cardiocrinum

Jim McKenney jimmckenney@starpower.net
Wed, 27 Apr 2005 16:33:56 PDT
Arnold wrote: "I think Jim M. may have mentioned that when the bulb pushes
up from  the soil it is a sure sign that flowering is on the way.  As I
uncovered the bulb from its winter mulch the bulb had pushed up three to
four inches."

Actually, Arnold,  what I was calling attention to is a characteristic of
the growth habit of Cardiocrinum cordatum. Young, non-blooming plants
produce leaves all of which seem to come directly from the bulb (seemingly
acauline in botany-speak). Blooming plants, on the other hand, start out
with leaves at ground level; later, the annual stem below the false whorl of
leaves elongates. It was this elongation of the annual stem below the false
whorl which signals bloom in this species. As a result of the elongation of
the annual stem below the false whorl, the foliage is lifted eight to ten
inches above the ground: at this stage the plants suggest a Hosta on a
stick. Several weeks after attaining this stage, the annual stem again
elongates, this time above the false whorl. This secondary elongation above
the false whorl initiates the development of the inflorescence. 

I don't grow mature Cardiocrinum giganteum (although my young plant has come
back strongly this year), so I have no idea if it goes through the same two
tiered growth stage before blooming. I don't recall having seen this two
tiered growth pattern described in the literature for C. giganteum, and
photographs of flowering plants do not show whorled foliage - so it's
unlikely that this two tiered growth pattern occurs in C. giganteum.

Arnold, maybe you will be able to answer this question later this year. 

Congratulations on flowering this amazing plant. 

Jim McKenney
jimmckenney@starpower.net
Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where Cardiocrinum cordatum,
which produced two flowering stems last year, has returned as two smaller,
non-flowering rosettes this year. 



-----Original Message-----
From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]
On Behalf Of arnold@nj.rr.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 9:37 AM
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [pbs] cardiocrinum

As a follow up to an image I posted last year on the wiki wiki, I can
report that it looks like the cardiocrinum I  have grown is going to
flower this year.  The new growth is in the form of a stalk that is
pushing straight up and at this point is about twelve inches tall. 
There are heart shaped leaves attached, clutching close to the stem.

I think Jim M. may have mentioned that when the bulb pushes up from  the
soil it is a sure sign that flowering is on the way.  As I uncovered the
bulb from its winter mulch the bulb had pushed up three to four inches.
 It was planted as a two year old from Heronswood Nursery before the
nursery was sold.

Sadly  I can't post an image.  My digital camera was the victim of a
loan to a friend and didn't make it back in operating condition.

Any recommendations on a good replacement will be greatly appreciated. 
Please post privately to Arnold@nj.rr.com

Arnold
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