FFF32 - HYACINTH

Hyacinthus is a small genus of bulbous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Plants are commonly called hyacinths. Hyacinthus is native to the eastern Mediterranean (from south Turkey to northern Israel), north-east Iran, and Turkmenistan.

Three species are within the genus Hyacinthus:
Hyacinthus litwinowii
Hyacinthus orientalis - Common, Dutch or Garden Hyacinth
Hyacinthus transcaspicus.

Some authorities place H. litwonowii and H. transcaspicus in the related genus Hyacinthella, which would make Hyacinthus a monotypic genus.The Dutch, or Common Hyacinth of house and garden culture (H. orientalis, native to southwest Asia) was so popular in the 18th century that over 2,000 cultivars were cultivated in the Netherlands, its chief commercial producer.

This hyacinth has a single dense spike of fragrant flowers in shades of red, blue, white, orange, pink, violet, or yellow. A form of the common hyacinth is the less hardy and smaller blue- or white-petalled Roman hyacinth of florists. These flowers should have indirect sunlight and are to be moderately watered.Several types of brodiea, squill, and other plants that were formerly classified in the lily family and have flower clusters borne along the stalk also have common names with hyacinth in them.

Hyacinths should also not be confused with the genus Muscari, which are commonly known as grape hyacinths.Hyacinths are sometimes associated with rebirth. The Hyacinth flower is used in the Haftseen table setting for the Persian New Year celebration Norouz held during the Spring Equinox. Hyacinth bulbs are poisonous; they contain oxalic acid. Handling hyacinth bulbs can cause mild irritation to people with sensitive skin. Protective gloves may be worn to avoid irritation.


Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so! 

FFF32

1.	meoww	12.	Fairy Garden in Wagon	23.	Modern Mom	34.	Jama-Singapore
2.	Vild med hverdagen	13.	ann nz	24.	JM@Oeiras, Lisbon	35.	Laurel
3.	Tina´s PicStory	14.	Mary, MI	25.	Synnöve	36.	Hamilton, Canada
4.	twiggy	15.	Kim,USA	26.	beagleAnnie	37.	The Coal Miner and Me
5.	Crafty Gardener, Canada	16.	ann nz	27.	Rajesh, India	38.	Minerva's Garden-Summer Foliage Plant Picks
6.	A Wondering Star	17.	Lotusleaf, India	28.	Rajesh, India	39.	Donna's Designs
7.	Karin M.	18.	Yael from Home Garden Diggers	29.	Chris	40.	Squirrel Queen
8.	Anki-itte	19.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA	30.	Mildred-France	41.	NixPixMix
9.	Luna Miranda	20.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, 2nd entry	31.	Jake	42.	CameraCruise
10.	Anneli	21.	BirgittaB	32.	Flower Art Friday	43.	Linda
11.	Emille	22.	Ingmarie We/Refugium	33.	Shabby Cottage	44.	Hood Photo (OR-USA)

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

FFF31 - CACTUS FLOWERS

A photo of a lovely Echinopsis spp cactus flowering in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. The only cactus genus that is more confusing than Echinopsis is that of Opuntia. In both cases, there is a great number of species (over 100) and a tremendous amount of variation.

In Echinopsis plants range from very small, flattened-globose plants to quite large, treelike giants. As a result, there is a long list of synonymous names for many of the species. Some synonyms referring to other synonyms that refer to a subspecies of some seemingly distinct species. Sorting through these names often feels like a wild goose chase and is quite frustrating.  In more recent thinking, the previous two genera of Trichocereus and Lobivia are included with Echinopsis. However, it is not at all uncommon for enthusiasts to use all three names in discussion even if their labels read Echinopsis!

This usage reflects the general (inexact) situation that the larger, columnar members are distinguished as Trichocereus while Lobivia includes a select group of smaller, not-as-spiny plants which typically flower from low on the plant similar to most Rebutia species. This leaves the bulk of plants referred to as Echinopsis to be mostly spiny, ribbed, globose plants.

The main factor that ties these plants together are their very large, showy flowers. These flowers are all very similar in structure – funnel shaped, with hairy/wooly scaled floral tubes which give rise to hairy, globular fruit filled with a soft, mushy pulp. The flowers seldom last more than a single day and may be diurnal or nocturnal depending on the species. These species hybridise easily and have resulted in a tremendous number of hybrids that some cactus growers specialise in or grow exclusively. There are certainly enough hybrids to keep even ardent hobbyists busy.

Because of their exceptional flowers, many Echinopsis species are found in garden centres and collections world-wide. The larger species (aka Trichocereus) are also popular landscape plants in warmer parts of the world. While there are a number of species common in cultivation, there are as many or more unknown hybrids in the trade. These hybrids are easy-to-grow and produce nice flowers, but buyer beware if exact names are desired. Plants of this genus are widespread throughout South America and inhabit a wide range of habitats and climates.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!   

FFF31

1.	Modern Mom	14.	robert athens GR	27.	Bernie in Australia	40.	Yael at Home Garden Diggers
2.	Min fotoblog	15.	NixPixMix	28.	Luna Miranda	41.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, 2nd entry
3.	NatureFootstep Photo	16.	Andrea	29.	JM@Oeiras, Lisbon	42.	Squirrel Queen
4.	Karin M.	17.	ann nz	30.	Loui♥	43.	The House at Bluebird Lane
5.	Libby	18.	Jim, Sydney, Australia	31.	Aktuella bilder, Sweden	44.	Mona's Picturesque
6.	Anneli	19.	Missy, Australia	32.	Chris	45.	Rajesh, India
7.	Cafe au lait	20.	Mildred-France	33.	Ingmarie We/Refugium	46.	Linda
8.	Tina´s PicStory	21.	Joyful	34.	Donna's Designs	47.	NixPixMix2
9.	Crafty Gardener, Canada	22.	Bella's Rose Cottage	35.	Laurel	48.	Magical Mystical Teacher
10.	Lulu's Musings	23.	Jama-Singapore	36.	Flower Art Friday	49.	Magical Mystical Teacher #2
11.	Helene - Norway	24.	dordefemeie	37.	Imelda	50.	Tootsie
12.	beagleAnnie	25.	BirgittaB	38.	Gladiolas
13.	Wordless (linky)	26.	RocsM	39.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

FFF30 - HIPPEASTRUM

Hippeastrum is a genus of about 90 species and 600+ hybrids and cultivars of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some species are grown for their large showy flowers.

For many years there was confusion amongst botanists over the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum, one result of which is that the common name "amaryllis" is mainly used for cultivars of this genus, which are widely used as indoor flowering bulbs. The generic name Amaryllis applies to bulbs from South Africa, usually grown outdoors.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

FFF30

1.	Linda	13.	Francisca in Guangdong	25.	Halcyon	37.	Hamilton, Canada
2.	Anneli Finland	14.	Mona's Picturesque	26.	Crafty Gardener, Canada	38.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA
3.	Donna's Designs	15.	Libby	27.	guild-rez Canada	39.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, 2nd entry
4.	Tina´s PicStory	16.	A Wondering Star	28.	NixPixMix	40.	Bernie in Australia
5.	Jama-Singapore	17.	Lois Evensen - Cincinnati, USA	29.	beagleAnnie	41.	Squirrel Queen
6.	NatureFootstep Photo	18.	Emille	30.	Rake and Spade (Asha Ram)	42.	ann nz
7.	BirgittaB	19.	Kalantikan	31.	Mildred-France	43.	Rajesh, India
8.	Helene - Alt som er Vakkert	20.	photographing New Zealand	32.	Flower Art Friday	44.	Imelda
9.	Marit , Norway	21.	Rita aka Cashjocky	33.	Laurel	45.	Valerie, Australia
10.	Min fotoblog	22.	Modern Mom	34.	Karin M.	46.	Shabby Cottage
11.	Luna Miranda, Manila	23.	Meeha Meeha	35.	Dordefemeie, Romania
12.	Lotusleaf, India	24.	Synnöve	36.	Aktuella bilder, Sweden

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

FFF29 - ECHINACEA

Echinacea is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The nine species it contains are commonly called purple coneflowers. They are endemic to eastern and central North America, where they are found growing in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas.

They have large, showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ἐχῖνος (echinos), meaning "sea urchin," due to the spiny central disk. Some species are used in herbal medicines and some are cultivated in gardens for their showy flowers. A few species are of conservation concern.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

FFF29

1.	Joyful	14.	guild-rez Canada #2	27.	Lotusleaf, India	40.	Aktuella bilder, Sweden
2.	JM@Oeiras, Lisbon	15.	A Wondering Star	28.	Valerie, Australia	41.	Imelda
3.	Min fotoblog	16.	Prem, SoCal	29.	dordefemeie	42.	ann nz
4.	Libby	17.	NatureFootstep Photo	30.	Wordless	43.	Squirrel Queen
5.	Helene - Alt som er Vakkert	18.	BirgittaB	31.	Modern Mom	44.	Rajesh, India
6.	Luna Miranda	19.	NixPixMix	32.	ann nz	45.	Osteospermum
7.	Tina´s PicStory	20.	Donna's Designs	33.	RocsM	46.	Linda
8.	JEANNE STONE	21.	meoww	34.	Asha Ram	47.	beagleAnnie
9.	Lois Evensen - Cincinnati, USA	22.	Crafty Gardener, Canada	35.	Hamilton, Canada	48.	Flora Friday......In Oz
10.	Kim,USA	23.	Bernie in Australia	36.	HansHB	49.	Magical Mystical Teacher
11.	Mona's Picturesque	24.	Clytie, Random Nature	37.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA	50.	NatureFootstep World
12.	Flower Art Friday	25.	Bella's Rose Cottage	38.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, 2nd entry
13.	guild-rez Canada	26.	Ana Lutas	39.	Sara Chapman in Seattle, 3rd entry

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)