U.hispida

Barry Meyers-Rice (barry@as.arizona.edu)
Fri, 18 Mar 94 09:27:02 MST

Michael,

>I would appreciate if somebody could verify whether U.hispida has
>two kinds of leaves: small round (ovate?) ones at a basal rosette (sp?)
>and very long (12-15cm) thin upright leaves.

Jan is quite right that this species has a zillion leaf types, but you
are right on gross terms. This species, like _U.praelonga_ produces
small round leaves, and also very long grass-like leaves (far more
grass-like than _U.graminifolia_ ever makes). Intermediate leaves are
also produced, but they are rarer.

Mind you, I have only several months experience with _U.hispida_ (my
plant has only a few dozen round leaves and half that of grassy leaves,
no intermediates), and the majority of my experience comes from growing
the closely allied _U.praelonga_. *Disclaimer*

_U.praelonga_ has been, at least in the U.S., in cultivation far longer
and more extensively than _U.hispida_. If/when your plant flowers, take
the opportunity to key it to insure you've got it correctly ID'd.

Barry