Crocus October 2015

[David Nicholson]

Two forms of Crocus goulimyi from the greenhouse today. The first a white form that Mark Smyth sent me way back in 2009. Highly likely my fault but this is the first time they have reached flowering size. The second the normal form from seed.

[Boyed]

Not medius, but ligusticus, Zhirair!
Janis

Janis, of course, I know that crocus medius was renamed to ligusticus, but I am used to medius, and besides, I prefer calling it medius anyway. The same is with fritillaria collina. I grew it as lutea for many years. Now it is renamed, but I still stick to lutea and think that name lutea very suits to this species. Frankly speaking, I don't like playing that 'cats and mice'. One day it is called this, the other - all of a sudden they decide to call it another way. Maybe, because of nothing to do. I think there are very more important things in botany to concentrate in.

[Janis Ruksans]

Janis, of course, I know that crocus medius was renamed to ligusticus, but I am used to medius, and besides, I prefer calling it medius anyway. The same is with fritillaria collina. I grew it as lutea for many years. Now it is renamed, but I still stick to lutea and think that name lutea very suits to this species. Frankly speaking, I don't like playing that 'cats and mice'. One day it is called this, the other - all of a sudden they decide to call it another way. Maybe, because of nothing to do. I think there are very more important things in botany to concentrate in.

Dear Zhirair, nice to read this but Fritillaria collina and lutea are two different species. Unfortunately, but most likely fortunately we must to follow rules otherwise there will be chaos.
We used Scilla for a lot of species, but step by step Prospero becomes more and more popular for former S. autumnalis and its relatives. Soviet botanists for a very long used C. susianus, although correct name is C. angustifolius, now used almost everywhere. Pity - I more like Crocus herbertii, but it must be named C. thiebautii, Crocus flavus dissectus correctly must be named C. mouradii etc. If we will not follow rules it will be as traffic on city streets without any rules - end will be... Not always I like those changes, but not always you have "pot with honey in front of you". Relating C. medius, I too in my thinking quite often use old name and sometimes even can't remember correct one, but I learn... Not easy to change in 70, but we all must to do this to be correct and perfect on forum - we are teaching young and less experienced "croconuts" and other bulb growers and enthusiasts.

[Janis Ruksans]

Janis, of course, I know that crocus medius was renamed to ligusticus, but I am used to medius, and besides, I prefer calling it medius anyway. The same is with fritillaria collina. I grew it as lutea for many years. Now it is renamed, but I still stick to lutea and think that name lutea very suits to this species. Frankly speaking, I don't like playing that 'cats and mice'. One day it is called this, the other - all of a sudden they decide to call it another way. Maybe, because of nothing to do. I think there are very more important things in botany to concentrate in.

And how with Crocus kotschyanus? - When I was student it everywhere was named C. zonatus. By the way, name perfectly describes the flowers feature - golden yellow ring in throat. It was needed long time to accept C. kostchyanus as correct name, but now may be many of us, and may be you too, even don't know that earlier C. zonatus was very common name. At that time were same discussions - why to rename so good named crocus, easy to spell, pronounce, to other, may be even ugly name. But such are International code, allowing avoid chaos. So better to follow rules.

[Boyed]

Dear Zhirair, nice to read this but Fritillaria collina and lutea are two different species. Unfortunately, but most likely fortunately we must to follow rules otherwise there will be chaos.
We used Scilla for a lot of species, but step by step Prospero becomes more and more popular for former S. autumnalis and its relatives. Soviet botanists for a very long used C. susianus, although correct name is C. angustifolius, now used almost everywhere. Pity - I more like Crocus herbertii, but it must be named C. thiebautii, Crocus flavus dissectus correctly must be named C. mouradii etc. If we will not follow rules it will be as traffic on city streets without any rules - end will be... Not always I like those changes, but not always you have "pot with honey in front of you". Relating C. medius, I too in my thinking quite often use old name and sometimes even can't remember correct one, but I learn... Not easy to change in 70, but we all must to do this to be correct and perfect on forum - we are teaching young and less experienced "croconuts" and other bulb growers and enthusiasts.

Dear Janis,
I clearly understand what you mean and agree with you. But I am such a person who doesn't like to do things that my heart doesn't want. I have my own opinion and preferences. But to to complicate and confuse people, when I present or show a plant, using an old or unaccepted name, I always or very often write modern/correct/accepted name in the brackets.

As to crocus zonatus, this name is still being used by many firms in their catalogues. I also like that more than current name. The old name sounds quite nice, and as you say well describes the species. I say it again botanists just from nothing to do make such kind of changes making no or miserable sense. There are alot of very important things to do.

[Janis Ruksans]

Some pictures from today
At first 2 forms of Crocus kotschyanus - the first from, Armut Dag from HKEP collection, and the second from Hatay - most striped form, collected by Jim Person (Gothenburg BG)
Then Crocus ligusticus - Zhirair
Follows Crocus speciosus alba from Ijevan - in few days it lost blue hint, although partly withered flowers again got some lilac hint. This one was found by Zhirair and he kindly spared with me this beauty (today started to bloom C. bolensis alba, found together with Ibrahim, but flower was too poor to picture it)
And as last Crocus goulimyi found by my step daughter Liga, who will completely run my nursery from next year and named by me as 'New Harlequin'. The 'Harlequin' of John Fieldieng is more contrasting bicoloured, but laser to split.

[Boyed]

Some pictures from today
At first 2 forms of Crocus kotschyanus - the first from, Armut Dag from HKEP collection, and the second from Hatay - most striped form, collected by Jim Person (Gothenburg BG)
Then Crocus ligusticus - Zhirair
Follows Crocus speciosus alba from Ijevan - in few days it lost blue hint, although partly withered flowers again got some lilac hint. This one was found by Zhirair and he kindly spared with me this beauty (today started to bloom C. bolensis alba, found together with Ibrahim, but flower was too poor to picture it)
And as last Crocus goulimyi found by my step daughter Liga, who will completely run my nursery from next year and named by me as 'New Harlequin'. The 'Harlequin' of John Fieldieng is more contrasting bicoloured, but laser to split.

Wonderful photos Janis! I think the white speciosus showed pinkish shades maybe because of heat in the greenhouse. In my opinion in the open garden it most probaly will be clear white as it was in the wild.

[Janis Ruksans]

Crocus mazziaricus - this is from Turkey, of course, this one need another name but a lot of research is still needed to solve all problems with Crocus cancellatus sensu latissimo complex
Crocus damascenus - this one I collected in Iran
Crocus hadriaticus is very variable, and it seems that it quite easy hybridizes (or may be huge variability?) - here cultivars Indian Summer and Purple Ace, the last is my selection from open pollinated seedlings
And the last is another N Caucasian vallicola selected and named Blushing Marmot by Henrik Zetterlund from Gothenburg BG. It starts white and then gradually turns lilac shaded - on picture you can see flowers of different age.

[Janis Ruksans]

Some more pictures
Crocus greenhouse with autumn bloomers as it looked yesterday
Again some of Crocus mathewii seedlings
Crocus ibrahimii with its prominent white anthers
And another from speciosus group - Crocus brachyphilus (or elegans, as it was named by me)
And as last - Crocus pallasii s.l. from Chios Island - KJGR-052

[Janis Ruksans]

Some more pictures made yesterday
Crocus banaticus SNOWDRIFT
2 pictures of Crocus pamphylicus - white anthered from Crocus cancellatus group
Crocus hadriaticus from Papigo, N Greece
and as last for following weak - Crocus puringhiorum Aino - this must be correct form, completely agree with its original description and received personally from Michael Hoog who named this marvellous selection from Crimean so named "speciosus".

[Dave Hardy]

Fantastic photos Janis.

[ruben]

Lovely pictures Janis!

Crocus pallasii s.l. from Chios Island - KJGR-052 is really stunning!

[David Nicholson]

As far as Crocuses are concerned I'm still in the Brian Mathew days. Where can I read more please about C. puringhiorum (a b****r to spell ).

I've searched the Forum and Google comes up with very little.

[Janis Ruksans]

As far as Crocuses are concerned I'm still in the Brian Mathew days. Where can I read more please about C. puringhiorum (a b****r to spell ).

I've searched the Forum and Google comes up with very little.

We all like to be in our young days, but the age brings to us the knowledge and you only then still keep youth in your mind whilst you can accept new things. We all would like returning in young age but I always added - keeping the all knowledge gathered during life. To be true Brian accepts many new changes. Only at his time the possibilities and technologies were not so advanced than now. Of course much easier would be returning in days of Linneus when existed only few species of crocuses.

[Maggi Young]

Crocus speciosus puringhiorum is a name used by Janis,........