I am going by the peach bible, Peaches of New York, for the origin of Indian Free. Here is what it states: Indian Blood Freestone. 3. Am. Pom. Soc, Cat. 28. 1873. 4. Ga. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 25. 1876. Blood Free was probably raised by John M. Ives, Salem, Massachusetts, and is distinct from Blood Cling in having its stone free. The American Pomological Society placed the variety in its list of fruits in 1873 as Indian Blood Freestone but in 1897 shortened the name to Blood Free. Tree vigorous, hardy; fruit of medium size, compressed; apex roundish; skin greenish-white overspread with splashes and stripes of dark red; flesh blood-red throughout, juicy, coarse, tough and meaty; quality fair; stone free; season very late. This description (besides the fair rating) seems accurate, in particular the "very late". This description is also quoted in the ARS system which likely has the Indian Free that nurseries are propagating today. I looked at that Texas bulletin and it stated mid August which seems too early. So, I think the Indian Free of today is this same peach with reasonably high probability. There were many red-fleshed peaches floating around the US so there always could have been a mix-up somewhere over the years. Scott

Brom addict at first I thought you were suggesting I should really speed to Tropiflora and talk to Michael then I googled up Michael's and you're right it's even closer in Venice. I must be working in the sun too much. I also bought the Steen book on Amazon for $7. - money left over for plants. Thanks again Barb

I just received an interesting story of this remarkable Ortho. from Derek Butcher. I wonder that the plant had been identified as a Cryptanthus before. These pics are the day 4th of blooming that I took this morning. For one who would like to read its very interesting stories... And thanks Uncle Derek for his informative message (^_^) "...A New Identity for a Mysterious Species by Elton M.C. Leme, J Brom. Soc. 45(1):3-5. 1995 For almost 40 years Cryptanthus duartei L.B. Smith has been the object of speculation and mystery since it is the only species of the genus with orange-colored petals. Collected originally in 1949 in the Serra do Cipo, Minas Gerais State, by Apparicio P Duarte, the species was presented to science in 1955 being named after its discoverer. This bromeliad has never again been collected despite the intense botanical work that has been carried out in the area where it was found, today a national park. As a mandatory step in the work of revising the Cryptanthus genus, we had the opportunity of examining the isotype of C. duartei deposited in the herbarium of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. Although we were dealing with a dried specimen composed of fragments, it was possible to recognize the presence of two well-developed appendages at the base of its free petals, which characteristics were not observed in the original description. The fact is sufficiently relevant to alter the concept of the species, requiring a transfer to the genus Orthophytum. When compared to species of the Orthophytum genus, Cryptanthus duartei was found to be similar to O. supthutii E. Gross & W. Barthlott, described in 1990, also collected in the Serra do Cipo, and also having orange-yellow petals. Although the original description of this species indicated some distinctions, we noted after re-examining the holotype deposited in the Herbarium Bradeanum that such differences were simply the result of faulty interpretation of identical morphological characteristics. We confirmed that observation by examining live specimens collected by the biologist Pedro I. Nahoum in the same microregion. For these reasons, we conclude that O. supthutii, which in 1990 had impressed us because of the never-before-seen color of its flowers, is not botanically different from Cryptanthus duartei. Taking into consideration the impossibility of a new combination for Cryptanthus duartei since there is Orthophytum duartei, a distinct species also described by L.B. Smith, we must adopt the next available valid name for the species, as follows: Orthophytum supthutii E. Gross & W. Barthlott emend. Leme & E. Gross. Synonym: Cryptanthus duartei L.B. Smith, Smithson. Misc. Collect. 126:23, 159, fig. 67. 1955..... According to available information, Orthophytum supthutii is a species of restricted distribution even within the limits of its area of occurrence in the region of Serra do Cipo. For that reason, the long silence and uncertainty about its true identity should not be found strange. It grows in small populations on rocky walls at altitudes of more than 1000 meters. The plant varies somewhat in size, presenting a delicate appearance as a rule. When sterile, it resembles Orthophytum amoenum (Ule) L.B. Smith because of its size and the green and lustrous leaves. When in bloom, however, its orange-yellow petals have no equals in this genus...." And in the other paper "...Orthophytum supthutii, a Striking New Bromeliad by Elvira Gross and Wilhelm Barthlott, J Brom Soc. 40(5): 217-9. 1990 In course of a journey in February 1988 through the state of Minas Gerais, a remarkable dwarf terrestrial (epilithic) bromeliad was observed. Slides and a description of the plant were subsequently sent to Elton M.C. Leme (Rio de Janeiro), the specialist in Brazilian bromeliads. He informed us: ". . . it is really different from everything I have ever seen. As far as my knowledge is concerned, it is not closely related to any other known species because of its petal features." On the advice of E.M.C. Leme and W. Rauh (Heidelberg), we decided to describe this new species:.... ...Orthophytum supthutii is a striking new species that seems to have an isolated position within the genus Orthophytum. The determination, with help of the key in L.B. Smith and R.J. Downs (Flora Neotropica 14/3, 1979), leads to O. navioides (L.B. Smith) L.B. Smith but that species is quite different from O. supthutii. The latter differs from O. navioides in the following characteristics: Leaves only 15 cm long, beneath very densely white lepidote, above green, not 30 cm long, obscurely lepidote and reddish. Inflorescence with many flowers, not few-flowering. Sepals only 2 cm long, not 3 cm. Petals bright orange-yellow, not white. Ovary up to 10 mm long, not 5 mm. Further collections must show if we have to erect an own subgenus for O. supthutii. The plant is dedicated to D. Supthut, director of the Stadtiche sukkulentensammlung, Zurich ( Switzerland), who is very interested in xerophytic bromeliads...."

Thanks, Ricky. It's amazing how different neo. Martin looks depending on amount of sun. I have another question. You seem to have terrific luck with neo fireball in the ground. I have tried it 3 times and it rots for me. It seems to accumulate leaves, mulch, etc around the base which causes rot, although it has been on high enough ground. Do you have any hints on what to do to make it thrive as it does in your yard? Do you keep it in a pot? Pray tell. I did get one neo Martin last year and it spread to 5, so it is making progress, and I have a clump of blanchetiana that is looking great. I just need more spreaders. I bought a couple of neo. fireball, but still have them in pots. I was thinking of hanging them in trees since I haven't had luck in the ground like you. I need tips, please! Anna