Crocus October 2014

[Roma]

A few common ones from me
Crocus kotschyanus
Crocus kotschyanus leucopharynx
Two forms of Crocus speciosus - the dark one flowered in late September and the paler one has just finished flowering

[tonyg]

In flower today, a white form of Crocus oreocreticus in 23 degrees today!! 

This white flowered plant appeared in a pot of seedlings from oreocreticus.  I suspect hybrid genes .....

[Roma]

Crocus pulchellus continues to take over my garden.  The first flower was open on September 2nd and there are still flowers coming.  They all originate from a few seeds or small corms thrown out with old potting compost and are spread around by ants.  A few are very pale and some a good blue with most in between, some with pointed petals and some rounded.

[tonyg]

Crocus oreocreticus variations.

Some I have been growing for 15 years, others are seedlings.  You can decode the age from the file name.

I am finding the impact of genetic research on naming quite a challenge.  Recent exchanges regarding Crocus ibrahimii, a genetically good species yet with the superficial appearance of a hybrid between speciosus and pulchellus, have highlighted this.  The many new species described from genetic variants of Crocus speciosus senso latu and Crocus pallasii s.l. are also problematic for me.  As for the complex tangle that was Crocus biflorus s.l. ......

I have no quarrel with Janis on this subject.  We have the greatest crocus expert here to explain these things to us and illustrate the variations with wonderful pictures.  A fantastic resource!  Long may it continue.

My problem:  What happens when we grow these plants in our collections / gardens? 
What happens here is that closely related species interbreed.  Increase by seed is perhaps the only way to increase the distribution of these plants in cultivation but to get pure seed you must be very careful to keep likely partners apart!  An impossible challenge for me, an time-challenged amateur! 

So here is Crocus oreocreticus - some may be chaste and pure ... others are not!

[tonyg]

Variation in Crocus longiflorus - not promiscuous with other taxa here.

The dark form is 'ex Malta' by several generations.

[tonyg]

Well, it's true, the Dutch horticulture trade is HUGE- and there will be cases when sellers are only interested in bulk sales of "autumn crocus" or such - but it sounds here like "the Dutch" are ALL being criticised - and that is not fair, I think.

If we learn anything from this is it should be that it is often a good idea to support small growers - and yet, I know even they can make mistakes.

It is rather offensive, though, to make statements which criticise a whole nation, please don't do that.

Agreed!  Although I'm sure no-one here intended to offend anyone else in person.
I'd prefer to say that the huge, international bulb business has become disconnected from the specialist growers who can keep stock pure .... and hopefully healthy.  Of course the big business does offer economies of scale so bringing bulbs to market cheaply.  For certainty of name and purity of stock we should seek the little man and perhaps expect to pay a little more.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Crocus mathewii Dream Dancer.

Lovely plant in a lovely setting Melvyn.

[krisderaeymaeker]

The dark form is 'ex Malta' by several generations.

Very nice Tony !

[krisderaeymaeker]

Here in flower today : Crocus veneris . (also with a pollinator ...)

[Robert]

Agreed!  Although I'm sure no-one here intended to offend anyone else in person.
I'd prefer to say that the huge, international bulb business has become disconnected from the specialist growers who can keep stock pure .... and hopefully healthy.  Of course the big business does offer economies of scale so bringing bulbs to market cheaply.  For certainty of name and purity of stock we should seek the little man and perhaps expect to pay a little more.

Tony,

Thank you for the comments. I know that I had no intention of offending anyone, especially personally.

[Otto Fauser]

Janis , you lament the disappearance  and authenticity of some older cultivars of Crocus speciosus  . I am fairly certain that my stock ofC. speciosus 'Aitchisonii' is true to name . I received it in 1961 from Wilhelm Schacht , Munich Botanic Garden .

[Boyed]

Janis , you lament the disappearance  and authenticity of some older cultivars of Crocus speciosus  . I am fairly certain that my stock ofC. speciosus 'Aitchisonii' is true to name . I received it in 1961 from Wilhelm Schacht , Munich Botanic Garden .

Otto,

Will kindly ask you to show some photos of your crocus speciosus 'Aitchinsonii'. So we can compare with the ones grown by Thomas.

[Otto Fauser]

Zhirair , unfortunately I do not have a photo of it , so have to wait till it flowers here next April -our autumn .

[udo]

Tony G, very nice Crocus oreocreticus and longiflorus, but also de Cr.veneris of Kris.
Now here is Crocus hyemalis in blossom. Stands yet outside, however, is allowed in winter in the greenhouse 
Also Crocus caspius

[Maggi Young]

Here in flower today : Crocus veneris . (also with a pollinator ...)

Oh! Such an extravagantly branched style!