On Tue, 4 Nov 2008 11:34:28 -0000, "Peter"
wrote:

Hi Richard

It is difficult from photos accurately to determine many plants.
My book, admittedly written from a European perspective, gives
the following characteristics to look for in a Freesia:

-Slightly irregular, 6 petal (strictly 3 petals and 3 very
similar sepals) flower with 3 stamens (your photo appears to have
6 stamens); style usually 3-branched.
-Style branches narrow (not petaloid)
-Few to many flowers on stem, in spikes or panicles (not at end
of stem like crocus)
-Plant with a corm (as shown in one of Loosescan's photos)
-Style 3-branched, with each branch bifid (split in two)
-Bracts 1.5cm; spike bent horizontally near lowest flower;
flowers on one side of stem; leaves soft; wingless seeds.

From this description (Stace New Flora of thee British Isles), I
suspect that your plant is not a Freesia. Sorry - I cannot tell
you what it is.

Peter
-

"Richard Wright" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 3 Nov 2008 13:13:50 +0900, "Loosecanon"
wrote:



You are right - the flower is scarlet.

I agree the search must go on.

To assist this I have posted a photo of the flower that shows
more
detail.

The length of each petal is 9 mm. Note the brown base to the
three
lower petals.

http://www.box.net/shared/static/zscyia95m1.jpg

Perhaps a Fressia laxa
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pb..._laxa_msi2.jpg
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pb..._laxa_msi3.jpg
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pb..._laxa_msi4.jpg
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pb..._corms_msi.jpg
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pb...laxa_seeds.jpg


Thanks. This is definitely the species.


Peter

The pictures of Freesia laxa (see URLs above) are identical to my
plant. However on pursuing the matter further I find that this plant
has been removed from the Freesia genus and renamed Anomatheca laxa.
So perhaps that reconciles things.

Furthermore the plant is naturalised in Sydney, where I saw it
growing:

http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cg...nomatheca~laxa

Richard