Variation of CROCUS CHRYSANTHUS in Central Greece

[papapoly]

I would like to show you images of Crocus chrysanthous from the last 2 years and its variation from various locations in Central Greece.  As I was in a hurry most of the time, I did not collect specimens.  As I look back, I notice variations in colour of the flower but, in no population was this variation persistent.  Rather, within the same population one can find variations in individuals.  Also, in one population, where I photographed the corm tunics, it appears that some variation in corm tunics occurs.

24-01-2015
Elassona district, occuring with Crocus macedonicus, 400 m. 
pics: 87, 89 and 90

George Papapolymerou

[papapoly]

On 07-02-2015 (February 7) on the road from Elassona to Deskati:

1) pics: 267, 272, 289, 292 and 296: 300m

[papapoly]

Continuing on the same trip (7-2-2015)

pic 300: 300m
pics 332 and 333: 900 m
and
pics 375 and 383: 1300 m

[papapoly]

On 10-01-2016
On the road Elassona to Kozani: 1000 m
pics 10 and 11

[papapoly]

On 24-01-2016, Kefalovryso, 300 m
pics 36, 54 and 152

[papapoly]

On 28-01-2016 on the Western foothills on Mount Olympus, looking the plain of Thessaly
pics:
027: 400m
130: 1100m
176: 1250 m
and
192 and 198: 900 m

[papapoly]

On 30-01-2016
On the NW-N side of mount Olympus, near Kokkinopilos village, 1200-1250 m
pics: 061 (Galanthus elwesii), 075, 101, 107 and 208 (Colchicum derfleri)

[papapoly]

Finally,

On 13-02-2016

On the Western fothills of Mount Olympus:
pics 07 and 19: 1500 m
pics 39 and 84: 1150 m

George Papapolymerou

[Maggi Young]

  Very interesting to see this natural variation, George.

[Thomas Huber]

Thanks for showing, George.

Isn't it incredible, how much more beauty a bit of sunshine can add to a photo?
Seems like you also didn't have much sun in Greece this winter...?

[papapoly]

Thomas,

Yes, this spring was different.  Quite cloudy.  Another problem though with chrysanthous is that it is the first one to flower so, the weather usually is rainy and cloudy in January and February.

Crocus chrysanthous flowers in Central Greece (Thessaly).  It flowers in the very Western part and as you move eastwards it appears to be gradually be replaced by flavus.  Crocus flavus also occurs in Western Thessaly and flowers where chrysanthous flowers, up to about 1000 m.  However, chrysanthous precedes flavus by about 4-5 weeks.  So, by the time chrysanthous ends flowering, flavus is beginning to flower.  I have seen chrysanthous flowering up to 2400 m in Olympus.  Only a few flowers, as it was near the end of its flowering period.  Veluchensis was flowering all over the place at 2400 m.

George

[Thomas Huber]

Thanks for the detailed report, George.
I never had the chance to visit the Greek crocusses in spring,
but your photos give a good impression.

[Tony Willis]

George, very interesting comments. When I was in Greece first week in March last year both Crocus chrysanthus mixed with C. biflorus alexandri and C. flavus (lower down than chrysanthus)were in flower on Mt Falackro and the colour of both was quite uniform.

When we moved on to Mt Vermion there were many C. chrysanthus in flower and there it was quite different. There were many light coloured ones amongst the more common deep yellow ones. Two pictures attached.

On a visit to Mt Falackro in May the hillside beyond the ski centre was a yellow colour as we aproached and it was many thousands of C. chrysanthus in flower. There was almost no variation and I found only one pale yellow one.

On a visit to Mt Parnassus in March many years ago ,again the C. chrysanthus were out in thousands and they were a fairly uniform deep yellow.

[papapoly]

Tony,

The pale yellow form is very beautiful.  Here in Thessaly some populations are quite deep yellow in colour, somewhat approaching orange.  The tube in the pale yellow form is quite transparent.  Here tubes as well as the lower part of the perianth segments are in some flowers violet and these forms are found everywhere mixed with the totally yellow forms.  I need to look more closely at the details.  Janis on a recent trip to Greece, where we met, told me that there can be variations in other characteristics especially in the corm tunics and the number of ridges in the leaves (cross sections). 

George