The three-petaled Philesia magellanica
A highlight of last year’s trip to Chile was seeing all of the members of the Philesiaceae in the wild–all two of them! The viny Lapageria rosea has previously been featured on BPotD; this is its scrambling shrub-like relative, austral bellflower or coicopihue.
The easiest way to tell the two apart? Philesia has three prominent petals with smaller brownish sepals (as shown in today’s photograph), while Lapageria has six tepals (i.e., the petals and sepals look somewhat similar). In the wild, habitat was also a clue, with Philesia preferring moister, boggier conditions compared to the mesic and warmer conditions required by Lapageria. For local gardeners, it should be possible to grow Philesia magellanica outdoors with no additional protective measures.
The petals of coicopihue are seemingly edible (I felt guilty for doing so, but one must try what one is offered). I could see it being used as a garnish, with its slightly spicy-flowery flavour.
Love the culinary appraisal, and look forward to tasting this beauty!!!
As always, thanks Daniel!
All be safe!!!!
Lovely flower, *wild* bokeh!
Many thanks…delightful image… .Love this creeping plant.
Many years ago we saw this growing in National Trust Scotland, Inverewe gardens in North West Scotland…..same latitude as Moscow, ..but mild with the Gulf stream. The head gardener very generously to give us rooted cutting when we asked.
In our South Wales woodland garden it did well.
Now we have moved to Scotland and last year bought one at a local nursery.
Not sure how hardy it is we planted it outside…and covered it with a protective double glazed window…it has come through the winter safely ….fingers crossed for the flowers.
Daniel we do hope you can bring more cheer and interest into our lives with BPof D pics/write up.
We are on Lock down, and world wide life is scary with this Coronavirus.
Stay safe.
A lovely shift from Covid. Thank you.
Thanks for a beautiful picture. Your trip was not totally unproductive if you have pictures like this. Is there a difference in size between the flowers of the two. I thought coicopihue flowers were smaller but I’ve only seen pictures of it. I’m now keen to find seeds.
The flowers of Lapageria are slightly larger, about 7.5 cm/3 inches compared to the 5+ cm/2-2.5 inches of Philesia.
Nothing I can add to previous comments. This would make a pretty desktop image.
Thanks for the post, Daniel. Hope you and others at UBC BG are doing OK.
Everyone at the Garden is doing fine, so far, from what I hear!
Thanks for sharing such beauty in these uncertain times!
Wendy Burke
What a beautiful colour of a plant and so delicate looking. I was wondering if I could grow this
plant in my garden,We as I live in Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada and where I live we
have a quite dry, rocky soil? I would appreciate your advise. Thank you Wendy Burke
Hi Wendy,
I’m doubtful, mostly because of the dry, rocky soil. Do you have any shady stumps that keep moisture through the summer? Have a read through this thread from the Scottish Rock Garden Club.
Curious to know what polinates it. Humming bird or insect ?
The colour compares with of some magnolias in flower at the moment.
Most gardens are closed here. Your picture lifts our spirits.
Keep well Daniel.
Hummingbirds and bumblebees, apparently, from discussions I’ve read online. I didn’t observe any pollinators directly.
Thank you Daniel for the post. When I looked up the plant I found myself reading on about Commerson, Baret and Bougainville.
Philesia magellanica was first discovered in the Magellan region of southern Chile by Philibert Commerson with his valet Jeanne Baret on Admiral Louis Antoine de Bougainville’s circumnavigation of the globe. You will have noticed that his valet was a female of the species. In fact women were not allowed on ships in those days as it was thought they brought bad luck, and certainly not allowed on this voyage. Baret masqueraded as a man, bandaged her breasts in order to flatten them, and modulated her voice. She had various functions in the service of Commerson – valet, nurse, carrying botanising equipment, collecting plants, cataloguing and writing them up. She shared an officer’s cabin with her master and was also his mistress! The generic name stems from the Greek verb meaning loved one, perhaps for the beauty of the flowers but perhaps more likely for his ‘manservant’! Baret is credited with discovering Bougainvillea later in the journey which was named for the leader of their expedition. It is worth reading on about this great lady, who was the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.
That is so fascinating, Piotr, thank you! I had no idea.
Commerson and Baret were also friends with the possible original of Peter Piper who picked a peck of pickled pepper. They also visited Madagascar and collected the second herbarium samples known for Stephanotis, among many others.
If you click on my name you can find the part of my recent Stephanotis article which is about their adventures.
AMAZING
Such a wonderful shade of pink!!
Indeed, we need to be reminded of the beauty around us in nature, as we deal with the Coronavirus.
Thank you for posting it Daniel and thanks to Piotr Krasinski for the intriguing tale of Jeanne Baret.
Wishing everyone good health, stay safe. 🙂
Beautiful color! on a cold, snowy, bad news day – brightens up the day wonderfully 🙂
THANK YOU for posting!
Wishing everyone the best of health –
Thank you for the beautiful picture. So glad to have BPoTD to brighten our days.
This is a book I read about Jeanne Baret. A fascinating and somewhat sad story of a remarkable woman.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/200271/the-discovery-of-jeanne-baret-by-glynis-ridley/
Thank you Gabrielle!