Pharbitis nil

I got some seeds from South Korea. The packages are in Korean, only (part of) the name is in English:
Pharbitis nil Choisy and Pharbitis nil L. Is this the same as Ipomoea nil? And does someone know what the L. stands for?
And on 1 of the packets is written inbetween the Korean words, 10 cm. Could it be one who only grows 10 cm high? Looking at the picture, it might be possible, it looks like they are in a sort of plant barge.
And my last question: how long will the seeds be viable?

Jonna

Hi Jonna,

L. in the name stands for Linnaeus, and Choisy is another taxonomist who worked on identification of the species. The valid genus is Ipomoea now but some parts of the world still use Pharbitis. Perhaps 10 cm. indicates the diameter of the flower? If so it is a big one!

Joseph

The '10cm' one is this one. It's hard to see on this picture, but it is in my opinion in a plant barge, not as a climber or a creeper. On the package I clearly see the dirt just below the foliage.

forgot the picture

Here's an article that explains about plant taxonomy:

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/features/misc/plantnames/plantnames.pdf

Jonna, how about telling how you came to get seeds from Korea, and who you got them from.
This forum is quite international, and that really makes it interesting. To date, nobody has reported to us about seed sources in Korea, or posted pictures of the seed packets before. The photo above looks to me to be "Sun Smiles". A wonderful compact, and popular series, that is also beautifully variegated. I intend to grow a bunch this year just to get some seeds stored up

If you have seed company seed packets from Korea, please post pictures for us. They probably have some kinds you can't get anywhere else. Frank

I received these seeds as a bonus in a trade with Elizabeth Bang who is living in South Korea. I don't think they are special, but I made pictures of the other 2 seed packets.

2

The JMG in this photo http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=6262190 looks like the Sun Smile series http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/49887/don't you love the leaf variegation?

Yes I love the leaf variegation. This one I will grow this year. I have already sown so many plants, that I'm thinking to grow the other 2 next year, that's why I asked how long the seeds will be viable.

If you keep them cool and dry, they ought to retain good germination viability for 5 years or longer.

Thanks

Just to give you a heads up ...

I, too, got some unopened seed packets from another DGer who got them from Elizabeth. I think they might even be the same type of packets. I open one of them and planted one seed from that packet. What I got was not anything like the photo on the packet, but instead it was a Ipomoea hederacea. Nice species, but not a good one for me to grow here in Florida because it tends to be a little invasive in my zone. So, I am unsure if that was just a fluke or if the seed packets from Korea are not as strictly packed to ensure accurate cultivars. Some of the American seed companies have the same issues. You buy a pack that has a photo on it and assume that is what you are going to get, but instead you get something totally different.

It could be just a remote error in the packet I had. Either way, the seed sprouted promptly for me and was a very healthy and vigorous vine! Lots of pretty blue blooms, too!

And if anyone trades with me ... they may not get what they were expecting either, as many of my seeds are crosses with other MG vines. LOL!

There are no cultivar names on it, so you might be right thinking they are not that accurate. I always keep records and pictures (seed packet or internet) of what I sow. I never had another species than what was shown on the seed packet, but I think west european companies are quite accurate. In trades it happens now and then that I receive seeds that after sowing are complete different from what they said it was, not just the cultivar, but the species.
Some plants easily cross. I don't mind, sometimes you get better colors.
This year it's the first time I will grow morning glories. I received seeds from Gerris2 of a blue I.nil and from someone else a mix. 90% of Gerris2 his seeds germinated, only 1 from the mix. I will try to grow the one with the variegated leaves also this year. The other ones I'll try next year.
Will update when the Korean one is blooming, to let you know if it looks like what is on the packet