I photographed these very pretty clusters of tubular orange flowers (each flower around 1.5 inches long) in the Mediterranean biome at the Eden project in the UK. I couldn't find a label and can't find a definite match for these online. Can anyone point me in the right direction. I considered Solanaceae, Lonicera, Iochroma and others, but none I've found are quite right.
This message was edited Apr 30, 2023 11:28 AM
Oh my! My favorite vine ever!!!! Bomarea I used to see them at Berkeley Bot. They come in different colors, even pink!
https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/425359/
If I recall correctly, there were a couple similar in color to yours.
Example
https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/365276/
When they go to seed, they are just as spectacular!
https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/365266/
Bomarea it is! Many thanks for this swift ID to genus. I love this forum!! I was surprised not to find images that matched well, but this is definitely the genus, though there looks to be many similar species this is close to eg B. hirsuta, B. glaucescens (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomarea). I guessed these might be a hummingbird pollinated flowers and they are: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/annas-hummingbird-with-bomarea-flowers-gm526847542-92688271 Should have said the biodome has plants from Mediterranean type climate areas, not necessarily southern European ones.
This message was edited Apr 29, 2023 7:20 PM
Yes, I have seen a couple that are very similar.
Years ago I was trying to ID a similar one and it led me to an expert in the UK who IDed the species for me. I wish I could remember which 1 it was.
People also cross them to get unique ones so you can have quite a few similarly looking ones that are not quite the same. There is a guy who has hybridized some really nice ones who is associated with University of California at Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden. I follow him on Facebook and so enjoy his endeavors.
I did google Bomarea in Mediterranean biome at the Eden project too but to no avail.
Years ago my husband parked on a side street in San Francisco on our way for lobster rolls at a restaurant and as I got out of the car I saw the most delightful 1 going up the side rails of the steps to a house. Later on I discovered the house belonged to the resident expert and grower of Lapageria at University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley, whom I knew. LOL Small world!
Thanks for the extra insights. I too have been googling and it seems Bomarea species have been quite popular in UK Botanic gardens for a hundred years or so, with at least one new hybrid created. This may be "B. multiflora" as that seems to be quite regularly recorded eg at Kew Gardens and it grows outside at the Tresco gardens on the Isles of Scilly. I'm no taxonomist but read that the taxonomy is complex with some former separate species now considered within B. multiflora, and 33 species now considered part of a B. multiflora "section": https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aspt/sb/2008/00000033/00000004/art00006
Whatever the taxonomy (which often changes over time..) these vines are stunning. I've been lucky enough to see Hummingbirds visiting some favourite plants in Costa Rica and Trinidad, but would know if I'd come across this one before.
