Bizarre galanthus flowers

[Alan_b]

The person who springs to mind in your area is Paul Barney of Edulus Nursery in Pangbourne.  He certainly has the snowdrop expertise but I have no idea if he would be willing to help - or indeed able as it's a very busy time of year for anyone who sells snowdrops commercially.  His web site is http://www.edulis.co.uk/ .  He posts on this forum as 'uvularia' http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=24360

[Brian Ellis]

Of course it also rather depends on whether this is a stable feature of the flowers.  You don't live far from Michael Barron at Alresford, if he has any open days in the near future I would take one along for him to look at, he was a National Collection holder for some years. 

It was a joy to meet Hanneke van Dijk yesterday as I was selling snowdrops at Ann Borrill's for the Dutch visit.  In the afternoon we had people here to see the 'drops and I did notice one which had the same tendency to fuse and curl, if I can find it when I have time to go out there today I'll take a snap.  It could be almost anything causing the bizarre formation but I can't stress more than it should be stable for some years.  We didn't name 'Saraband' until it had shown it's characteristics for some five or six years running on the mature bulbs.

[Alan_b]

I'm with Brian 100% on the need to establish stability.  But I would say that the more snowdrops you have doing the same thing, the more likely it is that the phenomenon will repeat in future years.  I had got it into my head that somewhere there was a whole wood full of snowdrops doing this sort of thing but that could be my misinterpretation of what was actually written. 

[Shauney]

Thanks for the leads Alan and Brian I will look them up.

Not a wood full of them Alan sorry!

I have had a very quick look in the wood since discovering them but it is a thick carpet through most of it now so pretty difficult to get down and have a good look without squashing hundreds at a time! It's possible there could be more but can't remember the exact spot I dug them up from as I was digging up clumps to spread around there garden. I have 2 bulbs that have done the same so I'm guessing it must be pretty stable. Will have to wait until late next year to see what happens to be sure. I'll keep you posted. Thanks Shaun.

[Brian Ellis]

I knew there was one here doing the same thing, of all things it is Robert Wijnen a lovely present from a forumist who knows my prediliction for GRYM snowdrops, it's first year flowering too.

[Shauney]

Thanks for finding the snowdrop Brian. It looks like yours is just two of the inners that have fused,where on mine it was one of the outer petals that had fused with two of the inners. Still nice to see an oddity. Shaun.

[emma T]

I like this odd little fellow

[Shauney]

I like the one in pics 3.

[Shauney]

I found another snowdrop with one of the outer petals fused to two of the inners.

[Shauney]

Also found this bizarre looking double.

[Shauney]

And this freaky thing!