Thar she blows!

Use this forum to discuss matters relating to Agave, Beschorneria, Furcraea, Hesperaloe, Hesperoyucca, Manfreda, Polianthes, Yucca and related species. This is where one posts unknown plant photos for ID help.
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Re: Thar she blows!

#76

Post by Gee.S »

Sorry, dunno anything about storing pollen, and the plant is done flowering.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#77

Post by Gee.S »

Tally from my Mangave cross is 12 developing pods on the Bloodspot and one (that's right -- one) big fat pod on the A. isthmensis. It seems pretty clear that neither self-fertilizes, so all should be hybrid seed. I assume the Bloodspot seed should develop quickly, so perhaps a harvest in just weeks. The Agave OTOH, will take longer, and the developing pod may wind up at risk from freezing temps.

Also, this is what's sitting atop one A. zebra at the moment. It's sure taking its sweet time, but with luck, I'll get a boatload of prime seed out of this.
A. zebra
A. zebra
winteri 008.JPG (53.96 KiB) Viewed 3062 times
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#78

Post by Gee.S »

My latest bloomer is progressing with lightening speed, and progressing toward something dramatically unfamiliar. In addition to odd bloom time, the stalk is like nothing I've seen, far too congested for the likes of murpheyi, palmeri, chrysantha, or any other AZ Agave. Does this type of congested inflorescence look familiar to anyone?
odd stalk 007.JPG
odd stalk 007.JPG (119.75 KiB) Viewed 3044 times
odd stalk 004.JPG
odd stalk 004.JPG (169.58 KiB) Viewed 3044 times
odd stalk 005.JPG
odd stalk 005.JPG (65.34 KiB) Viewed 3044 times
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#79

Post by mcvansoest »

It does remind me somewhat of the McKelveyana x Utahensis hybrid flower stalk you posted pictures of - clearly not quite the same, but still some clear similarities - so maybe a hybrid of A. utahensis with one of the other Central AZ Agaves?
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Re: Thar she blows!

#80

Post by Gee.S »

Yeah, we found a bunch of those blooming last summer, at least a half dozen. I collected a little seed, and have a few coming up now. I see what you mean, but this is not quite the same, as you say. Perhaps some manner of Littaea hybrid though.... Geesh, what an oddball. BTW, this is the same Agave that suddenly and shockingly turned variegate this past summer, though it has now mostly reverted to its previous state.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#81

Post by mcvansoest »

Did you suspect that as A. murpheyi? Or do I not remember that correctly?
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Re: Thar she blows!

#82

Post by Gee.S »

I suspected a murpheyi hybrid -- not so much now...
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#83

Post by mcvansoest »

Utahensis x Deserti?
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Re: Thar she blows!

#84

Post by Gee.S »

^ That might look a lot like utahansis × mckelveyana, which is very closely related to simplex. This plant doesn't look anything like those hybrids. The few Agave × Littaea stalks I've seen (ajoensis, Sharkskin, mack × utah) are very similar and somewhat different from this.

Could be anything really.... How about tecta x parviflora? D)) Actually, that stalk reminds me more of Hiemiflorae than a Littaea hybrid, but the plant sure doesn't...
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#85

Post by Azuleja »

That stalk would make a nice Christmas tree (runs and ducks for cover).
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Re: Thar she blows!

#86

Post by Gee.S »

This stalk has moved thing along at an impressive pace. Two months from start to bloom is really fast for a panicle like this. Flowers are small (perhaps 40 mm), tepals erect with no callouses.
Front bloom 007.JPG
Front bloom 007.JPG (83.94 KiB) Viewed 3005 times
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#87

Post by Gee.S »

My crop of 2017 bloomers is starting to shape up. We have what I suspect may be A. lophantha × macroacantha, A. wocomahi, and A. wercklei getting ready to tango. The A. wocomahi has been poised and ready for nearly a year now, the other two are more recent developments. I promised Melt a pup from the first guy years ago, but it never produced a single one. Hopefully I'll wind up with seed or bulbils to spread around.
A. lophantha × macroacantha
A. lophantha × macroacantha
new bloomers 002.JPG (155.65 KiB) Viewed 2950 times
A. wocomahi
A. wocomahi
new bloomers 004.JPG (149.66 KiB) Viewed 2950 times
A. hurteri
A. hurteri
new bloomers 010.JPG (121.44 KiB) Viewed 2950 times
Close to winding things up...
Close to winding things up...
new bloomers 005.JPG (31.93 KiB) Viewed 2950 times
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#88

Post by Melt in the Sun »

I bet if you cored that one right now you'd get a bunch of pups D)) Here's hoping it makes some bulbils, or pups furiously as the husk dries up!

I am going to have Sharkskin and an unknown hybrid (chrysoglossa x?) for sure, and I am suspiciously eying nickelsiae, one of my 'Blue Glow', 'Burnt Burgundy', pelona x vilmoriniana, nizandensis, and a couple others I can't remember. It should be a good year to free up some space!
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Re: Thar she blows!

#89

Post by Gee.S »

^ I'll be sure to re-sticky the pollen thread before too long.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#90

Post by Gee.S »

Gee.S wrote:I wonder if maintaining close proximity might encourage these stalks to stay in synch. Unfortunately, that might prove a dangerous experiment, since Manfreda/Mangave seem a packrat's favorite snack...
Mamm 011.JPG
After carefully cross-pollinating and patiently awaiting results, the final tally is in. I wound up with four hybrid seeds from the Bloodspot, of which one was viable, and eight hybrid seeds from the isthmensis. ::roll::

Only good news is that it looks like I'll get a nice healthy stash of isthmensis seed before too long.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#91

Post by Gee.S »

On the agenda so far for this year is A. angustifolia (in progress), A. wercklei (in progress), A. wocomahi, A. lophantha × macroacantha (best guess), A. 'Blue Glow', and A. 'Celsii Multicolor'.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#92

Post by Gee.S »

The current lineup...
A. 'Celsii Multicolor'
A. 'Celsii Multicolor'
A_Bloomers 002.JPG (136.35 KiB) Viewed 2846 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
A_Bloomers 006.JPG (140.6 KiB) Viewed 2846 times
A. lophantha × macroacantha
A. lophantha × macroacantha
A_Bloomers 010.JPG (133.08 KiB) Viewed 2846 times
A. wocomahi
A. wocomahi
A_Bloomers 012.JPG (113.86 KiB) Viewed 2846 times
A. angustifolia
A. angustifolia
A_Bloomers 014.JPG (124.66 KiB) Viewed 2846 times
A. hurteri
A. hurteri
A_Bloomers 021.JPG (165.23 KiB) Viewed 2846 times
A. hurteri
A. hurteri
A_Bloomers 020.JPG (193.81 KiB) Viewed 2846 times
A. 'Blue Glow'
A. 'Blue Glow'
A_Bloomers 022.JPG (133.98 KiB) Viewed 2846 times
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#93

Post by Azuleja »

The wercklei stalk photo sure is pretty. Can you tell me approximately how old these plants are, or even how long they've been in the ground?
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Re: Thar she blows!

#94

Post by Gee.S »

Dunno how old most are, and most have been in the ground for a few years.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#95

Post by Gee.S »

Another pending bloomer.
Mangave 'Macho Mocha'.
Mangave 'Macho Mocha'.
schnebly 137.JPG (117.74 KiB) Viewed 2807 times
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#96

Post by agavegreg »

A couple of my plants nearing the end.
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A. sobria x Manfreda
A. sobria x Manfreda
IMG_6594a.jpg (161.45 KiB) Viewed 2797 times
A. sobria x Manfreda
A. sobria x Manfreda
IMG_6591a.jpg (160.61 KiB) Viewed 2797 times
Sharkskin
Sharkskin
IMG_6590a.jpg (170.92 KiB) Viewed 2797 times
The "large form" of Agave colorata. Me thinks not really.
The "large form" of Agave colorata. Me thinks not really.
IMG_6589a.jpg (168.14 KiB) Viewed 2797 times
Agave parrasana
Agave parrasana
IMG_6588a.jpg (172.24 KiB) Viewed 2797 times
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Re: Thar she blows!

#97

Post by Gee.S »

I kinda like that colorata. Has it ever offset?
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#98

Post by Melt in the Sun »

Greg, are you saying "this was supposed to be the large form of colorata but isn't"? Or, the "large form of colorata" is actually not that species?

Also, we should trade some pollen. I'll let you climb the ladder to the sharksin flowers D))
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Re: Thar she blows!

#99

Post by Gee.S »

Gee.S wrote:My latest bloomer is progressing with lightening speed, and progressing toward something dramatically unfamiliar. In addition to odd bloom time, the stalk is like nothing I've seen, far too congested for the likes of murpheyi, palmeri, chrysantha, or any other AZ Agave. Does this type of congested inflorescence look familiar to anyone?
A new clue has developed, bulbils appear to be forming along the stalk, along with seed.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Thar she blows!

#100

Post by Gee.S »

My presumed A. wercklei is now in full bloom, and flowers are much too large for A. wercklei. OTOH, they align nicely with A. hurteri. I just clipped a branch and will try to pollinate my Macho Mocha.
A. hurteri
A. hurteri
hurteri bloom 003.JPG (230.38 KiB) Viewed 2715 times
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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