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More on the borderlines of hardiness than Thalia dealbata, and I am uncertain that this is the real thing. I got it from the Plant Group in Phuket, Thailand
so I had high hopes, however the leaf looks too glaucous to me. On the other hand, it died in the winter which is much more 'on message' for the real thing! The name
geniculata refers to the distinctive "knees" on the hanging flower stems. I have included some pictures of the species growing and flowering at Kew for comparison. Plants of the World online says: "The native range of this species is Tropical Africa, SE. U.S.A. to Tropical America. It is a rhizomatous geophyte and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome. It is used as animal food, a poison and a medicine, has environmental uses and social uses and for food." The Florida Wildflower Foundation says: "Alligatorflag (Thalia geniculata) (also known as fireflag) is a tall, sturdy herbaceous perennial. Compared to the overall size of the plant, its blooms are somewhat inconspicuous. Flowers are purplish to whitish, 3-petaled and often nodding. Leaves are large (3+ long), broadly lanceolate with long petioles and pointed tips. They emerge from the base of the plant. Flower stalks extend well beyond leaves. Alligatorflag typically blooms summer through fall. It occurs naturally in wetland depressions and cypress sloughs, and along the edges of marshes, swamps and wet ditches." |
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| 18th June 2006 | ||
