Tag Archive: plant


Plantax 4: Going round in circles – Cyclamen

Filed under: Plantax- the stories behind plant names — Leave a comment
12/02/2013

cyclamenCyclamen is a genus of plants containing around 20 species, part of the Primrose family.

They originate from areas surrounding the mediterranean, have tuberous roots and aren’t an obvious relation of the primrose. Growing in Beech woodland, scrub and rocky areas, and even alpine meadows, they’ll flower in snow meltwater. Although there are relatively few species in the genus there is at least one that will be in flower at all times of the year. In the UK, there are some species which can withstand frost, others which are more tender and some which are not at all frost hardy. Some cultivars of C. persicum are indoor or florists’ plants, flower in the winter or spring and come in a wide range of colours.

The medieval gardens of Constantinople featured Cyclamen as they looked so different from wild flowers in the surrounding fields.

The name Cyclamen is Latin in origin (cyclamīnos) which in turn comes from the Ancient Greek (kyklos) meaning “circle” . This seems to refer either to the round tubers that sit just below ground level or to the way, after flowering, the slender flower-stalk twists into a spiral curl, and, bending over, ripens the seed vessel on the surface of the ground.

Rather like truffles, these tubers are said to be a favourite of pigs. Hence, in many languages the different species have common names reflecting this – Sowbread in English, Pain de pourceau in French, Pan porcino in Italian and Varkensbrood in Dutch.

Cyclamen cilicicum leaves

Cyclamen cilicicum leaves

Some of the species names are:

C. cilicicum = cicilian

C. coum = of cous or cos, an island off Turkey

C. europaeum = European

C. hederifolium = Ivy – leaved

C. ibericum = of Iberia

C. latifiolium = broad-leaved

C. neapolitanum = of Naples

C. persicum = of Persia

C. repandum = scalloped- refering to the leaf margins

C. hederifolium, which is hardy in the UK, retains it’s attractive marbled leaves for at least nine months of the year, and has a graceful display of pale – to deep-pink, delicate blooms on slender stalks through autumn. This is one of the most popular woodland shade plants and is swift to colonise areas beneath trees. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Cyclamen in a woodland setting

Cyclamen in a woodland setting

Further information:

Growing Cyclamen from seed

The Cyclamen Society

Wikipedia

Cyclamen hederifolium

Cyclamen coum

‘Pretty in Pink’ – article by Sarah Raven

Medicinal uses of Cyclamen

Old School Gardener

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Lock down- pros and cons of garden ties

Filed under: Gardening equipment and tools — Leave a comment
05/02/2013

string over canes So what do you use to keep your plants supported and under control? Do you favour ‘old school ties’ (!) or prefer the wide range of modern products now on offer? Here’s a gallery of different types of tie with a few comments based on my experiences- I’d love to hear your views!

Chain lock - can cut the length you require and can be adjusted. Plastic- degrade after a season? Packs of pre cut lengths also available.

Chain lock – can cut the length you require and can be adjusted. Plastic- degrade after a season? Packs of pre cut lengths also available.

Tree belts- sturdy, diferent lengths/ thicknesses, for for use with posts/stakes.

Tree belts- sturdy, diferent lengths/ thicknesses, for for use with posts/stakes.

Plastic/wire twist on reel- can cut to length required and easy to use , but once fixed doesn't have much give, so not good where stems growth expected as it will effectively cut the stem unless loosened in time.

Plastic/wire twist on reel- can cut to length required and easy to use , but once fixed doesn’t have much give, so not good where stems growth expected as it will effectively cut the stem unless loosened in time.

Jute tree ties- softer than plastic/rubber belts, so good where stems are tender/thin. Biodegradeable.

Jute tree ties- softer than plastic/rubber belts, so good where stems are tender/thin. Biodegradeable.

Old nylons/ tights used to secure tomatoes- goos strechability and also soft, so won't damage stems. The recycler's option!

Old nylons/ tights used to secure tomatoes- good ‘stretchability’ and also soft, so won’t damage stems. The recycler’s option!

Raffia- natural product useful for slender stems and a 'natural' look- found it a bit fiddly to use myself.

Raffia- natural product useful for slender stems and a ‘natural’ look- found it a bit fiddly to use myself.

Plastic rings (wire versions also) for linking plant stems to a cane- good room for stem growth & movement, but can chafe the stems? Plastic- will eventually degrade/snap?

Plastic rings (wire versions also) for linking plant stems to a cane- good room for stem growth & movement, but can chafe the stems? Plastic- will eventually degrade/snap?

Suede plant ties- stronger and more durable than jute/cotton, and as soft. Only one length though?

Suede plant ties- stronger and more durable than jute/cotton, and as soft. Only one length though?

Plastic stem supports- fix stems to trellises, fences etc..No experience of these..

Plastic stem supports- fix stems to trellises, fences etc..No experience of these..

Good old fashioned jute twine- different thicknesses and easy to cut and tie stems in- but will only last a season- biodegradeable.

Good old fashioned jute twine- different thicknesses and easy to cut and tie stems in- but will only last a season- biodegradeable.

Individual stems held to wall/fence with nail- I've found these difficult to fix into my walls and also degrade/crack after cold weather.

Individual stems held to wall/fence with nail- I’ve found these difficult to fix into my walls and also degrade/crack after cold weather.

Velcro - easy to cut off the length you need and you can expand the space as the plant stem grows. How well do they last? Some come with a reel cutter that can be fixed to your waist belt, and also come in packs of pre cut lengths.

Velcro – easy to cut off the length you need and you can expand the space as the plant stem grows. How well do they last? Some come with a reel cutter that can be fixed to your waist belt, and also come in packs of pre cut lengths.

Biodegradeable cotton- needs a knot, and will rot fairly quickly? At least no plastics into landfill..

Biodegradeable cotton- needs a knot, and will rot fairly quickly? At least no plastics into landfill..

Strong plastic, of varying lengths/thicknesses - good for tying canes or other structures together- not good for securing plant stems -can't be adjusted

Cable ties- strong plastic, of varying lengths/thicknesses – good for tying canes or other structures together- not good for securing plant stems -can’t be adjusted

Soft tie- rubber/plastic covered wire which can be cut and bent to shape. Soft covering good for cushioning stem, but probably best used on harder stems where a more permanent fix is required- eg roses against trellis.

Soft tie- rubber/plastic covered wire which can be cut and bent to shape. Soft covering good for cushioning stem, but probably best used on harder stems where a more permanent fix is required- eg roses against trellis.

Quizzicals- two more cryptic clues for you:

  • Hello Miss Black
  • A punch up in the water

Old School Gardener

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PLANTAX 3: Sweet Peas – cottage garden favourite

Filed under: Plantax- the stories behind plant names — 4 Comments
22/01/2013

sweet-pea-flowerThe ‘Queen of Annuals’ is being billed as the  ‘cottage garden favourite for 2013′.

It’s botanical name- Lathyrus odoratus- comes from an ancient greek word (Lathyrus) meaning  pea or vetchling and odoratus meaning ‘fragrant’. The genus Lathyrus contains about 160 species and of the many cultivars of the Sweet Pea, some 52 varieties have been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit.  The many varieties of Sweet pea available today come in a wide range of colours, but not yellow!

 

 

“The Sweet Pea has a keel that was meant to seek all shores; it has wings that were meant to fly across all continents; it has a standard which is friendly to all nations; and it has a fragrance like the universal gospel, yea, a sweet prophecy of welcome everywhere that has been abundantly fulfilled” – Rev. W. T. Hutchins 1900

Sweet pea cultivation is thought to have begun in the 17th century. The originator of the modern plant naming system, the swedish botanist Linnaeus, carried on using the genus name Lathyrus, which was in common use in the 18th century, but gave the Sweet pea it’s species name odoratus to codify the various names used for it at the time.

sweet-pea-flowers-7Victorian times saw a craze for the plant and a host of new cultivars were created as a result, many beginning their lives as mutations or ‘sports’ of known varieties. The original dwarf sweet pea was found growing in a row of a popular grandiflora variety in California  in the late 19th century. It had similar flowers to its parent but was much shorter and with a spreading habit. Given the name ‘Cupid’, this later became the general name used for dwarf sweet peas. Later crossings of these and other grandifloras produced a wide range of ‘cupids’ and later still these were crossed with the newer ‘Spencer’ sweet peas which resulted in a range of ‘cupids’ with larger flowers.

The large-flowered Spencer sweet pea appears to have arisen in two or three places at around the same time, but perhaps the most famous source was the home of the Spencer family (of Lady Diana fame) in Northamptonshire. The head gardener of Althorp House – Silas Cole – named this ‘Countess Spencer’, though he seems at the time to have claimed it arose from deliberate cross breeding rather than as an accident of nature!

Sweet peas can be grown in different ways, but perhaps the most common technique is the cordon, introduced in 1911 by Tom Jones of Ruabon. This is used to produce flowers of the highest quality and in effect is a form of pruning and training which channels the plant’s energies into a smaller number of larger blooms. This process involves:

  • The top of a young seedling being pinched out once it has produced several true leaves, which encourages branching
  • One of the resulting side shoots (a strong one emerging near the base of the plant) is retained, and the others removed before they develop
  • The remaining stem is allowed to grow and is tied in, but all of its side shoots are removed as they form, as are any tendrils to prevent them fastening onto the flower stems
  • The fewer flower stems produce larger blooms and once finished these flowers are removed to encourage new ones to form.

Several plants can be grown in this way along a row to produce a sweet pea screen.

Fresh sweet pea flowers in the house have been shown to improve general wellbeing, boost both male and female libido, and lessen the effects of a hangover! However, the seeds of some species of Lathyrus contain a toxic amino acid which if eaten in large quantities can cause the serious disease Lathyrism.

sweet-pea-flowers

Sources and further information:

Lathyrus.info.org

Lathyrus.com

Sweet Pea Flower pictures

Quizzicals: two more cryptic clues to plants, fruit or veg:

  • Has had too much already
  • A country full of automobiles

Old School Gardener

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