Chinese Fritillaria

[Jozef Lemmens]

Dear All,

Is there anyone who is able to help me with the identification of this Fritillaria? The picture was taken in Sichuan (China).



I have uploaded to my website -  http://www.alpines.be/ - more photographs of my China 2006 trip.
I would welcome any help with identification of plants  which I am unfamiliar with.
Thanks for any help.

Jozef

[Gerard Oud]

I think it's a variety of Fritillaria whitallii
vrgr gerard

[biodiversite]

There is no F. whittalii in China, It is very difficult but it could be a F. cirrhosa for example...

[Lesley Cox]

I'm sure you're right. It IS F. cirrhosa. I've had the name on the tip of my tongue for days and couldn't think of it. I've lent my Frit book and file to someone so couldn't find a reference in a hurry. Certainly no F whittallii in China.

[Maggi Young]

F. cirrhosa is very variable : but then again, there are few plants which are not!!
What about a form of F. roylei, just to throw another possibility into the mix? I wouldn't like to say for sure without seeing the whole plant in front of me.... well, in front of the BD, really, he's better than I, though he admits these plants are tricky!

[Lesley Cox]

I didn't think of F. roylei as I've never seen it though a couple of people here claim to have it. I should stop being so dogmatic.

As an aside, and considering the Crocus cvijicii debate, how does the bulb despot pronounce "roylei" Maggi? I plump for royal-eye but some here say roy-lee-eye. I assume the guy's name was Royle? But then some here also say "traverse-ee-eye" rather than "travers-ee-eye" and "lie-alley-eye" instead of lyall-ee-eye" when those men were named Travers and Lyall.

Not only dogmatic but pedantic too, I suppose.

[Maggi Young]

BD says royal-eye, Lesley.

Does F. roylei's range extend across to Sichuan? I don't know ! Mostly further west, isn't it?
Oh, dear, lots of confusion here! Sorry!

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Maggi. As in "one in the  " for the not so bonnie prince.

[Jozef Lemmens]

Thanks for breathing new life into this topic. I believe it must be a variety or subspecies of Fr. cirrhosa.
Now I am here, I can tell that I go back to China (Tibet) in June. There are still a few Androsaces and Primulas I didn’t find in the past. 

Jozef

[mark smyth]

I never use it but was told words ending ii should e-e