On looking up various sources, my understanding is that Lueddemanniana is the species and Mend is a CV of that species as is Alvarez. So as I see it the seed either came from Lueddemannia, Mend or Alvarez, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

My second question is, what should the seedlings be called, are they all still called Ae. Leuddemanniana or what?

Finally can someone with experience growing these plants give me some cultural tips relating to light requirements as well as heat and cold tolerence.

These plants are growing like mad at present under 50% shade cloth and at this stage some have olive green/brown leaves while others are taking on a pinkish hue. I would dearly like to post some pics but I still haven't had tme to work it out (a very slow learner with computers).

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me, All the best, Nev.

Alvarez cv. of lueddemanniana from wild collection - (See 'MEND', 'Rodco', 'Pinkie' & 'Blanca Alvarez') - Tropiflora said, "Slow growing and has a medio-picta variegation - a broad stripe of pinkish orange up the center of each leaf when grown in bright light" - From observation, a variegated upright rosette w/green margins and lineations within the white center - glazed in intense red-orange overall in good light.

Alvarez seedlings would come out looking like plain lueddemanniana, or perhaps lueddemanniana Rubra, since there is some reddish pigment there. Now, it is possible that your your seeds could have come from one of those two, but if that were the case, why would it have that "Mend forma Alvarez" added on? My guess is that whoever wrote that figured that all variegated forms must be cvs. of Mend. For all I know they could be sports of it, but the currently accepted nomenclature is to just use a single cultivar name, in this case Alvarez.

As to what you call the seedlings, that's a good question. Obviously they're not Alvarez or any other cv. for that matter. You'll be correct in calling them lueddemanniana, since that applies to all forms of the species, but if you want to get more specific you might just put A. lueddemanniana (seedling from Alvarez) on the tag, unless someone has a better idea.

I've had the same question about what to call variegates that revert to unvariegated, whether they be species or hybrids. I've often seen people selling, for example, an unvariegated chantinii labelled Samurai. Well, the pup may have come from Samurai, but if it's not variegated you can't call it that, since the variegation is what defines the cv. In that case you can just call it chantinii, but what about a N. Kahala Dawn that has lost its variegation? I generally just write (reverted) after the name on the tag, but there ought to be a protocol for this kind of thing.

K

K

It's realy great to be able to ask a question and get answers from the wealth of knowledge contained by the members of this forum from areas around the world. Ah! - the wonders of modern technology.

Just one more question, for Kerry this time. Kerry do/did you grow this plant and how did it handle the frost?

Thanks once again everyone, all the best, Nev.

Here are some before and just after photos of some of my lueddemannianas. Prepare yourself for the shock!

Ae. 'Mend' - before.

Ae. 'Mend' - just after THE mother of all black frosts. Hard to recognise, but 'Mend' is the plant in centre (slightly right) of photo. It died - no pups.

Ae. 'Alvarez' - before.

Ae. 'Alvarez' - the brown thing in middle of pic below the water tank, and other broms, after. Also - deady-bones.

I also grew/grow the species lueddemanniana. This pic shows it just after THE frost. It's the brown clump top right of foreground pine.

I took this photo this morning, 16 months after the frost. Surprisingly, the species DID pup afterwards, and now has two healthy plants.

I completely lost 'Mend' and 'Alvarez', but have bought another 'Mend' since then, which sailed through this last winter without a blemish. The recovery of so many broms has been amazing. I completely lost about 20% of my considerable brom collection, as well as many trees, shrubs, and foliage sub-tropical plants.
My garden looks good again now, and these frosted photos above are a sad memory.

So Nev! - the answer to your question is - yes, Ae. lueddemanniana CAN handle light frosts if protected, but not black ones of -8 C!

Cheers,
Kerry

Kerry, was your black frost predicted? Did you have enough of a warning to bring in the potted plants?

Cheers,
Kerry

Bromadams Alvarez takes on a pinky/peachy colour in good sun....

Dennis

If so, could you email me the name at mayailsa@bigpond.com

Thanks in advance, All the best, Nev.

Cheers,
K