Cardiocrinum giganteum yunnanense - Brown leaved form

This is a variation on giganteum yunnanense which has deep brown bulbs and foliage which emerges very dark brown and holding this colour for longer. These are clustered mainly at the lower end of the stem although a few smaller leaves are present up the stem. The flowers are borne on rigid thick stems which are deep mahogany-red in colour. Up to 15 flowers are held, 15 cms long and 10 cms wide, creamy white with the two lower petals heavily marked with a deep mahogany-red. This variation has slightly compressed flowers. The flowers have a strong sweet scent, especially on damp mornings. 

  This is a very rarely offered variation which differs from var. yunnanense in that the flowers have a much more mahogany-brown marking in them and it's much darker in the new leaf colour. They do eventually turn deep green. Highly recommended!
 Edrom Nursery obtained this many years ago as Cardiocrinum cathayanum and while it may be this species, we believe it likely is a hybrid of giganteum var yunnanense and cathayanum which would explain the higher flower number per stem.