The rules for posting are simple!

1. Every Friday post a photo that includes one or more flowers.
2. Please only post photos you have authority to use.
3. Include a link to this blog in your post - http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com/
4. Leave the link to your FloralFridayFoto post below on inlinkz.
5. Visit other blogs listed ... comment & enjoy!

When to Post:
inlinkz will be available every Thursday and will remain open until the next Wednesday.

Thursday 6 March 2014

FFF120 - DAHLIA 'YORK & LANCASTER'

Dahlia is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants native mainly in Mexico, but also Central America, and Colombia. A member of the Asteraceae or Compositae, dicotyledonous plants, related species include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum and zinnia. There are at least 36 species of dahlia, with hybrids commonly grown as garden plants. Flower forms are variable, with one head per stem; these can be as small as 5.1 cm diameter or up to 30 cm ("dinner plate"). This great variety results from dahlias being octoploids (that is, they have eight sets of homologous chromosomes), whereas most plants have only two. In addition, dahlias also contain many transposons (genetic pieces that move from place to place upon an allele), which contributes to their manifesting such great diversity.

The stems are leafy, ranging in height from as low as 30 cm to more than 1.8–2.4 m. The majority of species do not produce scented flowers or cultivars. Like most plants that do not attract pollinating insects through scent, they are brightly coloured, displaying most hues, with the exception of blue.The dahlia was declared the national flower of Mexico in 1963. The tubers were grown as a food crop by the Aztecs, but this use largely died out after the Spanish Conquest. Attempts to introduce the tubers as a food crop in Europe were unsuccessful.

The variety shown here, 'York & Lancaster' is an unusual and very beautiful dahlia whose origins in history have been lost centuries ago. As well as being of striking appearance, it is a cultivar that most dahlia experts have never heard of, while for others it's a genetic conundrum that shouldn't really exist.

For a dahlia it is surprisingly tough, almost hardy in light soils. Standing approximately 2'6'' tall it produces large numbers of ball shaped flower heads. If it does throw up an occasional pure white flower it will always be followed by a brilliant white and carmine red bi-colour flower.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos and please leave a comment once you contribute.

13 comments:

  1. What a beauty! Happy weekend everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have never seen this beauty! Although I remember admiring all those dahlias in the Princess Mother's garden (Thailand) some years ago. Thanks for the bit on national flower of Mexico. And oh, I'm delighted to see a Pinterest pin.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful - like a dress:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful. Thank you for hosting. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's the first time that I participate... a little hello from Italy...
    Kebo

    ReplyDelete
  6. So beautiful - love the way the flower itself is almost completely round!
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
  7. it is a very unique Dahlia, never see this kind of Dahlia in my country

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a beauty!ful Dahlia. Good shot.
    Thanks for sharing, for hosting this nice project and happy weekend, Wieczora (◔‿◔) | my photoblog

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love Dahlia and yours are so beautiful ♥
    Wish you a nice weekend,
    moni

    Thanks if you visit my blog
    http://www.reflexionblog.de

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love Dahlias, so many colours and varieties. Love the York and Lancaster - The red rose symbol of Lancaster combined with the white rose symbol of the House of York.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That is some showy dahlia! If you come to Seattle, there is a wonderful dahlia garden in Volunteer Park maintained by the local dahlia society. There sure are a lot of different ones!

    ReplyDelete