Crocus moabiticus

[Rafa]

Hello,

I am looking for Crocus moabiticus, I know is very rare in culture. Please tell me if any of yours could help me to get this species.

All the best.

[Thomas Huber]

Rafa, it's not only rare, its also very difficult and nearly exterminated in the wild!
Still on my wishlist, too.
I know two people who have it, but I don't think I will get seeds or corms in the next years 

[Rafa]

Certainly, we have to concentrate our efforts in increase in culture this species to have a viable genetic stock of plants to donate and collaborate with reintroducig programs in the wild.

[Thomas Huber]

In fact retintroducing is not as easy as it sounds. Its natural habitat is nearly completely destroyed by
the growth of the outskirts of Amman/Jordania, which is still growing.

Crocus moabiticus is a very variable species. I have an article from Helmut Kerndorff with some photos
showing the whole beauty of this species. Will ask him for permission to post these photos here!

[Rafa]

oh!, thank you Thomas, it will be very interestying. Obiously if the natural inhabit is destroyed there aren't many opportunities left to help this species....

Thank you for the info.

[Gerry Webster]

Rafa, C. moabiticus has been cultivated in the UK (not by me!). I have seen it once only, several years ago. Are you a member of the Crocus Group? There is a  faint possibility that you might be able to get seed via the group. Tony Goode might know. 

[tonyg]

Tony Goode thinks it is unlikely that we will see Crocus moabiticus seed in the Crocus Group seed exchange
I have two seedlings from a friend in the USA which grow a few leaves each year but have never flowered.  I don't know anyone else who grows it over here.  Jane McGary in California has flowering stock.  There is a picture on the PBS Wiki
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/FallBloomingCrocusTwo#moabiticus

Thomas - does this make it 3 people you know?

[Rafa]

thanks for the replies,

No I am just srgc member,

Well so thank you for all that interesting info, we'll have to wait util it is more common

[art600]

Rafa

Not sure from your photograph just how old you are, but I do not think you have enough time left for it to become common.

[mark smyth]

He's 34 Arthur. Wish I was!

[mark smyth]

To my untrained eye it looks like cartwrightianus
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/Crocus/Crocus_moabiticus.jpg

[art600]

He's 34 Arthur. Wish I was!

My statement still applies

[David Nicholson]

He's 34 Arthur. Wish I was!

You were wishing you were nearer retiring the other day?

[mark smyth]

Did I? LOL 

[Gerry Webster]

To my untrained eye it looks like cartwrightianus

When I first started growing crocus, C. moabiticus took on an almost  mythical status in my mind. I remember how disappointed I was when I saw it for the first (& only) time that it looked just like C. cartwrightianus - and a rather poor form at that.