Identification: Billbergias (I think)

14 years ago

Hi, I'm new to this- my first picture upload attempt. I have a small collection now, and I have taken a liking to billbergias in particular, problem is, I am not to great at identification. Below are some plants, a couple of which I have not seen flower, so am not sure if they are even billbergias or not. Any help would be great.

1) Picked up at a market:

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2) Same market:

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3) This one looks a bit simple, but I liked the shape, I bought it from Bromagic in QLD. It wasn't marked- I should have asked.

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4) This one is a bit raggy looking, but I liked the pattern on the leaves, hopefully I can grow a pup that looks a little healthier:

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5)I don't know what this is, had a few things going on with the leaves though.

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Thanks a bundle.

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Comments (6)

rickta66
14 years ago
dashgogo,

#1 looks like one I've got, I think it is a Vittata hyb possibly Bill. Buchholtzii.

#2 looks a little like my Bill. Othello. or maybe Bill. Muriel Waterman.

#5 is varigated, it could be a varigated Neo. Spectabilis.

Cheers,

Rick
dashgogo
Original Author
14 years ago
Ahhh. Thanks, I'm convinced #2 is a Muriel Waterman now, having checked the index. And number #1 must certainly be a Vittata hyb. Though it looks a lot more like the original Vittata then Buchholtzii, it's quite grey, both the top and bottom of the leaves.

I thought number #5 was a neo as well but the woman at a sale a bought it from convinced me it produced a 'white flower', on a long stem. But she may have just been trying to have me buy it.

Will either of these self-set seed to the best of any one's knowledge? From wha I have heard so far it is unlikely. I desperatley just want to have a go at growing some Billbergias, any Billbergia, from seed.
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rickta66
14 years ago
Dashgogo,

If your number one is the same as mine - it can be quite variable depending on where it is grown, mine goes a nice bronze colour in sun and lime green in shade and varies in size between 40cm and 70cm.

{{gwi:491623}}

Growing Bills from seed is a lot of fun, I have only been growing them for about a year. I have found them pretty forgiving to practice with. You can emaciate your flower (pull off the stamen) if you are worried about self pollination.

Cheers,

Rick

Here is a link that might be useful: FCBS NOTES FOR THE HYBRIDIST
dashgogo
Original Author
14 years ago
What about some kind of Distachia for number 3? It's the best match I've found so far.
dashgogo
Original Author
14 years ago
Ahhh I think I just made a discovery... #3 was not 'labelled' but had a tag with a number '7' on it. In the species list on the FCBS index distachia is number 7 on the list...

Would this sound right? Or is that just a strange happenstance?
rickta66
14 years ago
Dash,

You may be right, you could call Bromagic #7 might be used for their records.

I would put Distachia?? on the tag and check it again when it flowers.

Rick