I thought that only Women gossip men have serious discussions so there was no need to use the term womens' idle talk.
Brian
Cryptic Gardening #4
I suppose you are right Stake. Not much idle talk around the bbq when i'm about.
It's all about ..... well ...... nothing really!
cough! COUGH! splutter! cough!
Stake would I be correct in the Genus ending in 'aria'
The only French gun I can come up with is Musket or Mousquet.
Anything close?
Budgie
p.s. you should get you cold looked at Gardengal!
Misled you Budgieman It should be "The French, Firearm" the Aria is right.
I think poor Gardengal must have had a cake crumb go down the wrong pipe.
Is that what happened Gardengal.
Brian
I can't find a 'Frogunaria" plant so I guess I'll just have to keep thinking!
Maybe Gardengal should slow down when she eats and chew properly!
(Just had a childhood flashback)
Budgieman, that French bit could also be a musical note.
Intrigued now Stake.
Off up the coast for the weekend.
Hopefully have an answer Sunday Nite if not solved.
Budgieman
Ah, the difference that an appropriately placed piece of punctuation can make. I spent forever yesterday researching French firearms.
lagenaria ....
I think it must be lagenaria siceraria, but I can't make the second half of the species fit the clue.
I don't know your plant Gardengal but the Genus is La - gun - aria not Lagenaria. I'll have to look that one up.
Brian
ps I know now it's a gourd.
Two plants such similar spellings, and I was just thinking there should have been a 'sounds like' in the hint, Brian. lol
It would have to be Lagunaria patersonii. The species fits much better now. hehe
You got it Gardengal, Budgieman will come back from his trip and find he's been beaten to the post.
Try this Genus "The OLD king, before this group"
Species "Quill, definite article & Rhode Island initially". Plants grown for their colourful foliage.
Brian
Last time I visit the cryptic thread before 5am! lol
Now that it's a bit later in the day when the brain can at least attempt to function, is the Genus Edwardia, Brian?
No Gardengal it is an OLD king. Suppose I better try and make another one or poor old Budgieman will come home and not have a puzzle to do.
Genus sounds like "A wet period"
Species "The old BP, astride, a little Thankyou" A native shrub
Brian
Hi I'm back. Been busy I see!
Lets try Coleus - Old King Cole
But unsure of the species other than ending in ri
Your other one was a good cryptic Stake but I must say I'm glad Gardengal got it.
Will see what I can find on the species and what I can do with your new one.
Cheers
Budgie
That last bit of your message struck me as being funny. I thought you were going to tell me what I could do with it.
The Coleus is right.
Brian
Another puzzle while my thinker is thinking.
Genus "Spanish cheer and operatic air"
Species "Little Californian Vehicle Per Person" A native plant.
Brian
Hi Stake,
Olearia but again stuck on species.
Back soon
Budgie
Coleus pen-the-ri.
Olearia cal-car-ea
I think you missed this one.
Genus sounds like "A wet period"
Species "The old BP, astride, a little Thankyou" A native shrub
Brian
I've got it Stake.
"A wet period" = the last week or two in Sydney.
Oh all right. I suppose that really isn't a Genus.
I'll go away and think. (all I can tell so far is that the species ends in ta
Budgie
Actually it may not end in ta because the old bp, astride the little thank you so ta is in the middle?
Although the commas indicate separate sections.
Could be a trick question because "A wet Period" could be rainy day (or Ranidae which is the frog family)
So in conclusion - I'm running in circles. (or Comfortably Numb which is what I'm listening to at the moment)
Budgie
Give you a hint. It's only slightly wet.
Brian
Thank You Stake
Dampiera but don't leave me stuck with the Genus again.
There are a gazillion species so a little help with the old bp (blood pressure. british Petroleum)
Yea the petrol company. We had this before BP.
Brian
Here is a slight variation to the thread but still puzzling.
I have always wondered why plants evolve as they do.
This week I posted a question on the Snake Plant - Amorphophallus bulbifer.
The one I saw had bulbils on the leaf (approx 1 metre from the ground)
As we know bulbs multiply at the base and from seed. Why then does this have bulbils
on the leaf? I have an idea. What's yours?
Budgie
Is it because the plant was perfect for its habitat so didn't need or want sexual propagation only clonal.?
Brian
Sure stake but why not then multiple at ground level where there is no competition?
Too hot where they come from so bulbils a ground level or just under would cook? Perhaps during the wet season the ground flooded so any bulbils deeper underground would waterlog and rot.
Not fair Budgieman I don't even know the plant.
Brian
You may not know the plant but you have an enquiring mind.
Here is my theory.
They grow in Northern India so we will assume the foothills of the Himalayas.
(or at least rocky ground)
During summer monsoonal rains so quite happy in the moisture.
Drier in winter.
So......assume they grow in patches amongst rocks. Limited space for multiplication at the base
of the plants. The leaf stalk withers in winter and falls up to a metre away from the base of the plant.
Maybe over the next rock into the next patch of soil. The bulbils fall to ground and off they go again.
What do you think?
Sounds reasonable. Does it also have seeds or only the bulbils?
Brian
Yes, they have seeds also Brian. Steve, I'm sorry but your theory is incorrect, as the bulbils actually fall from the leaf of their own accord once they are mature.
The bulbs themselves can actually become quite large in diameter so I am guessing the idea is that when the bulbils fall they tumble far enough to be able to get a foothold.
Agreed Gardengal. The stem though is very weak as it and the bulbils mature.
Our friends told me that they only need to knock it at this time of the year and
it will break off. (at a time when the bulbils are mature)
Have always been fascinated with evolution. A plant like this that sets seed
and multiplies at the base - why then another means of propagation ?
My only conclusion is harsh environment and the more reproduction methods
the better for the plant's survival?
Stake - was there life before BP?
All I can remember is Esso (Ampol)
Amoco (Mobil) or vice versa.
Before that was steam?
G'Day Budgieman, you're too young! Commonwealth Oil Refinery COR preceded the brand name BP and for a while we had both. Tut, Tut, Tut, too young to be playing these games.
And before you ask. I wasn't around when the first plants were created.
Brian
New Puzzle to think about.
Genus "Sec, Also, Sun God"
Species "A different Grandma"
Morning puzzlers. Absolutely no idea Brain!
Steve, Amorph. bulbifer takes a while to reach flowering size, and even then can be very sposmadic in flowering. By producing bulbils on the leaves I guess it's guaranteed of producing a new generation each year .
G'Day Gardengal. Sec is not abbreviated second.
Brian
I hav no idea about the sec, Brian, but I'll take a guess at Lomandra nana