National Collection of Diascias
 

Sorry, but I simply had to start a new thread. The subject is the
correct spelling of diascias. Hope you'll allow the old thread to fade
away.

I am having enormous difficulty at the moment with species. As some of
you will know, they don't last forever, and taking cuttings of cuttings
of cuttings seems to weaken the plants. Some are fine, but others do
suffer. And it is awfully difficult to obtain seed from diascias except
in the wild because they have no natural pollinators in this country.
The very specialised oil collecting bee that pollinates them in South
Africa has very long forelegs that go deep into the spurs of the plant
and the pollen is deposited on their body. The stamens of the true
species are at different angles and thus the species are not cross
pollinated in the wild. Its quite fascinating actually, but it does
mean I cannot get seed very easily at all. So if anyone knows of wild
collected seed I would love to hear from you - I do get some from
Silverhills, but they don't go many of the habitats where some of the
rarer diascias hang out, and the species I once had are diminishing in
numbers despite my distribution tactics.
Chris Boulby National Collection of Diascias

National Collection of Diascias
 

In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Sorry, but I simply had to start a new thread. The subject is the
correct spelling of diascias. Hope you'll allow the old thread to fade
away.

I am having enormous difficulty at the moment with species. As some of
you will know, they don't last forever, and taking cuttings of cuttings
of cuttings seems to weaken the plants. Some are fine, but others do
suffer. And it is awfully difficult to obtain seed from diascias except
in the wild because they have no natural pollinators in this country.
The very specialised oil collecting bee that pollinates them in South
Africa has very long forelegs that go deep into the spurs of the plant
and the pollen is deposited on their body. The stamens of the true
species are at different angles and thus the species are not cross
pollinated in the wild. Its quite fascinating actually, but it does
mean I cannot get seed very easily at all. So if anyone knows of wild
collected seed I would love to hear from you - I do get some from
Silverhills, but they don't go many of the habitats where some of the
rarer diascias hang out, and the species I once had are diminishing in
numbers despite my distribution tactics.
Chris Boulby National Collection of Diascias

Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley
http://www.meden.demon.co.uk/Malvaceae/Malvaceae.html

National Collection of Diascias
 

In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Sorry, but I simply had to start a new thread. The subject is the
correct spelling of diascias. Hope you'll allow the old thread to fade
away.

I am having enormous difficulty at the moment with species. As some of
you will know, they don't last forever, and taking cuttings of cuttings
of cuttings seems to weaken the plants. Some are fine, but others do
suffer. And it is awfully difficult to obtain seed from diascias except
in the wild because they have no natural pollinators in this country.
The very specialised oil collecting bee that pollinates them in South
Africa has very long forelegs that go deep into the spurs of the plant
and the pollen is deposited on their body. The stamens of the true
species are at different angles and thus the species are not cross
pollinated in the wild. Its quite fascinating actually, but it does
mean I cannot get seed very easily at all. So if anyone knows of wild
collected seed I would love to hear from you - I do get some from
Silverhills, but they don't go many of the habitats where some of the
rarer diascias hang out, and the species I once had are diminishing in
numbers despite my distribution tactics.
Chris Boulby National Collection of Diascias

Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley
http://www.meden.demon.co.uk/Malvaceae/Malvaceae.html

National Collection of Diascias
 

In message , Stewart Robert Hinsley
writes
In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Sorry, but I simply had to start a new thread. The subject is the
correct spelling of diascias. Hope you'll allow the old thread to fade
away.

I am having enormous difficulty at the moment with species. As some of
you will know, they don't last forever, and taking cuttings of cuttings
of cuttings seems to weaken the plants. Some are fine, but others do
suffer. And it is awfully difficult to obtain seed from diascias except
in the wild because they have no natural pollinators in this country.
The very specialised oil collecting bee that pollinates them in South
Africa has very long forelegs that go deep into the spurs of the plant
and the pollen is deposited on their body. The stamens of the true
species are at different angles and thus the species are not cross
pollinated in the wild. Its quite fascinating actually, but it does
mean I cannot get seed very easily at all. So if anyone knows of wild
collected seed I would love to hear from you - I do get some from
Silverhills, but they don't go many of the habitats where some of the
rarer diascias hang out, and the species I once had are diminishing in
numbers despite my distribution tactics.
Chris Boulby National Collection of Diascias

Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?

Thats a good question. I've tried but somehow they don't work on the
same plant or clones. I'd need another strain to have any hope of so
doing, and I've few plants where I have had different sources. Almost
all the material that I have was brought back by Hilliard & Burtt, two
botanists from Edinburgh who revised the genus in the 1980s. So, I'm
stuck. And the plants are a bit endangered in the wild now too, some
are on the red list in fact. I worry about this a lot.
--
Chris Boulby National Collection of Diascias
Please note new email address:

National Collection of Diascias
 

In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?

Thats a good question. I've tried but somehow they don't work on the
same plant or clones. I'd need another strain to have any hope of so
doing, and I've few plants where I have had different sources. Almost
all the material that I have was brought back by Hilliard & Burtt, two
botanists from Edinburgh who revised the genus in the 1980s. So, I'm
stuck. And the plants are a bit endangered in the wild now too, some
are on the red list in fact. I worry about this a lot.

The obvious explanation for your problems with seed set is that Diascia
is self-incompatible. I've found a web site (just the one) that states
that this is the case.

The usual explanation given for plants deteriorating after generations
of vegetative propagation is a build up of viral load. For reasons not
obvious to me, micropropagation (sometimes?) clears this up.

An alternative to obtaining seed is to exchange cuttings with other
growers - in the hope that they have a different clone. Ness Botanic
Gardens on the Wirral have quite a few Diascias, but I think they're all
hybrids. Sunningdale in Gloucestershire, according to the web, have a
least a couple of species.


--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

National Collection of Diascias
 

In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?

Thats a good question. I've tried but somehow they don't work on the
same plant or clones. I'd need another strain to have any hope of so
doing, and I've few plants where I have had different sources. Almost
all the material that I have was brought back by Hilliard & Burtt, two
botanists from Edinburgh who revised the genus in the 1980s. So, I'm
stuck. And the plants are a bit endangered in the wild now too, some
are on the red list in fact. I worry about this a lot.

The obvious explanation for your problems with seed set is that Diascia
is self-incompatible. I've found a web site (just the one) that states
that this is the case.

The usual explanation given for plants deteriorating after generations
of vegetative propagation is a build up of viral load. For reasons not
obvious to me, micropropagation (sometimes?) clears this up.

An alternative to obtaining seed is to exchange cuttings with other
growers - in the hope that they have a different clone. Ness Botanic
Gardens on the Wirral have quite a few Diascias, but I think they're all
hybrids. Sunningdale in Gloucestershire, according to the web, have a
least a couple of species.


--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

National Collection of Diascias
 

In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?

Thats a good question. I've tried but somehow they don't work on the
same plant or clones. I'd need another strain to have any hope of so
doing, and I've few plants where I have had different sources. Almost
all the material that I have was brought back by Hilliard & Burtt, two
botanists from Edinburgh who revised the genus in the 1980s. So, I'm
stuck. And the plants are a bit endangered in the wild now too, some
are on the red list in fact. I worry about this a lot.

The obvious explanation for your problems with seed set is that Diascia
is self-incompatible. I've found a web site (just the one) that states
that this is the case.

The usual explanation given for plants deteriorating after generations
of vegetative propagation is a build up of viral load. For reasons not
obvious to me, micropropagation (sometimes?) clears this up.

An alternative to obtaining seed is to exchange cuttings with other
growers - in the hope that they have a different clone. Ness Botanic
Gardens on the Wirral have quite a few Diascias, but I think they're all
hybrids. Sunningdale in Gloucestershire, according to the web, have a
least a couple of species.


--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

National Collection of Diascias
 

In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?

Thats a good question. I've tried but somehow they don't work on the
same plant or clones. I'd need another strain to have any hope of so
doing, and I've few plants where I have had different sources. Almost
all the material that I have was brought back by Hilliard & Burtt, two
botanists from Edinburgh who revised the genus in the 1980s. So, I'm
stuck. And the plants are a bit endangered in the wild now too, some
are on the red list in fact. I worry about this a lot.

The obvious explanation for your problems with seed set is that Diascia
is self-incompatible. I've found a web site (just the one) that states
that this is the case.

The usual explanation given for plants deteriorating after generations
of vegetative propagation is a build up of viral load. For reasons not
obvious to me, micropropagation (sometimes?) clears this up.

An alternative to obtaining seed is to exchange cuttings with other
growers - in the hope that they have a different clone. Ness Botanic
Gardens on the Wirral have quite a few Diascias, but I think they're all
hybrids. Sunningdale in Gloucestershire, according to the web, have a
least a couple of species.


--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

National Collection of Diascias
 

In message , Stewart Robert Hinsley
writes
In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?

Thats a good question. I've tried but somehow they don't work on the
same plant or clones. I'd need another strain to have any hope of so
doing, and I've few plants where I have had different sources. Almost
all the material that I have was brought back by Hilliard & Burtt, two
botanists from Edinburgh who revised the genus in the 1980s. So, I'm
stuck. And the plants are a bit endangered in the wild now too, some
are on the red list in fact. I worry about this a lot.

The obvious explanation for your problems with seed set is that Diascia
is self-incompatible. I've found a web site (just the one) that states
that this is the case.

The usual explanation given for plants deteriorating after generations
of vegetative propagation is a build up of viral load. For reasons not
obvious to me, micropropagation (sometimes?) clears this up.

An alternative to obtaining seed is to exchange cuttings with other
growers - in the hope that they have a different clone. Ness Botanic
Gardens on the Wirral have quite a few Diascias, but I think they're all
hybrids. Sunningdale in Gloucestershire, according to the web, have a
least a couple of species.


Hi Stewart,

Yes, that's right, they are self incompatible. Hector Harrison, the man
responsible for breeding them soon discovered this and shared his
knowledge with us very generously. It doesn't stop me giving it another
go once in a while, but it always seems to fail.

And it may well be that micropropagation could clear up viral load, but
I am not certain. I have seen micropropped cuttings many a time which
contain a virus that now infects some plants. But I do not have access
to micro propagation of course, and those who do are very selective over
what they choose to use. They invariably have commercial interests at
heart, nothing else. Its an expensive business, and one I cannot hope
to have access to.

I do have contact with a number of places that have plants of course,
and they with me, but no one to my knowledge has much material other
than that which was brought in by Hilliard & Burtt. This I think I
mentioned, swapping plant material with people such as botanical gardens
or other trusted friends.

And I've just read Silverhills latest newsletter. The S. African govt
are about to introduce a biodiversity bill that will make it even more
difficult to legitimately obtain plant material to export.
--
Chris Boulby National Collection of Diascias
Please note new email address:

National Collection of Diascias
 

In message , Stewart Robert Hinsley
writes
In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?

Thats a good question. I've tried but somehow they don't work on the
same plant or clones. I'd need another strain to have any hope of so
doing, and I've few plants where I have had different sources. Almost
all the material that I have was brought back by Hilliard & Burtt, two
botanists from Edinburgh who revised the genus in the 1980s. So, I'm
stuck. And the plants are a bit endangered in the wild now too, some
are on the red list in fact. I worry about this a lot.

The obvious explanation for your problems with seed set is that Diascia
is self-incompatible. I've found a web site (just the one) that states
that this is the case.

The usual explanation given for plants deteriorating after generations
of vegetative propagation is a build up of viral load. For reasons not
obvious to me, micropropagation (sometimes?) clears this up.

An alternative to obtaining seed is to exchange cuttings with other
growers - in the hope that they have a different clone. Ness Botanic
Gardens on the Wirral have quite a few Diascias, but I think they're all
hybrids. Sunningdale in Gloucestershire, according to the web, have a
least a couple of species.


Hi Stewart,

Yes, that's right, they are self incompatible. Hector Harrison, the man
responsible for breeding them soon discovered this and shared his
knowledge with us very generously. It doesn't stop me giving it another
go once in a while, but it always seems to fail.

And it may well be that micropropagation could clear up viral load, but
I am not certain. I have seen micropropped cuttings many a time which
contain a virus that now infects some plants. But I do not have access
to micro propagation of course, and those who do are very selective over
what they choose to use. They invariably have commercial interests at
heart, nothing else. Its an expensive business, and one I cannot hope
to have access to.

I do have contact with a number of places that have plants of course,
and they with me, but no one to my knowledge has much material other
than that which was brought in by Hilliard & Burtt. This I think I
mentioned, swapping plant material with people such as botanical gardens
or other trusted friends.

And I've just read Silverhills latest newsletter. The S. African govt
are about to introduce a biodiversity bill that will make it even more
difficult to legitimately obtain plant material to export.
--
Chris Boulby National Collection of Diascias
Please note new email address:

National Collection of Diascias
 

In message , Stewart Robert Hinsley
writes
In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?

Thats a good question. I've tried but somehow they don't work on the
same plant or clones. I'd need another strain to have any hope of so
doing, and I've few plants where I have had different sources. Almost
all the material that I have was brought back by Hilliard & Burtt, two
botanists from Edinburgh who revised the genus in the 1980s. So, I'm
stuck. And the plants are a bit endangered in the wild now too, some
are on the red list in fact. I worry about this a lot.

The obvious explanation for your problems with seed set is that Diascia
is self-incompatible. I've found a web site (just the one) that states
that this is the case.

The usual explanation given for plants deteriorating after generations
of vegetative propagation is a build up of viral load. For reasons not
obvious to me, micropropagation (sometimes?) clears this up.

An alternative to obtaining seed is to exchange cuttings with other
growers - in the hope that they have a different clone. Ness Botanic
Gardens on the Wirral have quite a few Diascias, but I think they're all
hybrids. Sunningdale in Gloucestershire, according to the web, have a
least a couple of species.


Hi Stewart,

Yes, that's right, they are self incompatible. Hector Harrison, the man
responsible for breeding them soon discovered this and shared his
knowledge with us very generously. It doesn't stop me giving it another
go once in a while, but it always seems to fail.

And it may well be that micropropagation could clear up viral load, but
I am not certain. I have seen micropropped cuttings many a time which
contain a virus that now infects some plants. But I do not have access
to micro propagation of course, and those who do are very selective over
what they choose to use. They invariably have commercial interests at
heart, nothing else. Its an expensive business, and one I cannot hope
to have access to.

I do have contact with a number of places that have plants of course,
and they with me, but no one to my knowledge has much material other
than that which was brought in by Hilliard & Burtt. This I think I
mentioned, swapping plant material with people such as botanical gardens
or other trusted friends.

And I've just read Silverhills latest newsletter. The S. African govt
are about to introduce a biodiversity bill that will make it even more
difficult to legitimately obtain plant material to export.
--
Chris Boulby National Collection of Diascias
Please note new email address:

National Collection of Diascias
 

In message , Stewart Robert Hinsley
writes
In article , Chris Boulby
writes
Why can't you manually pollinate the plants to get seeds?

Thats a good question. I've tried but somehow they don't work on the
same plant or clones. I'd need another strain to have any hope of so
doing, and I've few plants where I have had different sources. Almost
all the material that I have was brought back by Hilliard & Burtt, two
botanists from Edinburgh who revised the genus in the 1980s. So, I'm
stuck. And the plants are a bit endangered in the wild now too, some
are on the red list in fact. I worry about this a lot.

The obvious explanation for your problems with seed set is that Diascia
is self-incompatible. I've found a web site (just the one) that states
that this is the case.

The usual explanation given for plants deteriorating after generations
of vegetative propagation is a build up of viral load. For reasons not
obvious to me, micropropagation (sometimes?) clears this up.

An alternative to obtaining seed is to exchange cuttings with other
growers - in the hope that they have a different clone. Ness Botanic
Gardens on the Wirral have quite a few Diascias, but I think they're all
hybrids. Sunningdale in Gloucestershire, according to the web, have a
least a couple of species.


Hi Stewart,

Yes, that's right, they are self incompatible. Hector Harrison, the man
responsible for breeding them soon discovered this and shared his
knowledge with us very generously. It doesn't stop me giving it another
go once in a while, but it always seems to fail.

And it may well be that micropropagation could clear up viral load, but
I am not certain. I have seen micropropped cuttings many a time which
contain a virus that now infects some plants. But I do not have access
to micro propagation of course, and those who do are very selective over
what they choose to use. They invariably have commercial interests at
heart, nothing else. Its an expensive business, and one I cannot hope
to have access to.

I do have contact with a number of places that have plants of course,
and they with me, but no one to my knowledge has much material other
than that which was brought in by Hilliard & Burtt. This I think I
mentioned, swapping plant material with people such as botanical gardens
or other trusted friends.

And I've just read Silverhills latest newsletter. The S. African govt
are about to introduce a biodiversity bill that will make it even more
difficult to legitimately obtain plant material to export.
--
Chris Boulby National Collection of Diascias
Please note new email address: