Galanthus graecus

[Maggi Young]

Reopening this thread to post these  photos from Dimitri Zubov.....

Galanthus graecus fide Zubov in the wild, S Ukraine, Black Sea Lowland

[Maggi Young]

more Galanthus graecus fide Zubov in the wild, S Ukraine, Black Sea Lowland

[Tim Harberd]

Striped ovaries! That's a curious thing... Thanks for posting Maggi

[Alan_b]

A pity Dimitri does not show us more of the leaves, to help in recognition.

[Maggi Young]

Dimitri is widely regarded as an expert  in the  field, so I for one, am  prepared to take  his ID as correct. I confess it never occurred to  me  to doubt it.

[Alan_b]

I don't doubt it for one minute, Maggi.  What I doubt very much is my own ability to correctly identify Galanthus graecus were I to encounter it.

[Maggi Young]

I don't doubt it for one minute, Maggi.  What I doubt very much is my own ability to correctly identify Galanthus graecus were I to encounter it.

Ah well, I might be with you there!   Always something to learn isn't  there?

I find these  notes are  helpful -

http://citesbulbs.myspecies.info/category/galanthus-wild-species/galanthus-gracilis#:~:text=Galanthus%20gracilis%20occurs%20on%20limestone%2C%20sandstone%2C%20and%20igneous,and%20wetter%20than%20places%20with%20a%20south-facing%20aspect.

[Alan_b]

Cites say:

In the past, G. gracilis has been known as G. graecus, for example in F.C. Stern’s Snowdrops and Snowflakes (1956), but this name should not be used because the type specimen of G. graecus represents G. elwesii and not G. gracilis (Brickell 1984).

My understanding is that graecus is not fully acknowledged as a species and in appearance looks somewhat intermediate between elwesii and gracilis.  It would have caused less confusion to choose a different and new name for this species rather than recycle an old one but perhaps if the type specimen really is neither elwesii nor gracilis that is not allowed?