Lapeirousia jacquinii

I am not a knowledgeable bulb specialist but I have some given to me by a good friend who was a collector (Dr A Vlasto of University of Cambridge). One of these has recently flowered and I have not so far done much to identify it. However, on a web-site search I found the international bulb organisation's site, which seems brilliant, so I took some photos which I hope are useful. I am attaching the photos in case someone can name it for me. If you think the photos are good enough then I am happy for them to be put onto the site.

This bulb is a one-off and was not at all expected. It is growing in a pot of ordinary multi-purpose compost containing flowering-size bulbs of Leucojum longifolium and an errant Anomatheca which is most likely to be self-seeded. Colour, violet blue, flowers approx 4 cm long, nearly all of which is a very narrow flower-tube. First leaves are flat, rather like a soft Tritonia leaf, but the leaves on the flower-stem are strongly-keeled and clasp the stem or the emerging flower-tube. The flower corolla has 6 petals, 3 (or 4) of which have a paler blotch at the throat. The flowers are not stunning but are delicately pretty.
 
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Looks like a Lapeirousia to me, possibly jacquinii. A little longer than normal due to lack of light by the looks of it.

Regards,
Shayne Willis (Jan 28, 2005)


It is a Lapeirousia. The individual flower looks similar to L. jacquinii, but the plant is too tall and sparse for L. jacquinii. The growth habit looks a little more like one of the summer rainfall species, which are generally not as well known as the winter species.

Regards
Andrew Harvie (Jan 28, 2005)