Emu Valley Newsletter – August 2017

• Date: 6th August 2017
• author: Maurie Kuscph

R. CHRYSODORON

R. chrysodoron is doing its best to bring on spring, covering itself with bright canary yellow flowers held proudly above dark green leaves – enough to brighten the dullest winter’s day. R. chrysodoron was collected by Forrest in 1924 in western Yunnan and flowered by the Earl of Stair in 1931. He sent a plant to Edinburgh, later to be named R.chrysodoron or the ‘golden gift’. It was reintroduced by Kingdon-Ward in 1953 from North Burma.

In cultivation the plant will attain a bushy height of up to two metres. Quite a distinctive species and easily recognised in late winter as the first lepidote to flower, its unspotted flowers are produced in trusses of three to six, and an interesting thing about the flower is the bent style. We find that it is easy to strike and grows quite quickly.

To inspect a well-flowered specimen, look north from the building deck towards Burma or cruise the Bob Malone drive and enjoy.

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