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Water Gardening News Feature
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| Controversy is surrounding a new publication written by the famous American hybridiser of waterlilies and lotus, the late Perry D. Slocum. A fully updated work based upon that originally published in 1996 by Timber Press and written by Perry Slocum and Peter Robinson. It has stirred up considerable comment from many in the water gardening trade, the scientific community, and also amongst members of the International Waterlily Society. |
 Perry Slocum said "Nymphaea ‘Almost Black’ is a nearly unbelievable waterlily." |
| They refer particularly to statements made around the parentage of some of his well-known hybrids. According to some botanists, what he claims to have done would seem impossible given present knowledge. Amongst the statements made in the book, which fly in the face of modern science is the assertion by Perry that "I was able to cross Nymphaea ‘Peter Slocum’ x Nymphaea ‘Director George T. Moore’". He also states "Nymphaea ‘Almost Black’ is a nearly unbelievable waterlily - I hybridized a tropical waterlily with an odorata and came up with a Marliac rhizome. |
 Perry Slocum claimed to have crossed the tropical Nymphaea ‘Director George T. Moore’ with a hardy Nymphaea cultivar. |
A number of modern day hybridisers find the late Perry Slocum’s statements flawed, and have spoken out quite strongly. "Many of us do not believe he actually crossed a hardy and tropical waterlily. Only a DNA test could confirm if he had succeeded in that cross. So far I do not know if such a test has ever been made" said one leading American hybridiser in a forum discussion amongst leading members of the International Waterlily Society, and other water gardening specialists from around the world. |
| The photography in the book has also created a stir amongst those who wish to use the publication as a reference for cultivar identification. It has long been known that the best way to record a flower is by drawing and painting, but in the age of modern digital photography, this is not an option open to many publishers. In modern publishing photography is king, however it can be readily manipulated by modern computer technology. |
 Leaf colour in waterlilies is an important characteristic in their identification. |
| Suggestions have been made that in order to get the colours of the flowers correct, adjustments have had to be made which adversely affect the likeness of the foliage. Obtaining true colours, especially shades of blue, is not an uncommon problem in publishing. Much depends upon the kind of film that was originally used, some of the earlier kinds being particularly awkward. However, whatever the criticisms of the book and the on-going discussions surrounding it, nothing can be taken away from the fact that Perry Slocum was one of the greatest hybridisers of Nymphaea and Nelumbo of modern times. |
 "The original manuscript cannot have been sent for peer review" said one disappointed horticultural graduate. |
He may not have always had a full and up-to-date understanding of botanical science, but as a practical hybridiser he was probably the most successful and important in the last half of the twentieth century. As one disappointed horticultural graduate said "it seems that the publisher cannot have sent the original manuscript for peer review, otherwise many of the problems that manifest themselves, even in the title, would have been identified. The words New Hybrids are superfluous. New Hybrids are in fact cultivars." This article was first published in spring 2005 |
| Readers who wish to discuss this subject can do so by joining the PondMessenger forum. Click on the Yahoo icon at the bottom of the page to join the group. Membership is free and discussion often lively. |
| Waterlilies and Lotuses: Species, Cultivars and New Hybrids By Perry D. Slocum This fully updated volume by the late Perry Slocum describes nearly 500 species and cultivars of Nymphaea and Nelumbo. It is an enlarged version of the publication Water Gardening: Water Lilies and Lotuses originally written by Perry Slocum and Peter Robinson. The book is illustrated with 350 photographs, more than 100 of which have been published for the first time. It includes information on hardiness and an extensive list of suppliers. Published by Timber Press 2005. ISBN-88192-684-1.  Click to join pondmessenger |
 The new volume by the late Perry D. Slocum, which has caused controversy. |
To view the photo credits, please pause your mouse pointer over the photo that you are interested in.
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