In 1971, the then Filipino minister of culture coerced a family of ordinary farmers into living as a Stone Age tribe in the rainforest. This may have been as a way to boost tourism or possibly it was as bait for wealthy donors to contribute to tribal education.
Unexpectedly, the National Geographic Society was also snared and promoted the lost tribe worldwide. One of the tribe's customs was to catch their only source of protein - frogs - by crushing and rubbing Tricyrtis imeldiae on their arms and hands as a so-called frog attractant. Since then, all Tricyrtis have become known as toad lilies.
Back here in the real world, though, Tricyrtis formosana "Variegata" represents this genus in the Dunedin Botanic Garden's rhododendron dell. The plant's small but remarkable flowers resemble purple spotted stars.
At 20 to 30cm tall Tricyrtis combines well with other low perennials but has the added value of flowering well into autumn.
Finally, Tricyrtis will spread gradually through moist areas of dappled woodland shade as long as frogs stay off the menu.
ABOUT IT:
• Tricyrtis formosana originates in Taiwan.
• Will grow in neutral or acid soils enriched by well-rotted compost.
• Useful as cut flower.
• Propagate by division in spring or by seed sown fresh.
• View amazing close up images of Tricyrtis at www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjan10/bj-toadlily.html
To see it growing, walk south along the garden's cherry walk and continue downhill past the big totara until the sign entitled "Water Loving, not Water Logged". It is right beside that.
- Doug Thomson is curator of the rhododendron dell at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
