A guessing game to while away the winter chill....

Did you ever play the "Guess the Plant" contest on the Exotic orchids of Maui website for a chance to win a blooming orchid? I played once and actually won! It was fun. So, who wants to play a little guessing game here on Dave's Garden? Why don't we choose a neat bromeliad out of our collections, post a few clues, and see if anyone can guess its identity? No prize (except respect!) as some of the players may be international, and it would be hard to ship a plant prize.

Maybe we should stick to species (or very striking, identifiable 99% of the time on site, hybrids) as so many hybrid broms can look alike...especially Neos.

I have one to start with...I hope no one knows this right out of the box! But its always possible!

Clues:
1. I come from Brazil
2. I am considered 'somewhat rare' in collections
3. I look like a xeric, but am I???

C'mon, 10 views and not one guess even?

Okay, I'll give you another clue...

4. The first letter of my genus is: A

Ok, If no one else will guess I will...I think its an Aechmea. maybe... sphaerocephala?

Your guess is good. Yes it is an Aechmea. But not that species......
This is my own plant. I have never met or talked to anyone else who has one, although I am sure there are some folks who do.

Aechmea egleriana

check!
That's means you are next and have to post a plant and a set of clues!

Ok, I'll try to make this a little easier than yours gothqueen :-)

1-I come from Mexico
2-I sometimes turn pink
3-In my natural habitat I grow at an altitude of 600 to 1650 meters
who am I?

I know the genus but not the species so I will keep quiet unless I find out, LOL.
And apparently mine wasn't that hard...you guessed it pretty quick!

There are alot of Tillandsias about, and unless you are a serious collector of Broms, this game might be a bit hard for most of us, me anyway. Have fun though, you two.
Sue

Yes, I am not a 'tillandsia queen' the same as I am a 'goth' queen, LOL

it must be time for another set of clues then.

the first letter of my species is i
I was a featured plant last moth and was showcased in Dutchlady1's article Use of Tillandsia as decorative art

its not a cultivar of T. ionantha then?

not a cultivar, it is ionantha. It just doesn't change color when it flowers in the winter. I hear this is normal since it needs so much light to change.

good guess weed woman.,
now its your turn to post one.

oh jeeze, I've got alot to learn. I didn't know that T. ionantha didn't flush in cooler seasons.
This one is
1. from Brazil
2. A cultivar
3. in plantfiles

Vreisea gigantea?

Yes, and no, as it's a cultivar, but I'm not too sure how hard it would be to guess, not knowing if there are alot of cultivars out there? Have a guess at one, and if it's not right, you take the next turn anyway. (I haven't seen a flower yet, so know nothing of that)
Sue
forgot to say, Merry Christmas!

This message was edited Dec 25, 2008 4:25 PM

nova, and merry Christmas to you too!

Well done batflower! Your turn again, but be kind!
Sue

I never would have guesed if GothQueen had not known it was Vreisea gigantea. Plus, I'm out of town for the Christmas hollidays so have no pictures here. Goth, take this turn.

Okay I'ma hafta look up some pics, LOL

I've got an unknown that needs an ID. It hasn't ever flowered (2 years) so I can't tell you about that, but I'll take a pic tomorrow, and if you have any ideas, even if just Genus, I would greatly appreciate any help!

I goofed and put my entry on the Cool Broms thread

well, it was a cool brom Goth!

I will be home tomorrow if the weather alows it (I'm in northern Quebec in zone 3 and there has bean storm after storm since we got here) I will take my turn as soon as I get home.

I know it's your turn Batflower, but I want to pick your brains, and those of Goth aswell.
This plant is about 70cm tall. I've had it around 2 years and no sign of a flower. I thought an Aechmea? It is in fairly bright light, and has stiff, tough leaves, with spikes.
If you at all can help, even just genus, it would give me a start.
Any ideas?

As you can see from the previous pic, it is quite upright

That bromeliad does look very Aechmea to me. In fact, it looks very much like Aechmea blanchettiana

I did not know this brom but I googled it and agree with Goth that it looks like yours. Check out the photos here http://www.bullisbrom.com/products/PlantsDetail.asp?PlantDetailsID=4589 see what you think

Well, I was hoping it might be A. blanchettiana, but it seems so stiff, I can't imagine the leaves getting any curve in them at all. I have a lime green A. blanchettiana, and one that is supposed to be the orange form (but I have my doubts) anyway, I guess I will just have to wait a while longer and see if it ever blooms. I might dig it up and give it a bit of love, as that might hurry it along a bit? How good would it be if it was the red form, they fetch alot of money here on ebay!
thanks for your help anyway you two.
Whos turn is it?
Sue

Weed Woman, Lots of Blanches are seed grown these days making it difficult to distinguish. And if they aren't in full sun they tend to wash out a bit as well. Ann

There are several distinct ones. I have 3 in my collection, all sold plainly as Ae. Blanchiettiana, but all have different form and different color. I have never ever gotten ahold of one that attains the very orange color in full sun, it makes me desperate! Also I have NEVER had one BLOOM for me! And I have had mine all for YEARS

We've got the orange, red and yellow form as well as a bunch of what we think are seedlings. They've never colored up as intensely but they are in a protected position. We bought them from a guy who grows the flowers commercially and never thought to ask if they were seedlings.
Ours are all in flower at the moment but our daughter took the wrong camera cable so I can't unload photos. Here's a shot of our seedlings preflowering.

Here's a picture of our red. Imported in from Hawaii and bought from a super reputable guy but still not very red!!!

Those are beautiful. I have seen these at Fairchild Gardens in Miami, that get this great color. Mine never have and I have been very disappointed.

Ann, Those are lovely, and the more I look at them, the more my NOID seems not to be one. Its hard to explain why, but Its just different. (stiff, narrow, thick leaves)
My supposed Orange one doesn't seem to be coping well with full sun, but it also got smashed with hail a couple of months back. I'm not bothering with it too much, just hoping for some pups instead. Mine are both too young to flower, but one of the local growers has some that have flowered, so I know they do well in this area.
I suppose you've tried everything Goth? Fertiliser, position e.t.c? Of course you have.
More pics please Ann. What else have you got.
Hey Batflower, where are you? it's your turn!
Sue

Weedwoman, I'll post some brom photos when I get my cable back. They're actually more my hubby's thing than mine :) Here's a shot of a bed we planted a few months ago. Ann

Nice pic Ann. Cordylines are one of my favourites too. Where in Nth Qld are you?
I went to Cairns last July and absolutely loved it! The Botanical gardens were lovely with all the Torch Gingers and Heliconias! I have planted some here hoping to recreate it, but of course they are much slower to grow in my climate.
This is a little part of my garden in early december.

Nice Garden!!! We're two hours south of Cairns, Mission Beach hinderland. You're in Banana country! It shouldn't take long for your heliconias and gingers to pump.
Ann

Lucky you! What a nice aspect you have! Expect a visit from me if I get up that way! LOL
one of my Heliconias is about 3 years in the ground, but still no flowers. Lots of healthy looking foliage though. Maybe a handful of pottasium might help? The ginger is only new, so will have to wait and see how it goes.
What other Bromeliads do you or your other half have? And are most in the garden, or do you have a shade structure somewhere? (pics please)
Maybe we should start another thread or Dmail, so we don't take up this game thread.
Sorry Goth and Batflower.
Batflower? Where are you?
Sue

Sue, when I get my camera issues sorted I'll start another thread.
If plan another trip up this way please do give us a yell. My only prerequisite is that you bring your bathers and a bottle of wine. We've got some great little swimming holes in the rainforest.