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Roscoea purpurea is a fabulous and extemely variable plant. A large number of forms and seed strains have been named, and no doubt more will be. Many of these forms are very similar
but it is useful to be able to identify the best forms. As the first photo shows, some of the seedlings that are distributed are a bit feeble. The best of the forms have rich colours and
broad flowers. Leaves and stems can be tinged with purple. The flowers are generally purple, but red and white flowered forms are also known. The second photo shows a marvellous bicoloured form that is currently one of my favourites. It came from Avon Bulbs in Somerset and shows the occasional delight in buying plants from unnamed stocks, though it should be noted that the pathetic form arrived from another source on the same pot luck basis. Jill Cowley wrote: "This species is the type of the genus, and also one of the most widespread and most variable in habit and form. Many of its various colour forms are now available in nurseries and there are numerous named cultivars... Roscoea purpurea occurs in the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh in the west to the Assam/Bhutan frontier region in the east, and typically has pale purplish lilac flowers... The true Roscoea purpurea was mentioned in the first volume of the Gardeners Chronicle in 1841. It was flourishing outside at Edinburgh Botanic Garden, according to R. Graham and later at Kew, in 1889, according to Mr Nicholson. It had previously been thought of as a stove plant... Roscoea purpurea can be found in both damp and dry positions, in grassland on alpine slopes, in thin soil over rocks, on moist rock faces, on terrace walls, in exposed south-facing positions, in thick herbaceous growth of grasses and shrubs, in clearings and in shade at the edge of forests and woodland. It has been collected between 1520 and 3100m a.s.l., and flowers from the end of June to September." |
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| 1st September 2005 | ||
