Just when you thought it was fun to go into the garden, have a read of this:

"A new day dawning: Hemerocallis (daylily) as a future model organism"

http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.o...

Whoooa! That's some deep reading, Glen. I had to stop reading to comment here because it is a long article. But I am enjoying it even though I don't understand a lot of it.

I thought one statement was interesting, "While the genus itself is easily delimited (Dahlgren et al. 1985), the taxonomy of the genus remains rather confused and there has been no recent formal monographic treatment of the genus." I didn't realize that there was question about Hemerocallis' classification.

Back to the article now. I saw some pictures so I want to see what they are.

Thanks for posting the link!

And I know I don't understand the terminology or I wouldn't be asking the question, but I would have thought that the hybrids now would have more genetic diversity, not less. ???

"The species and early hybrids showed the highest genetic diversity, with genetic diversity progressively dropping from the cultivars in the mid-20th century to those produced in the late 20th century. As might be predicted, the tetraploid breeding lines displayed less genetic diversity than diploids. This work clearly shows that the intense artificial selection of plant hybrids recently taken up for ornamental domestication soon generates a measurable decline in genetic diversity. The genus offers a marvellous opportunity to investigate the effect of man-made hybridization and extreme artificial selection pressures during domestication on the genome and gene expression."

Vickie, I am reading it still too. I get side-tracked by some of the references. Yes, it is deep stuff but there are quite a few paragraphs that are easy to comprehend and wonder at. The scientific goggles on us: where we are of interest and make the scientist wonder.

"Outside of specialist circles of collectors, these extraordinary products of intensive breeding are almost unknown, yet they could provide fascinating subjects for scientific study. Even the basic histology and developmental biology are yet to be investigated."

The diversity we see, or the physical expression of the genes, is highly varied. But the genetic diversity is getting less. You don't need a lot of genes to produce that physical diversity apparently.

Okay, thanks. I was only thinking of the physical part.

And yes, there is enough 'non-scientific' stuff to keep me reading! I think it is very interesting even though I don't understand it all. I even had to look up what 'model organism' is! A whole world of study I'm not familiar with.

On the classification, it looks like no one has done a modern revision of the genus and actually looked at the delimitation of the individual species and their relationships to one and other all together. So far it has been done piecemeal. Reading between the lines, there is a very good chance some of the forms are good species. This has certain implications for hybridisers using natural forms like that Canadian hybridiser whose name has escaped me for the moment. (Gil Stelter added 18/12).
The relationship of the daylily Family to other Families is difficult to decide apparently based on current information. That they have been put it with grass trees Xanthorrhoeaceae I find amazing and counter intuitive. I will take some photos of grass trees tomorrow and post them.

Here are the plants (genus) considered to be most closely related to Hemerocallis, the daylily (genus):
Agrostocrinum
Arnocrinum
Caesia
Corynotheca
Dianella
Eccremis
Geitonoplesium
Hensmania
Herpolirion
Hodgsoniola
Johnsonia
Pasithea
Phormium
Stypandra
Simethis
Stawellia
Thelionema
Tricoryne

I think the most recent molecular genetic analysis suggests that Simethis is the closest (could easily change with more research). But others that are close are Dianella, and Stypandra. Xanthorrhea the genus is more distant. All the above genera are included in the larger grouping of Xanthorrheaceae the family http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X...

Most awesome post! Hoping more discussion continues on this one ... I nearly posted my take on how humans and neanderthals show how genetic diversity lessens over time, but had to give it up in hopes that the tighter discourse continues to play back and forth ...

I am most encouraged to learn more from the article, since it also talks of TOC proteins (in the above article regarding the nocturnal/diurnal regulation), which I stumbled upon in my earlier search of info on albinism: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pm... ... you guys give the best scientific nudges to get all of us striving to learn more, no matter how impenetrable the initial terminology may seem to be. Kudos for untangling the complexity of science as we ask questions, try out ideas, and work to verbalize new information! Your guidance is most appreciated.

*also feels like the pull to get some species plants going in pots over here is getting to be overwhelming ... how neat to taste and be nourished by the species plant who's hybrid flowers we now so admire...* heads back to the article to see if the possible medicinal uses are outlined ... Go Hemerocallis, Go!!

I will have to re-read this thread and a few others to absorb it all. Good stuff!!!

This is an Xanthorrhoea (X. johnsonii) in the bush near me. It is reckoned to be a relative of Hemerocallis.
Peering through the bush, early colonists thought they looked like someone holding spear.
They are prized garden plants but slow growing and do not like being moved at all. This has saved them from over-exploitation.

The plant with a finished flower spike carrying seed (to 6', 2m).


The skirt, as it is called. There is usually a trunk below it.


The flower spike.

It does look a little like a spear.

How tall does that flower spike grow? Rather interesting!

Island ones to about two metres.

At a daylily meeting many years ago, Pat Stamile stated that he was converting species in order to recover genes that had not been exploited
Has any one heard if his results were positive

That is a tall one Glen! Very interesting.

Charlie, Gil Stelter, the Canadian hybridizer who uses wild Hemerocallis fulva clones is interesting in that regard. @hementia

http://gryphongardens.ca/cross...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Thanks Glen
Very interesting possibilities

Here are some more daylily relatives Xanthorrhoea (X. johnsonii). People tend to build their houses around them because they know they will probably be in old age homes by the time they grow them from seed or end up in the poor house if they buy them.