"Uncle Derek Says"

Nidularium Morobe mess
May 2009

"Ever since the BSI offered seed in the 1970's as Nidularium 'Madame Robert Morobe' I have wondered who is growing the correct plant of any of the Morobe's. Such was their belief in their own esteem all the hybrids were named after themselves. It is a pity this has not continued because the nursery is not defunct and the remaining family will not answer my emails. Perhaps they could not understand my schoolboy French! So we are on our own as to trying to check on identity. First we must refer to the Bromeliad Cultivar Register 1998 where Don Beadle did a great job extracting data from all sources. I say 'extracting' because Don did say that getting information was like extracting teeth. This information follows. Nidularium 'Casimir Morobe' by Morobe <1964 cv. of unknown parentage - Padilla said, "A large plant - vigorous grower - generous with offsets - wide green leaves faintly dotted with darker spots make a handsome background for the rich rose rosette". Cole said, "Pale green rosette with darker green splotching - erect inflorescence in rosulate deep rose red". JBS 14:14; 27:134; 30:275, PltShopCat1976, TF1981, KentCat1972   Nidularium 'Madame Robert Morobe' by Morobe, R. 1940 cv. of innocentii X fulgens - (See 'Digeneum', 'Francois Spae' & 'Chantrieri') - Dutrie said, "..frankly superior to 'Chantrieri'..numerous leaves, strong but without stiffness, well displayed ...a beautiful bright brown color above - lustrous dark brown below..at bloom time, the center becomes scarlet over a diameter of 25 cm. Notable in every respect". Jungle Gardens said, "A vigorous plant with the underside of the green leaves a beautiful purplish maroon - In flower the central rosette is a long lasting bright cerise". Registration Documents 1966, JBS 4:51,55; 14:14; 38:21, Zimmerpflanzen:Br.279, JG1973 Butcher's note - Although Registration documents are said to have been lodged in 1966 none of the description comes from Morobe Nidularium 'Sir Charles Morobe' <1978 cv. of unknown parentage BSI-ICBH-1979, FL1978 Butcher's note - does not appear to be in circulation Nidularium 'Souvenir Robert Morobe' <1979 cv. of unknown parentage BSI-ICBH-1979 Butcher's note - does not appear to be in circulation xNiduregelia 'Souvenir De Casimir Morobe' by Morobe, M. <1945 cv. of Nidularium rutilans X Neoregelia 'Marechalii' - Large wide leafed rosette of bright green faintly mottled with inner rosette of brilliant shiny red. Dutrie said, "The appearance of this plant is that of Nidularium rutilans with the inflorescence well above the center. The bracteate leaves become colored with a beautiful cerise shade and are long lasting" - Bromeliad Treasury 1983 said, "The 18" open rosette is composed of 2" x 16" leaves that turn a light lavender on the upper surfaces and a deep lavender on the lower if grown in 70% shade". BSI-ICBH-1979, BromsPadilla 126, JBS 33:73; 38:21, NJB1976, KentCat1972, FL1978 We have a photo of Nidularium 'Casimir Morobe' from Florida which seems to agree with Padilla's description. We have a photo of Nidularium 'Madame Robert Morobe' from Florida that also seems to agree with Dutrie's description if you smile regarding the use of the colour brown and the fact that the centre flowering is 25cm in diam. Also have a look at 'Karamea Morobe' where there seems to be tenuous links with 'Madame Robert Morobe' We now move to the puzzle of the parents of 'Madame Robert Morobe' which link us to 'Digeneum', 'Francois Spae' & 'Chantrieri'. 'Digeneum' came into being in 1893 but nobody seems to be growing a plant under this name. 'Francois Spae' came into being in 1930 and photographs of this plant around the world seem consistent. 'Chantrieri' originated in 1895 and we have a painting of this plant on record, but has it survived 2 world wars? 'Madame Robert Morobe' originated in 1940 and it was not until after the War, in 1946, when Dutrie wrote about it. He said that this hybrid was more robust than 'Chantrieri' and I would suggest that it is most likely that the more vigorous form would have survived especially if the plant was then known by parentage! Thus, to my mind 'Chantrieri' and 'Madame Robert Morobe' are interchangeable names! And now for the crunch where there are lots of questions to be asked. All xNiduregelia hybrids registered so far have shown that the Neoregelia parent has greatly reduced the size of the primary bracts but please check our photographs. The photograph from Singapore has links to 'Shelldance' and thus California. This shows clear traits of Nidularium rutilans but is it a watered down bigeneric having been grown from seed from the true xNiduregelia 'Souvenir De Casimir Morobe'? The photo from California shows a plant without strong links to Nidularium rutilans but looks typical Nidularium. In fact it looks awfully like what is currently being grown as 'Chantrieri' and 'Madame Robert Morobe' Could Morobe have back crossed Nidularium rutilans X Neoregelia 'Marechalii' with Nidularium rutilans so the hybrid shows more Nidularium traits? Dutrie's description hints to this. We know that Neoregelia 'Medusa' as sold by Deroose has Aechmea in its make-up and should be a xNeomea but such are the hazards of a Registrar accepting names without quoted parentage. Because of so many doubts, we must leave this name as a xNiduregelia 'Souvenir De Casimir Morobe' but are the plants more likely to be Nidularium 'Chantrieri' or 'Madame Robert Morobe'? I leave that for you to look at and decide. However, there are still problems when writing labels. Please note the names as registered and don't add other combinations or delete words like 'Souvenir'. Things are bad enough as they are!"