Funky Amaryllis Bulbs?

Okay, I've been promising to show you this unusual bulb I have, and Marie gets the credit for the title of this thread. (and the kick in the butt for getting me to post these photos).
I'm not sure where to start.
About 15+ years ago I was at my cousin's BFF's house (which she inherited from her parents). I found these cool looking plants on stalks that had flowers resembling amaryllis. I asked if I could dig up a couple of them, and she was very happy to let me. She didn't know what they were called or how long they'd been there. Her's were between 4- 5 feet tall, and she said that she didn't remember them not being there. She grew up in that house so these are probably some kind of heirloom plant.
I'll start with the bulb, which form where the flowers bloom. I only started getting these bulbs forming in the last year. At least it was the first time I'd ever noticed them.
This is a photo I took a few days ago.
After the bulbs ripen, you set them on top of the ground, or leave them where they fall.
Then this happens. See photo.
More to follow.

This one was taken on Nov. 14, 2008. It's a little further along.

Huh? What's with this? I'd never seen the like. I'm used to bulbs sending down roots, not sending up shoots!
So those are my fingers showing the bulb itself is not rooting into the ground.

A better view and I'm not giving you all the finger. Just so you know. I never expected to show these to any one else, so don't take offense, but giggle your heart out, okay?

Being a Leo, I just had to see where that shoot went, so I carefully cleared the plant debris away, and this is what I saw.
If I'd have been wearing socks, it'd of blown 'em off.

Now, is that funky, way cool or what?
The shoot shot itself into the ground and will later become the new stalk.
So this isn't the best view, but it does show the Funky Bulb above the ground and the shoot going into it.

So I went looking for more of these Funky Bulbs (now you are stuck with it Marie!), and found this one hiding in DH's grass, which promptly disappeared. FB needed room to grow after all! : - )
The grass was competing, so I was happy to feed it to the chickens.
Notice how the bulb almost is the same color as the rock I have next to it? Just an observation.

And another! This one almost looks like a walnut.

This is what it looked like last year.
My poor long sufferering and over weed whacked purple lantana didn't survive the winter. : - (

This was taken right after the last time I let DH weed whack in that area. But it gives a good view of the FB stalks, which really are pretty cool looking. Every year they get bigger around in diameter. Oh and I took this photo on Nov. 14th '08.

I'm going to have to go turn off some water, and if you have questions feel free to post them. When I get back I'll be looking up some more photos of how they continued to grow and amaze me. Of course I should find the photos of the flowers too . . .
WIB,
SW

I am going to bet that it is a crinum. take a look at this page about half way down
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/CrinumSpeciesThree#macowanii
Crinum macowanii

Let me know what you think SW.

It may very well be one, Marie, although mine has a different color.
" 'Sister Teresa' appears to be a selection of C. moorei which readily produces seed."
Let me post some more photos and perhaps we have a different kind, or perhaps the color variation is due to the soil.
This is the length, I went to to protect them from the winter frosts. And they basically went dormant, remained covered with a layer of mulch and the two plastic covered A shaped frames.
We just had a power outage, so may be offline for a while.
Here's the photo, which was taken on 12-23-08.

This message was edited Oct 15, 2009 4:51 PM

I left the A frame in place to remind DH not to weed whack too close.


edited out an ooops.

This message was edited Oct 18, 2009 5:04 PM

You can see me pointing to a seed, on the ground. You can also see one of last years seeds' leaves. Most of them survived the winter. I have 4 babies out of 6 that survived.

FB is blooming. More blooms to follow these were taken on July 27th, 2009.

Close up. The stamens are darker than with amaryllis.

This one shows the clusters starting to bud out.

Here is the last photo for now. They flower for a couple of weeks in late July and into August out here.
WIB,
SW

I am going to say this is a crinum of some sort. Just need to figure out which one.

This message was edited Oct 18, 2009 6:32 PM

Does the bloom have a scent. I didn't see
a mention of scent.
Charleen

Honey, I have grass allergies, and my nose gets plugged up when I go over there. Seriously, I've never noticed an odor. Or for that matter a pollinator, hmmm.
We know it's a Crinum, but which one? It's driving Marie nuts! Marie, they are the palest of pink and appear white when they have their photo taken.
Fascinating aren't they! : - )
Here you can see them as of a couple of days ago. Seeds on top of ground and a couple of seedlings, one in the foreground and one in the back.

You can see three of the four survivors in this photo.

If you look at the base (on the left) of the FB in the front of this photos, you'll see a flower stalk shooting up from the base of the trunk. (Between meter box and the plant).
You can also see where the seed formed after the blossoms fell off.
Sometimes the seeds/bulbs fall into the strangest places.

Another view.

Making me crazy is an understatment. I have been on google for the last hour trying to figure this one out. My eyes are crossed.

Weird how the flower spikes come off the sides of the trunks.
WIB,
SW

Most of mine do that too.

Marie,
Take a break, or take a drink. I gave up. I'm forever going to call them FB's from now on. Crinum FB's.
I should put some of these photos in the plant files even if we don't know which specific type of Crinum FB it is. Maybe someone else knows. One of those bulbs has your name on it. : - )
Then someday you can tell ridesredmule if they are scented, for me.
Got to go for now! Oh, sending a photo showing shoot appearing but before it roots in the ground. I took it off my knee right after I took this photo, and set it back on top of the ground.
WIB,
SW

Can you take them to a University of Agriculture to see if they know what they are??
It is so curious. the way it seeds is fasinating. I loved your pic SW. They were great.
I hope we find out.

SW I dreamed about these bulbs last night. I am thinking an expedition to another country is in our future!! ( maybe it was another state who knows!)

: - )

Very cool bulb! I want to know too what kind it is.

I am getting into South African bulbs these days and they have such cool bulbs too.

Such pretty flowers from such a not so pretty bulb.

It's some type of a Crinum.
I've pretty much given all the seed from this year away, but if you remind me, I'll save seed for next year.
WIB,
SW

the fifth one is the strangest pic. I like it the best.
There is something very mesmerizing about it.
Charleen

Probably my favorite of the series too, ridesredmule.
I do really like the Crinums/FB's, they are an interesting plant. These days I have more time to appreciate the small miracles of nature around us. : - )
WIB,
SW

I retired last Dec. i am so glad I have. No stress, just do as I wish if I wish.
I have watched plants more this year than any time in my life and I do love it.
I have a Swamp lilie, If I can get it dug up I would get you a piece. Will have to go check it out.
I need to cut the long strap like leaves back to find the plant. It has been there in one spot several years.
Charleen

Hello again SW!

I am not sure if you were talking to me about saving me some of those, but if you were thank you so much for the kind thought. But please share with someone else. I just gave away 4 - 15 gallon plastic pots filled with just crinums bulbs that my DH dug out for me and I am about to dig out tons more for Clare_CA. Yours are so much cooler in how they reproduce, but they take over here. Just go nuts.

My husband also just dug out 2 clumps of naked ladies and they were stacked bulb on top of bulb. I have 3 - 15 gallon plastic pots full of just bulbs of those, top to bottom. I was shocked to see how many were there.

The bulbs I am going after now do not seem to reproduce so robustly. I have so far Brunsvigia josephinae, Brunsvigia gregaria, Boophane haemanthoides, and Boophane disticha are just a few. They are all winter growers. Something to give me a thrill in winter. LOL

Oh Charleen, I am with you! Too bad you do not live close! I am retired too and devote my days to plants! I go all over and have so much fun. I am looking for a companion to travel a bit with. My husband has no interest in plants at all, almost actively dislikes them now. I am still on the fence about leaving him though for even a few days. We only have so much time left and I guess the truth is I love being with him more than being with plants. I just wish he would at least tolerate going to look at plants. LOL

See how cool this is even without flowers. It lays flat over the soil.

Kell, I feel like I've just been mooned by a leprechaun.....

Kell where did you get your brunsvigia? I love the african bulbs but there are not too many sources for them. LOL imapigeon!!!