The Bulb Maven

Brunsvigia comptonii

I bought seed of this rare Brunsvigia in 2002, and was very excited to see a bud emerging three weeks ago.  It had never bloomed before, and waiting 14 years for a Brunsvigia to mature is not at all unusual.  The scape emerged deep crimson, and the flowering umbel has two paddle shaped crimson bracts that are unusual.  The flowering umbel is very dainty, measuring about 20cm across, each flower is sort of bicolored, as you can see in the picture.  I won't be getting any seed, since I would need two bulbs to cross pollinate them and I haven't seen seed offered since I purchased the seed fourteen years ago.  

My B. marginata, are, however, sending up four buds, so I will be getting seed from them and posting a picture when they fully open.

www.telosrarebulbs.com

 

 

Traubia modesta

Once again I have lapsed in my posts to the blog.  I have many valid excuses which I won't list here, but I hope to get back to posting.  This is a very exciting time of year when you grow members of the Family Amaryllidaceae, and the recent blooming of Traubia modesta nudged me to post.  I obtained seeds of this extremely rare species several years ago.  He had rescued some bulbs that were in the way of road building.  It is an extremely rare species from northern Chile and I was thrilled to obtain a few seeds.  Each year a few thread like leaves emerged, and that was that.  This year I saw a tiny bud opening its flower.  I almost missed it, it is modest indeed, measuring only about 4cm high with flowers less than 1cm across.  One scape emerged, and I carefully pollinated the flowers and have two little pods developing that are speckled with pink.

One day I will have bulbs to share.

www.telosrarebulbs.com