really care for the big fat flower scapes. I like the colors and the scent. So I have various selections from the trade mixed in with pots of blue, white, and pink "Roman" hyacinths which grow fine in sunbelt climates, hoping the bees will cross pollinate. Before the current rains we're getting, I saw a lot of bees busy doing their thing among them, so maybe it will work?

A couple of my Paramongaia weberbaueri have also bloomed. They really do look like daffodils on steroids, and have a really nice scent. They grow well here, at least the winter flowering strain, but the leaves do not like actual 32°F/0°C temperatures.

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus

. All three of the main varieties found in the trade. vars cyanocrocus, leichtlinii, and violacea. I don't understand why they are so expensive. They're very easy to grow in my climate and multiply without any problem whatsoever. I grow them almost identically to how I grow my Cape bulbs, same soil mix, same dormancy treatment, same emergence time in early winter, same watering regime. (This winter I haven't had to water them at all due to all the rain we've been having.) The only pest I've found they have is mice, during dormancy. So I keep them shaded but in full view of cats and humans. I think var. leichtlinii is the actual type species because they are more vigorous in almost every way (growth, flowering, multiplication, etc.).

Another method, which I did at the time, is to go scoop up a good sized bag of ash right after a big forest fire. I did this as soon as they let us go back into the Angeles National Forest after the 'Station' fire finally burned out in the foothills and mountains behind Pasadena and Glendale back in 2009. I didn't try any scientific method with and without. I just put ash on top of all my seeds I planted that fall from mediterranean climate regions, since I had plenty of it, and as some have pointed out, it is full of plant nutrients anyway. 

So there must be two different ways to include photos. One produces the thumbnails with a filename that can be clicked on to open a much higher resolution image. The other just seems to insert the photo at maybe not it's highest resolution but is much bigger than a thumbnail image. But I don't see any icon in the Reply box to insert a photo. It wasn't till I "previewed" my post that a button appeared for "Attachments and other options". But it only gives the method to insert attachments by dragging and dropping or pressing an Add Files button. I don't know how to insert photos that produce the thumbnail with hidden but included high resolution image.

Some Lachenalias currently in bloom.

Quote from: David Pilling on January 22, 2023, 07:01:40 PMI feel gardening is a healthy pastime - physical effort is involved. They say it is good for mental health and it sort of feels that way. A bit surprising because there can be a lot of frustration.

I'm not so sure it is always a social thing - maybe if you belong to a gardening club or garden on allotments. People always flee when I approach bearing excess produce.

It's probably the Mycobacterium vaccae in the soil that is infecting us.

Dirt Can Make You Happy

How to Get High on Soil

ChatGPT did a better job at giving a summary of it than it did with Cearanthes:

QuoteMycobacterium vaccae is a type of soil-dwelling bacterium that has been found to have a positive effect on human health. The bacterium has been found to activate immune cells in the body and increase levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine, which are associated with improved mood and cognitive function.

Studies have shown that exposure to Mycobacterium vaccae can help to reduce symptoms of conditions such as asthma, allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, research has suggested that Mycobacterium vaccae may help to improve learning and memory, as well as reducing anxiety and depression.

It's important to note that Mycobacterium vaccae is not a cure for any medical conditions, and more research is needed to fully understand its effects on human health. However, the evidence so far suggests that exposure to the bacterium can have a positive impact on both physical and mental health.

I decided to give it a hard one (because I really want to know more about this species than what Google gives me), and ChatGPT got it wrong twice. Google did better (but not much better). At least Google got it right.

ChatGPT:
What is Cearanthes fuscoviolacea

Cearanthes fuscoviolacea is a species of orchid, a type of flowering plant. Orchids are known for their diverse and attractive blooms, and this species is no exception. C. fuscoviolacea is native to the Neotropics and is found in South and Central America, including countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. This species typically grows as an epiphyte, meaning that it grows on other plants for support but does not parasitize them. Its flowers are distinctive, with a deep purple color and a unique shape, making it a popular choice for cultivation among orchid enthusiasts.

Describe the bulb species Cearanthes fuscoviolacea

I apologize, but Cearanthes fuscoviolacea is not a bulb species. It is an epiphytic orchid species, which means that it grows on other plants for support but does not parasitize them. Orchids are a large and diverse group of flowering plants, with over 25,000 known species and many more still waiting to be discovered. They are known for their showy, often fragrant blooms, which can range in color from pale whites and yellows to bright pinks and purples. C. fuscoviolacea, in particular, is known for its deep purple flowers, which are highly prized among orchid enthusiasts.


Google:
(Kew)Amaryllidaceae > Cearanthes
Cearanthes fuscoviolacea Ravenna
First published in Onira 5: 11 (2000)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Brazil (Ceará). It is a bulbous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

And the Washington Post just published this on how bad the Western US heatwave has been:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/09/08/western-heatwave-records-california-climate/

I know Europe has had similarly hot weather this summer too.

Has anyone lost any of their plants because of the excessive heat?

I just checked and the pound is only $1.15, which is what the euro used to be. Has it gotten that low before? (When I was a little boy and collected stamps I think the pound was something like $2.40. I always thought it made British stamps so expensive.)

And speaking of losing plant collections because of not having enough energy to bring them through the winter, I think a similar kind of problem is going to happen more and more often to those living in warm climates and having mega droughts such that one can't water their plants during the hottest days. Luckily I wasn't in the area of the Los Angeles metropolitan area that is supposed to not water anything outside for all of this week and next week right when we are in the midst of the longest September heatwave since records began. It has basically been hitting around 40°C/104°F plus or minus everywhere except in those areas closest to the beach for more than a week now and continuing till this Saturday when it will finally cool down. Plus, the nighttime lows have been unusually high for this area during that entire time, never dropping below about 24°C/75°F with one morning only getting down to 27°C/81°F (instead of normally dropping into the 60s F/<20°C at night), and unusually humid. It has felt like the southeastern US summer weather. I don't now how non-dormant plants could survive no water at all if it had been in the 100s for two entire weeks, especially those in pots.

If it's blooming right now in the northern hemisphere, it looks a lot like Cooperia pedunculata, which I think is now officially supposed to be called by its synonym, Zephyranthes drummondii, now that everything has been lumped into Zephyranthes. Also known as Hill Country Rain Lily or Prairie Rain Lily. Mine just finished flowering but mine are in a large pot. I've never seen them flower in such a small pot. They also just finished their first flush of flowers in the neighborhood around my sister's house in Austin, Texas.

However, using the link
https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php?action=unread
does only show the unread posts.

--Lee