Crazy December - 2013

[Janis Ruksans]

Weather are joking all the time. Crocuses and many other bulbs don't understand what to do. We have some snow outside, temperature in greenhouses around zero and spring crocuses (and many other bulbs - Colchicums, Hyacinthella, Muscari, reticulate irises, ornithogalums, even tulips) start to flower. Crocus hittiticus I showed in November. A lot of fleischeri stocks have long leaves and several others, too. From autumnals still are blooming Crocus laevigatus, laevigatus subsp. pumilus, C. hyemalis from Jordan and C. melantherus
Here some such runners - in tight bud due lack of sun.
Crocus chrysanthus from Ossa in Greek Macedonia
Crocus fauseri from locus classicus
Crocus graveolens
and two Colchicums I'm attaching here, too
Colchicum serpentinum
Colchicum triphyllum
Ahead an pair of nights with temperature around minus 10 C and then again around zero.

[Melvyn Jope]

Todays mild weather and sunshine brought out a few late Crocus here too.

Crocus tournefortii from SE Crete

C.biflorus ssp melantherus  from near Didima, Peloponnese.

C.goulymi from Pyrgos Dirou Peloponnese

[krisderaeymaeker]

I agree Janis , it is a crazy year .......
The C.  biflorus melantherus is absolutely stunning Melvyn !

[Janis Ruksans]

C.biflorus ssp melantherus  from near Didima, Peloponnese.

Melvin & Kris,

DNA researches on Crocus biflorus complex confirmed my opinion that merging of most white-blue annulate crocuses under hat of biflorus as subspecies was mistake. They are far different genetically and must be returned to species status. So Crocus melantherus and not  Crocus biflorus subsp. melantherus.
See:

Feddes Repertorium 123 (2012) 1, 73–79

Chromosome numbers of Turkish Crocus (Liliiflorae, Iridaceae)
and their geographical distribution
INGO SCHNEIDER*, 1, HELMUT KERNDORFF & ERICH PASCHE
Keywords: Crocus biflorus sensu lato, chromosome numbers, taxonomy, distribution, Turkey

And it is valid for European crocuses of so named(!) biflorus group. In my Crocus book I raised back status of melantherus, because hadn't courage to widen my opinion without subport on genetical level. By the way - now many scientists not subport subspecies status at all. May be my speciosus group crocuses must be regarded as species, too. Unfortunately I haven't possibilities to make DNA research on them. I'm only retaired amateur.
Janis
P.S. You will save space on label, too! Ha-ha...

[krisderaeymaeker]

Thanks Janis !

[Melvyn Jope]

Thank you Janis, I will alter my labels!

Did you consider differentiating between those with striped markings on the outer petals and those with stippled markings?
The photo shows the two forms growing together, I have always found there are far fewer of the stippled form in any population.

[pontus]

yes, a very strange year...

here my sternbergia lutea ssp angustifolia is still in bloom next to a wall despite -6°c...colchicum autumnale pleniflorum, in flower since mid-october, is still in full bloom, now under a box with leaves and insulation to cover from cold...

maybe the cold keeps them in bloom for longer...

[Janis Ruksans]

Thank you Janis, I will alter my labels!

Did you consider differentiating between those with striped markings on the outer petals and those with stippled markings?
The photo shows the two forms growing together, I have always found there are far fewer of the stippled form in any population.

Such variation is absolutely normal and you can find striped and stipled forms in many (may be in most) of species. Sometimes such forms are quite rare but sometimes allmost in equal numbers and growing side by side. Here you can see Crocus melantherus pictured at same locality in same day (Greece, Peloponess, 2008)
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

Some more ilustrations about variability. On attached pictures Crocus taseliensis - forms pictured in wild and two pictures of cultivated plants. Usually anthers are with black connective but I collected few with plain yellow anthers, too (no pictures here)

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Fantastic images Melvyn and Janis !  All superb specimen !

The striped Crocus taseliensis is simply stunning Janis !

[YT]

The striped Crocus taseliensis is simply stunning Janis !

Yes, I agree. The striped one is an eye‐catcher

[Janis Ruksans]

Tomorrow is real Christmas - our pagan festival, when real new year will start (21st of December at 19-11 in evening!). Our family will come together and we will celebrate this night with donations to our ancient Gods, dancing and singing and masquerade.

Greetings to all Croco-nuts with returning of Sun and elongating of Day!

Here winter still didn't started, no more crocuses in bloom, but buds are shown by C. korolkowii. Blooms some Iranian reticulata irises.

Janis

[YT]

A seedling of Crocus laevigatus from JJA Seeds is blooming now. Its flower is very small. The plastic label in third picture is 15mm in width. Perhaps some more seedlings will flower next season.

347.421 : CROCUS LAEVIGATUS Greece, Crete, Mt. Vouvala. Ex an A. Edwards coll. (An exquisitely tiny (though not quite so small as an Omalos coll. we grow) white flowered form, sometimes with fine maroon-black feathering outside.)

[Janis Ruksans]

Very nice, Tatsuo. Cretan laevigatus is very small and it is reason why I described it as subsp. pumilus.
Sincerely Yours
Janis

[YT]

Cretan laevigatus is very small and it is reason why I described it as subsp. pumilus.

I see, Janis I thought I forgot to feed them when I spot this flower at first time, it's so tiny.