Crocus February 2008

[David Nicholson]

Exquisite

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very nice Dirk !
I see another one pushing through on your first pic - it will be interesting to see the variation !

[art600]

Dirk

How long from seed to flowering?

[udo]

Arthur,

this plant is three years old.

more pictures:
Crocus baytopiorum, a form with a short stem from Denizli in SW-Turkey
Crocus sieberi ssp.nivalis

[Gerdk]

Dirk,
What's the trick to keep C. baytopiorum so compact? Is it artificial light?
Beautiful plants, beautiful pics!

Gerd

[Maggi Young]

Arthur, your image 0112( in your post about the possible veluchensis hybrid )looks to me like it may have a virus.. or has the flower suffered some physical damage to make it look odd? It is the C. sieberi tricolor 


Dirk, I love your Crocus sieberi ssp.sublimis x gargaricus ssp.gargaricus.... it is a gentle colour and nice shape.
Your short  C. baytopiorum is a beauty, too. I expect that it is is always short, is it not? It is not short because of particular conditions but because it is a fine form?

[tonyg]

I have to agree with you Maggi, re Arts C veluchensis.  Art take a look at the leaves which may have a blotchy appearance.  I'd be inclined to give it the heave-ho.  I have tolerated the odd dodgy plant in the past but I am now regretting it big time.  (And from this you can correctly infer that I am throwing out a lot of bulbs this season as the virus has been spread )

Dirk, your fantastic hybrid is very interesting.  I will be out looking for any remaining flowers on my C gargaricus tomorrow.  I assume that C sieberi was the seed parent?  They are of course in the same series and have very similar corm shape and corm tunic, almost spherical and strongly netted.  Was this a cross which you made with your own plants or seed from a friend?  And  ....  are there more new hybrids in your frames?

[mark smyth]

I noticed one of my veluchensis is striped also. Tony G how do you think it spreads in your collection?

[Maggi Young]

Was Arthur's image 0112 the same crocus as in the previous pic? I thought it was another, a sieberi tricolor, because of the colour!! ?? I wasn't expecting a veluchensis to look anything likethat. If the second pic IS a veluchensis, I'm more worried!

[mark smyth]

Here's the virused Crocus

[art600]

Maggi

0104 is the bud stage of 0112.  I think it is a hybrid of sieberi and veluchensis, not straight veluchensis.

[Thomas Huber]

George came from Ruksans, can't tell you more than that, I'm afraid.  Mark, the pink tommies came from Kath Dryden. Maybe Thomas can help out?

Good morning - Mark, Anne's tommasinianus roseus is surely not Lilac Beauty - I think it's the true roseus!
The only additional info I have about sieberi George from Janis Ruksans, is that it is a mutation of Hubert Edelsten.

Great hybrid, Dirk!!!   

[tonyg]

I noticed one of my veluchensis is striped also. Tony G how do you think it spreads in your collection?

Aphids - they are seemingly ubiquitous.  How many times have you taken a pic then spotted the aphid in/under the flower/leaves when you got the pic on screen.
Given the limited (safe to humans) nature of the insecticides available I am coming to the opinion that constant vigilance and physical removal are the best remedies.  Oh and quick removal of any suspect plants.
There have been discussions here about transfer via bees (pollen/stigma etc) and there is also the possibility of our handling of the plants transferring infection but aphids are much the most likely vector.

[mark smyth]

Thanks Tony.

Thomas Anne's tomm. roseus have more rounded petals than mine and a duller colour.

[Thomas Huber]

Mark, perhaps you have another stock ? My Roseus have the same rounded petals, while Lilac Beauty has pointed petals.