H. aff. fraterna- esp. Ms. Kitty

My aff. fraterna is at it again, this is the third set of buds in three months from the same peduncle- each one gets a little further along before blasting than the last. This new set looks good. Maybe because I've been ignoring it, and occasionaly looking and going "oh, haven't blasted yet? Maybe tomorow". I seem to have fooled it. The interesting thing is that the bud pattern looks a little different each time. This time I realized that the peduncle has GROWN since last time, and the weird crested cluster of buds has split into two sections. Ms. Kitty's had apparently done the same thing. Any other Hoyas out there whose peduncles continue to gow after they've initially formed?
Here is a link to Ms. Kitty's post, and following is my peduncle in it's first flowering attempt.

Ms. Kitty's H. aff. peduncle: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/603012/

First try, note that the buds all come from the same point, wheras the latest batch come from two distinct points- I'll post a picture after it flowers (maybe) of the peduncle itself.

Also note- the sepals are very long and form first, later they seperate to reveal the more typical pearl-like flower bud inside.

Here is a photo of mine from today. The previous buds blasted, but these have made it a little further along & it looks like the other peduncle points are fattening up with possible buds as well. Keep your fingers crossed!
Yours look GORGEOUS, Mark!
Ann

This message was edited Jun 7, 2006 10:08 PM

Crossed! Though it keeps blasting, it really does keep trying. Mine is a very vigorous grower and probably one of the most attractive Hoyas I have overall. Double crossed, one for me one for you, Ann.

Doncha love how they start out...like little porcupines?!!!

Yes, they are super groovy looking! And, they're even better once they have bloomed.
Breathlessly hoping for blooms...
Ann

Hey Carol, I think Ann and I both got our aff. fraterna from you- does the mother plant have any branched peduncles?

WOW! can hardly wait to see these H. fraterna's bloom. Please remember me for a photo by e-mail. Would like to add a picture of that one to my ever-growing collection of hoya photos. You never know when I will start another book!.
Ann Wayman

Ann, what is the new book? Is it a revision of The World of Hoyas? Or is this a new book entirely?
Heather

Wonderful Mark and Ann!! I'll be watching to see pictures of the flowers, as I also have one that's blessed me with growth finally (even though I planted it upsidedown).

Christine

Way cool Mark & Ann, keep us posted.

Christine, LOL, sorry you made me chuckle as I did the same thing with one of my cuttings.. Oh well live and learn..

Looking forward to seeing this beauty bloom. It looks like a star burst.
Patti

Guys....upanatum... could print of book of her exquisite photos ONLY!!! We just have to nag....uh, ENCOURAGE her to!!!

Carol

Well gee, I'm great at nagging, just ask my husband, lol!!
Heather

OK, aff. Fraterna (or, Animal House as I have named it - get it? Fraterna ... the movie Animal House? I really am a nerd!) has not blown her buds yet (ouch, bad way to put it given the animal house reference - sorry). So, here is an updated picture.

Good...I like that. And, with H. aff fraterna it is a 'friendly animal house', right? I just love how the flowers form...like little aliens....

Good job Ann! I'm praying for you girl! Sheesh! I'm glad it's yours and not mine. I wouldn't be able to sleep.

Update on the buds.....
(they haven't fallen off yet)
Ann

Looking good!!! I think there gonna make it... :)

I hope so, Tami.

Oh, Ann that's wonderful!!

Um, by any chance is that very fine cat hairs I see on your umbel? I have two cats and its a battle royal to get pictures without their fur adorning all.

Christine

Why yes, Christine. Those would be cat hairs on the umbel. It is really annoying when I get a great close-up photgraph of some fabulous bloom/bud and when I blow up the picture on my computer, all I see is hair! Oh, well, that's what Photoshop is for.
Ann

MsKitty, I think that is the coolest! keep us posted and let me know when you want me to plant sit............hahahahahah
-joanne

Good on you, Ms. Kitty!!! Can't wait to see your big fat blooms!

I think I am going to have to get the aff. fraterna...those buds are too cool.

I have the big huge (banana-like-leafed) one, but it has never bloomed. Are the blooms the same on that one as the "aff" one?
I also read somewhere (think it was "World of Hoyas") that the fraterna is hard to get to bloom. So you get double congrats on these blooms you two.
Marcy

Marcy, I think the "banana leaf" one is probably Hoya meliflua var. fraterna, which has occasionally and erroneously called "H. fraterna". They are completely different plants.
Here is a picture from a few minutes ago- looks good! Over 80 buds have made it thus far- about 45 on the larger section, somewhat less on the smaller. Don't know if you could technically count it as one head of flowers.

I'm thinking the aff. fraterna must be a little easier to bloom. My species plant H. fraterna grows like a wild woman and is very easy to care for, but no blooms. I heard it was a less than prolific bloomer too!

Anyone out there with blooms on H. fraterna, ever?

Great photos Ann and Mark! I also noticed the cat hairs on your buds, Ann. I have them too and quite often I don't see them until I see the photos on the screen.

Christina

OOOhhh, Mark those look like they are about to burst. How much longer do you think it will be before they open?

Hey, isn't cat hair known for its excellent hoya-fertilizing qualities? LOL!!
Ann

Markroy and Ms.kitty. These buds are exquisite. I've had this plant for many years but never really paid much attention to it. Now that I see (almost see) what it's capable of, I'm going to invest a lot more time in trying to get some flowers. Failing that, I guess I will have to depend on friends to send me photos...hint hint hint!. For Heather and others who have wondered about "The World Of Hoyas". I bought out Dale's copyright for his book and have redone all the photo pages. Except for corrections, and some rewording, I have left the text alone but it will now have full color pages of both the plant (close-ups of the foliage) and I have replaced many of his flower photos with what I feel are much better pictures. It will be out, bound in semi-soft cover..hopefully within the next few weeks. Oh, and Carol, I've been thinking about that idea of a book with just pictures. It may happen.
Ann

I'm thinking maybe a week, Ann. They are supposed to be about the same size as carnosa flowers, aren't they?
In regards to blooming, my aff. fraterna (which means it is suspected to be fraterna, looks very much like it, and may prove to BE it) keeps trying and is only a young plant. This species is very similar to, and some people suspect is another clone of, H. coriaceae. Coriaceae is supposed to be a very prolific bloomer and blooms at an early age. Just look at some of Carol's past posts to see. Maybe some of those sold as H. fraterna out there are actually H. meliflua var. fraterna? Fraterna (and aff. fraterna of course) has leaves from 5 to 8 inches long (for me) and are quite thin. Meliflua var. fraterna has extremely large leaves, I think over twelve inches long sometimes?
Maybe someone who has both and a good digital camera could take some comparative photos and post them...

Mark, I have a coriacea, aff. Fraterna, and melifula ssp. Fraterna that I can take photos of.
Are those the same ones that you have listed as H. coriaceae, H. meliflua var. fraterna?
Let me know and I will line 'em up and get their mug-shots.
Ann

Exactly, Ann! Could you do a side by side of coriacea (or aff. fraterna) and meilua ssp. fraterna? That should clear up any confusion.
By the way, on looking back into the threads I found some posts from carol about this plant. She confered with David Liddle when it bloomed for her, and I think the final verdict was that this was some type of coriacea, but not the typical clone in cultivation (with pale chartreuesey flowers and a red center) nor the clone sold by Ted Green as H. fraterna which has golden yellow flowers with sharply reflexed corollas.

Carols Posts :http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/514932/



This message was edited Jun 13, 2006 7:35 PM

That didn't work. Here:

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/514932/

OK, here goes (and please excuse the hastily done photos).
This first picture is all three plants side-by-side.

The one on the left in the decorated pot is H. coriacea
The one in the middle in the oh, so tasteful cottage cheese container is H. melifula ssp. Fraterna
The large plant on the right is H. aff. Fraterna

Here is a closer shot of an H. coriacea leaf

Here is a closeup of H. melifula ssp. Fraterna

Finally, here is a close-up of H. aff. Fraterna