Crocus March

[Janis Ruksans]

Looks that this will be last entry today. At first Crocus hittiticus from stock originally collected by Brian Mathew.
Several of Crocus antalyensis
Crocus antalyensis subsp. striatus described by Osman Erol
Form of Crocus antalyensis from most North situated location in N Turkey
I bought several antalyensis corms from my good friend and excellent nurseryman in France, between those was this beautiful seedling, most likely hybrid with some flavus subsp., which genetically is close to antalyensis.
My own hybrid between Crocus antalyensis x  C. flavus dissectus is much more yellow colored and it isn't easy to distinguish it from subsp. dissectus.
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

Some more crocuses from yesterday. Will start with some Iranian gatherings of Crocus biflorus group. By my opinion there are 2 new species, 3 samples I got from my friends other are WHIR aquisitions.

[Janis Ruksans]

Still more few of WHIR Crocus biflorus and Crocus korolkowii SNOW LEOPARD - true stock, selected by John Grimshaw with blue throat. And last in this entry - Crocus sieberi seedling from seeds gathered on Omalos plain in Crete.
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

Almost all my crocuses now are in full bloom, can't picture and put names on all. All the day yesterday checked names, stocks etc. Here still few pictures from Sunday. This morning we had outside minus 13 C. What happened in my polytunels - still don't know. Will go there when temperature will rise up.
Will start with Crocus atrospermus. It is type collection plant from Erich.
Next one is the best form of Crocus caricus, which I got from Rick. We collected it together supposing that it is nerimaniae, but between Rick's plants was this beauty. Later I twice visited this spot and vicinity in spring at blooming time, but nothing so good found more.
Crocus biflorus group species (unidetified) comes from Jim Archibald by his wish. It was originally collected by him SE Cevizli, Turkey.
This very beautiful Crocus chrysanthus was collected at Gembos yaila
Crocus isauricus from near Ibradi.
Still 3 more entries will follow.

[Janis Ruksans]

Crocus atticus nivalis unusually early comparing with others
Crocus hartmannianus from Dirch
Crocus ionopharynx got from Erich
and two forms of Crocus leucostylosus both got from Erich, too

[Janis Ruksans]

The first is Crocus nubigena collected by me on Samos Island (Greece) just near W Turkey border
Then three pictures of Crocus atroviolaceus - first two were collected by myself in old orchard under Castanea sativus tree, inside village, the third is from yaila. I got that from Gothenburg BG and I don't know who actually collected it. This gathering confirmed its wider distribution than supposed earlier.
The flower petals looks pursy, but it is not virus - flowering started below cower and were pressed from top by glass-wool sheets.
The last in this entry I collected as white Crocus chrysanthus near Denizli, but surrounding plants were C. crewei, so I'm not certain about correct identification and will check this at harvesting time when I will see its tunics.

[Janis Ruksans]

And now last entry for this morning.
First two pictures are of Crocus leichtlinii - one is usual (if we can use this word for this Crocus) form, got by me from Gothenburg. Another I got as Crocus aerius from Kamerlander (as KKPS-9301 ) and as C. leichtlinii from Archibald. So this spring I identified this stock. Really the single difference is in shape of petals, in Archibald's stock they are wider and rounded, but typical colour of petals and anthers gives no doubt about identification.
Then comes Crocus munzurense aff. - still not officially published, but such name was used by Erich in THE PLANTSMAN, it is not type collection, but from vicinity, so I'm adding aff. (close to)
Crocus yakarianus is another one still unpublished species, at least I didn't found its official publication. May be it was resigned by editor as manuscript was really but I think that this Crocus need its name. I collected it just near type collection, only a little lower saving it from bulldozers as next day it would be bulldozered away by new road building.
And the last is pure yellow Crocus olivieri balansae. This gathering really confuses me. It was collected as type subspecies and really other 4 plants collected together are type subsp. olivieri. Colour of this one is as in olivieri, but stigma is clearly many divided as in balansae. How to regard it? Abnormal olivieri? Pure yellow balansae? Or may be both must be joined? On Chios island both are reported. From many acquisitions got there at many localities (collected without flowers) no one turned balansae.

[Armin]

Marvelous images, Janis.
Thank you for showing your treasures of your unique collection and sharing the stories behind with us.

I could put all on 'my wishlist' but I know I can't please them under my garden conditions and limitations I have.
But I enjoy every beauty you show us.

[ielaba2011]

Some crocus in my garden, I love the crocus flower, but unfortunately I don't know which variety is this...

[Janis Ruksans]

Some crocus in my garden, I love the crocus flower, but unfortunately I don't know which variety is this...

It looks as some of large flowering Dutch crocus varieties (Crocus x cultorum), but I'm afraid that this plant is virus infected. So you must destroy it, but better wait for other comments from forumists. May be I'm wrong.

[ielaba2011]

uhm I have this crocus for many years now....even if this is a virus infected one, I only grow them for the flower, and I donīt have any other viriety. They are too many to be destroyed right now, and I love them ;DD

[Maggi Young]

Some crocus in my garden, I love the crocus flower, but unfortunately I don't know which variety is this...

 I think perhaps one of the Dutch "giant" crocus such as 'Flower Record' , Jamie.

I think there is a lot of shade in the photo and also the blooms have obviously been very wet- it may just be weather that affects their look, Janis, not virus.

[ielaba2011]

I think perhaps one of the Dutch "giant" crocus such as 'Flower Record' , Jamie.

I think there is a lot of shade in the photo and also the blooms have obviously been very wet- it may just be weather that affects their look, Janis, not virus.

Thank you Maggi, yes it's been raining a lot in the last couple of weeks, and this photo was actually taken under a umbrella I love my crocus!

[Maggi Young]

Thank you Maggi, yes it's been raining a lot in the last couple of weeks, and this photo was actually taken under a umbrella I love my crocus!

A lot of life has happened under an umbrella this "Spring", eh ? !! 

[Janis Ruksans]

Few more pictures made on Monday.
Crocus biflorus group JATU-047 from Gugu Beli pass parking. Corms were "dug" out from asfalt and hard pressed stone chip pavement.
Next is unusual Crocus chrysanthus - unfortunately origin is lost but this one deep in throat has blackish zone. Those black spots in centre of flower isnr so named "barbs" of anthers.
The very rare and perfect albino of Crocus olivieri discovered by Ibrahim who kindly shared this beauty with me
And as last one in this entry - two Crocus olivieri - subsp. balansae from from Gothenburg BG and subsp. olivieri from Chios Island