OUCH!!

Do I see a bump one of the leaves? Clearly all those leaves view that poor flower bud as an intruder and are trying to crush it? Or maybe you've got yourself a new hippie disease?? Sorry I don't have any helpful comments, maybe someone else will..that's just too funny!!

This post was edited by dondeldux on Sun, Jan 27, 13 at 8:31

I have emailed the WFF hort specialist to see what they say. There actually are a couple of hooks on leaves but I didn't think too much if it. Another one from another distributor (VE) is going to bloom in the greenhouse. It looks normal with no leaves..

Reminds me of a razor shell clam. Notice any resemblance?
K

Can't wait to see what it looks like when open. Presumably the protrusions will only be on the outside, hopefully...

Peaked inside and color looks good, but this form isn't too appealing!
K

Neurofibromatosis?? Is that possible in plants?? That's what it looks like...

I kind of like it ok, it's different not the same old thing.

I kind of like it ok, it's different not the same old thing.

Feed me, Seymour! I'm huuuuungry. ;)

That's a pretty cool looking flower!

I had something similar happen on a dark red Hippie last season... it was either Benfica or Black Pearl. The flower started out with spikes/bumps... then it turned translucent and mushy/slimy within a few days of opening (it looked like plants sometimes do when they've been damaged by a hard frost). My best guess is that my plant is infected with something. I haven't had a subsequent bloom from that plant, so I don't know what the long-term prognosis is. -Tina

The grower in The Netherlands got back to the distributor and said that this damage is very typical of mites. Although they treat to prevent, in the odd case some may slip through. Makes sense to me, now it's time to pull out the systemic.
K

The other blooms' anthers and stigmas look fine.
The 4th one is demonic!!
Guess that's what mites do!
K