Some notes on Massonia species

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Aiko
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Re: Some notes on Massonia species

Post by Aiko »

Aiko wrote:I just heard of a new Massonia species: Massonia thunbergiana. Not much to find on it at the moment, unfortunately...
In the mean time I have seen the plant in active growth and flowering. An interesting plant. The one I saw was quite big. What I did find very interesting was the smell of the flowers. Certainly not sweet as other species of Massonia (for as far as I know). Quite an odd smell, more the smell of some spice. I liked it, but I can imagine some will think it is smelly. A good indicator to tell it apart from other species, I think.
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Rob
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Re: Some notes on Massonia species

Post by Rob »

The following two were acquired at the same time from the same source as M.echinata, their flowers appear a little different to each other though, they are the first Massonias we have managed to coax into flower, so not exactly a genus we are well informed on, so, would any of our more learned friends hereabouts care to comment on them please.
plant no.1
IMG_6268 (800x533).jpg
same plant
IMG_6269 (800x533).jpg
Now plant no.2
IMG_6271 (800x533).jpg
the thing that stands out here is the colour of the filaments (mentioned above in relation to a different species)
IMG_6273 (800x533).jpg
so, do you reckon we have two of the same species, two different species or one or two hybrids?
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Aiko
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Re: Some notes on Massonia species

Post by Aiko »

I think they are the same species.

I personally have the idea the colour of the filaments can change a bit (at least for the white flowering ones). The amount of white or pink of filaments might vary from plant to plant and even per plant from year to year. That is my idea, at least. Nothing I have thoroughly investigated throughout many years.
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Aiko
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Re: Some notes on Massonia species

Post by Aiko »

Aiko wrote:
Aiko wrote:I just heard of a new Massonia species: Massonia thunbergiana. Not much to find on it at the moment, unfortunately...
There is now a picture on the page: http://massonia.com/gallery?page=1
And here is an even better picture: http://www.imgrum.org/media/14022638177 ... 3026554858
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Re: Some notes on Massonia species

Post by MaciejW »

I have just come across this website
https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... uth_Africa

Seems like there are few other names of massonia I have not heard of before.
Maciej
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Re: Some notes on Massonia species

Post by Aiko »

On Massonia.com there is now a list available of current recognised species of Massonia: http://massonia.com/species

Two new species have just been described; Massonia inaequalis and M. visseriae, both maybe vissually not the most outstanding species addition to the genus...
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Re: Some notes on Massonia species

Post by Aiko »

The Massonia page on the Pacific Bulb Society page has been updated a few weeks ago: https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsw ... p/Massonia. It includes quite some more species, of which the above mentioned Massonia visserae. The only true M. echinata should come from Oorlogskloof. In practise almost all M. echinata in cultivation will not be M. echinata. As are mine, unfortunately...

It is not a definite list, but as definite as it currently can be. See the note: "Massonia spp. as stated above (because this genus needs a lot of work) includes many species that we cannot either place into a species or that are new species to be described". Quite interesting if you are a Massonia enthousiast as I am, and will be getting more interesting in the future, I hope.
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