Saturday, 25 May 2013

Flower Quiz

This is flowering in our garden at the moment. Each flower spike carries about 20 blooms. The interesting thing is that there appears to be two distinct flowers all the way up the spike with different colouring and different stamens. The flowers are hermaphrodite. This means that they have perfect flowers with both sexes represented in one flower. I have read that once a flower has been pollinated by the bee it then turns from having a yellow patch to deep pink. One of the flowers here has not been pollinated, one is just turning pink and the other has turned completely pink.
If anyone gives the correct answer I shall save their comment until after I have given the name of the flower, which will be Monday evening 27th May at 22.00 hours GMT.
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48 comments:

  1. Parnassus25 May 2013 at 23:12

    Hello Rosemary, I have no idea what these are, but the flowers seem very delicate and quite unusual, whether or not the yellow-to-pink story is accurate.

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    1. Rosemary25 May 2013 at 23:23

      Dear Jim - my information came from the Reader's Digest Encyclopaedia of flowers and plants and they are normally accurate. I am going to keep my eye on some of the flowers that are yellow and see if they change colour!!!

      Delete
  2. oldthings25 May 2013 at 23:16

    Dear Rosemary , just I saw your post ,I started o search at Kew Gardens !!! I search about half an hour , ten pages , 468 plants and the result ? A BIG NOTHING !!! I will continue to search ... I hope that by the second eye ,may be I'll find this lovely flower !!

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    1. Rosemary25 May 2013 at 23:24

      Dear Olympia - please do not spend too long looking or else I shall feel very guilty, especially if you are up all night like you did once before. Whatever will your husband think of me if you do?

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    2. oldthings25 May 2013 at 23:30

      We are two hours later , he is sleeping as a little bird ,he can not tell anything !He knows that I can't sleep and I like to look anything about flowers ! So , don't worry and don't feel quilty ! It is a challenge for me !!

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    3. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 08:37

      OK - I give in - happy hunting.

      Delete
  3. Celia Hart25 May 2013 at 23:48

    Hello Rosemary, the information about the flower colour changing is really interesting.
    Oh, and they are the flowers of the Horse Chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum).

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    1. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 22:04

      Well done Celia -your answer came in first - your artistic eye is also very observant.

      Delete
  4. Unknown26 May 2013 at 07:07

    Dear Rosemary,
    I feel I have seen a flower like this but I draw a blank. I asked my resident flower expert (AGA) but he said he needs to see a leaf. I said: This is a quiz and there will be no extra clues.
    So, we have no idea what this flower is, but are intrigued to find out!
    Bye for now
    Kirk

    PS
    The anthers on the flowers look like bean shoots.

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 08:45

      Dear Kirk - exactly the same thought crossed my mind about the stamens and their anthers.
      If you and AGA were to see the leaves you would get it instantly - may be there is an extra clue there.

      Delete
  5. Anna26 May 2013 at 09:01

    Good morning, Rosemary! I'd like to join in the fun, but... I don't see the image... just a black space! I get the other images without problems, but not this one!

    CIAO!

    ANNA
    xx

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 09:08

      Dear Anna - that is very strange - sorry. I do not understand enough about the computer to know why that is. If it doesn't appear for you at some stage may be I could withdraw the photo and re-post it to see if that helps.

      Delete
  6. Marijke26 May 2013 at 09:47

    I really have no idea. But I know one thing it's beautiful.
    Have a wonderful sunday Rosemary.

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  7. Mr Paul26 May 2013 at 10:06

    Ooh great fun Rosemary. I am sure you will have lots of correct answers for this one. It is the Horse Chestnut flower and I have always been fascinated by their exotic looking blooms.
    How interesting, I did not know about the colour change after pollination. The scientist in me wants to shimmy up and hand pollinate one to see how long the process takes!

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    1. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 22:12

      Congratulations Paul - I think that is 95% success rate for you. I took a small paint brush down to the tree and carried out some pollination but couldn't see much difference - no doubt a bee does a better job.

      Delete
  8. Marijke26 May 2013 at 10:29

    Is it maybe the flower of the chestnut. The tree is flowering at the moment overhere.

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    1. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 22:08

      Second time lucky Marijke - you did well to come up with it.

      Delete
  9. valerietilsten59.blogspot.com26 May 2013 at 12:37

    Here goes my "try" 'Horse Chestnut'- aesculuc hippocastanum..
    Beautiful flower..
    wishing myself good luck ):

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    1. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 22:08

      Wishing yourself good luck paid off - I am impressed Val - well done.

      Delete
  10. flowersandhome26 May 2013 at 15:02

    Haha, Rosemary, when I wanted to look for a 'hermaphrodyte' plant with 'white flowers', both Cannabis and Marihuana came up on the first page. I sure hope that's not what you're growing ;-) I have no clue what this plant may be. the flowers made me think a bit of a Pelargonium I once had, but they're too hairy for that. I have absolutely no idea and quite frankly don't know where to start looking, too many flowers on this earth I guess ;-) Aren't we lucky?
    Marian

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 16:34

      Dear Marian - I think perhaps I give you too many clues, but this time it seems that the internet has let you down. It is surprising how hairy they are on the macro photos but in real life they do not look quite so fluffy.
      Thanks for trying anyway, you will know the flower when I tell you.

      Delete
  11. Anna26 May 2013 at 15:42

    I get the image on my phone. Looks like a pretty honeysuckle to me! It's so pretty! Commenting via phone! Xxx Anna

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 16:36

      So glad you managed in the end - sorry not the honeysuckle, but I do appreciate you giving it a try.

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  12. Anna26 May 2013 at 15:43

    Lilium? Anna x

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 16:36

      Beautiful Lilium, but sorry not this either.

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  13. Mark D. Ruffner26 May 2013 at 16:02

    I'm not good with flower-naming contests, but this one has a fascinating story. I must say, you have the most amazing botanical garden!

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 16:50

      Dear Mark - the more you find out about plants the more fascinating they are. This one does grow in America but not in your area. In fact there is one state where the citizens are known by the name of this flower.

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  14. Dani P.26 May 2013 at 17:18

    Beautiful flower ! I'll come back to find out her name :) Have a lovely sunday evening, Rosemary !

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 17:46

      Thanks for visiting Dani - I am sure that will you know the flower.

      Delete
  15. Anna26 May 2013 at 17:27

    I have another idea: is it Hippocastanum, Horse-Chestnut? Has to be...

    CIAO!

    ANNA
    xx

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    1. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 22:09

      Well done Anna - third time lucky and you got it right - excellent.
      Ciao.

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  16. Madelief26 May 2013 at 18:32

    Wish I could give you the answer Rosemary, but I can't. I have never seen anything like it. It looks really special. From now on I will be watching the flowers in my garden closely too :-)

    Happy new week!

    Madelief x

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 19:41

      Hello Madelief - when you see the flowers through the macro photos it is quite a revelation - things that you do not notice with the naked eye are shown very clearly.

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  17. Unknown26 May 2013 at 18:45

    I think it is a Geranium.
    Nice picture.

    Greetings,
    Inge, my choice

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 19:41

      Dear Inge - thank you so much for giving it a try - sorry not this time.

      Delete
  18. Kate Shrewsday26 May 2013 at 20:43

    Alas, I have no idea, Rosemary; but what a beautiful, delicate flower!

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 21:29

      It is a flower that you will know Kate.

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  19. Jane26 May 2013 at 22:30

    I have been wringing my brain to come up with something, but I can't . Really curious to know the name , will be back tomorrow !

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    1. Rosemary26 May 2013 at 22:39

      Dear Jane - I have been telling commenters that they will know the flower and I am sure that you will to.

      Delete
  20. Gina27 May 2013 at 13:41

    Dear Rosemary, I'm here only to wish you a wonderful day because I haven't the faintest idea what this flower might be called. ox, Gina

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    1. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 15:44

      How lovely that you called Gina - I am wishing the same for you too. This does grow in America - I know that it is 'big' in Ohio, however, I should imagine that it does not grow in your area, but I might be wrong.

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  21. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 14:30

    I have no idea what it is but can only imagine how beautiful it must look in your garden :)

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    1. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 15:42

      Dear Rosemary - I know that it does grow as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, and that it is not recommended as it is not a native species.

      Delete
  22. Unknown27 May 2013 at 19:50

    Here I'am again, maybe it is a Hemerocallis?
    I like this quiz!

    Greetings,
    Inge, my choice

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    1. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 20:39

      Dear Inge - thanks for giving it another try, I really, really wish I could say you were right, but sorry it isn't a Hemerocallis.

      Delete
  23. DIMI27 May 2013 at 20:39

    Dear Rosemary, I have no idea what is it,but it's a very preety flower!You are so luckh having it in your garden!Have a lovely week!
    Dimi..

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    1. Rosemary27 May 2013 at 20:47

      Dear Dimi - I shall be showing the answer in just over an hour. Hope you have enjoyed a lovely weekend.

      Delete

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