Hypoxidaceae.
Hypoxis, Rhodohypoxis and xRhodoxis.
Rhodohypoxis
In 1876 Baker described several species of the genus Hypoxis. Allmost all of these species are yellow, except the reddish Hypoxis baurii. After 38 years the botanist G.Nel described Rhodohypoxis as a new genus. His main argument was the difference in flower morphology (flower petals standing in two lines), also the shape and colours of the petals of Rhodohypoxis differ with those of Hypoxis. In the 1920's Mrs. S.K. Garnett-Botfield got some Rhodohypoxis bulbs (rootstocks) from South Africa. These Rhodohypoxis plants did have red and white flowers. She propagated, crossed and selected Rhodohypoxis plants for years and named some cultivars. Members of her family did continue her work.
Commercial selling of Rhodohypoxis started in the 1930ties. There are still some of the older Rhodohypoxis from those days in cultivation. Over the years newly collected Rhodohypoxis have been send to England. And breeding of Rhodohypoxis has continued by nurseries and plantsmen outside South Africa until today.
Rhodohypoxis
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Rhodohypoxis baurii |
Rhodohypoxis thodiana |
Rhodohypoxis platypetala |
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Rhodohypoxis milloides ClaretxRhodoxis Hebron Farm PinkxRhodoxis Otterlo Ruby (first picture) |
Rhodohypoxis milloides seedling |
Rhodohypoxis milloides |
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Rhodohypoxis Kiwi Yoy |
Rhodohypoxis Lily Jean |
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Hypoxis
Hypoxis plants are easily recognized by their bright yellow star-shaped flowers and elongated leaves. Plants overcome winter conditions in the form of a rootstock (corm). This is predominantly a grassland genus, preferring full sunlight. Most of the Hypoxis species grow in the southern part of Africa, but in Asia, Australia and America also some species can be found. Almost all Hypoxis flowers (petals) are yellow, also pollen grains are yellow. Bees and honeybees pollinate the flowers. Rootstocks of the larger Hypoxis are uprooted in the hills around their villages by African healers. Corms can grow to over 5 cm in diameter. They use corms for various treatments of the intestines (also HIV?). This uprooting of Hypoxis corms does endanger a number of Hypoxis species.
At this moment nurseries have only a few species in cultivation: Hypoxis parvula, Hypoxis hirsuta, Hypoxis hygrometrica, Hypoxis setosa and a few others.
In England several nurserymen have asked me if I already do have a yellow Rhodohypoxis. I do not think that's possible. The yellow colour is lost in our first cross. And in a first backcross the petals are still without the yellow colour of Hypoxis. May be by collecting seeds from selfpollinated xRhodoxis Anna Maria and xRhodoxis Sandy a yellow xRhodoxis could be grown.
Hypoxis
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Hypoxis angustifolia |
Hypoxis hemerocallidae |
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Hypoxis hygrometrica |
Hypoxis hirsuta |
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Hypoxis setosa |
xRhodoxis
xRhodoxis (rapid stars) are hybrids from intergeneric crossings of Hypoxis and Rhodohypoxis. A few natural crossings have been send to England to ............. xRhodoxis hybrida, Hebron Farm Red Eye and Hebron Farm Pink. So far most plants do have fertile flowers and grow seeds under the right conditions. So breeding new varieties by inbreeding, crossing and backcrossing should be possible. New plants grown in this way do have an enormous variation in plantsize, flower colour and shape of the petals. The yellow colour of the Hypoxis is lost in the first crossing and has not been seen after a first backcrossing.
In England several nurseries have selected new xRhodoxis.
In 1996 we saw our first flower of a new xRhodoxis at our nursery. Since then we have been breeding Hypoxidae by crossing Rhodohypoxis, Hypoxis and xRhodoxis. We prefer natural crossings by the various insects flying around our nursery. Seeds are collected and sown immediatly after collecting. Germination takes 3-6 weeks. Within a year the first flowers of hybrids opens. As soon as xRhodoxis flowers open we take colour slides. New xRhodoxis flowers are shown on the website. After 2-3 years of selection the best plants are numbered and bulbs are multiplied for some time. After 4-7 years we ask English and Dutch growers to compare the new xRhodoxis with the older ones. It takes some 8-10 years of growing after collecting the seeds before a new xRhodoxis variety is ready for the world.
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So far 'xRhodoxis breeding' has been possible in crossing:
- xRhodoxis X xRhodoxis
- xRhodoxis Hebron Farm Pink X Rhodohypoxis milloides Claret
- xRhodoxis Hebron Farm Pink X Rhodohypoxis deflexa
- xRhodoxis Hebron Farm Pink X Rhodohypoxis baurii
- xRhodoxis hybrida X Hypoxis setosa
- xRhodoxis Hebron Farm Red Eye X Rhodohypoxis baurii
- Hypoxis setosa X Rhodohypoxis baurii
- And there could be another 100 possibilities!!!!
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A collection of xRhodoxis seedlings from our nursery.
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Cultivation of xRhodoxis
Early in spring pots of xRhodoxis (rapid stars) are repotted in larger pots or divided and repotted in several pots. The soil used is slightly acidic compost with medium sized chicken grit. Pots used for cultivation of xRhodoxis should have a minimum of 1,5 liter. In the first few weeks watering is kept to a minimum. In April when the average temperature rizes pots can be placed outside in full sun. At first new roots and after a few weeks new leaves start to grow. This year after a cold spring flower buds did show in the first half of May. Pots with xRodoxis do need some care during the summer. Every 2 weeks a fertilizer (12-10-18). Dead-heading of spent flowers is necessary. Sometimes pots of xRhodoxis are filled up in june already. Then one should repot for the second time. In a larger pot the plant will be flowering and growing better for the summer time.
In August the eye of the flower of xRhodoxis does not like to have water in it for too long. So please shake the flowers if it is raining for days. Plants stop flowering in august/september. Then in november pots should be kept dry, and with first frosty nights pots should be placed on a cool shelf inside a shed. Be aware of mice, they do have an appetite for all corms of Hypoxidae!
cultivars of xRhodoxis
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In the last year a new xRhodoxis has been found in South Africa. A natural hybrid probably a crossing Rhodohypoxis baurii X Hypoxis argentea, found by Cameron McMaster and Bob Rutemoeller. ( see website 'www.pacificbulbsociety.org' )
