Iran 2008

[art600]

Thinking nothing could possibly top the Frit site we proceeded towards Khalkhal.  Not far along we came across some Iranian families having a picnic - every Friday cities empty as families go into the countryside for a picnic.  We stopped to see if there were any flowers to photograph and found Galanthus transcaucasicus.

[Maggi Young]

Arthur, with these photos you have just cheered up thousands of snowdrop deprived galanthophiles! Well done!

[art600]

They certainly cheered us up.

[art600]

Maggi
I have just managed to download my photos from the 2005 Iran trip.  As you liked the 3 Galanthus transcaucasica I saw this year, I thought I should post some from 2005, although I do realise this will only reactivate the fever.

[art600]

I have added some additional photographs to Reply 68.  Whereas we were lucky to see the beautiful Paeonia this year, I really missed the Corydalis.
Having put the cards from 2005 in a safe place, I could not find them.  Happily I did find them recently and downloaded the photos.  Enjoy some spectacular Corydalis

[Anthony Darby]

What an amazing trip you must have had, in spite of many plants being over. Those snowdrops must look fantastic when in flower!

[art600]

Just outside Khalkhal we reached a site where, in 2005, we had seen huge numbers of fritillaria grandiflora and the start of paeonias emerging from the soil.  This year there was no evidence of Frits, but the Paeonias made up for this by being in glorious bloom.
We think the Paeonia may be 'Molly the Witch', but there is a doubt about this.
Relaxing amongst the flowers we watched a large mixed herd of goats and sheep crossing the hillside driven by a shepherd and his 2 dogs.  We then watched as the herd decided to go in a completely different direction and watched as they were in turn hesitant when they reached the very steep slope, and determined when the first sheep went over the edge.  The shepherd had no chance keeping control.

[art600]

On the road from TAKAB to SAQQEZ we saw something completely different.  I would appreciate someone giving me the correct name for this plant.  In the immediate vicinity was a splendid allium that I would like in my garden - can someone supply a name please.

[Maggi Young]

I don't know what that rather nice Allium is, Arthur, but the red wonder is Phelypaea coccinea a parasitic plant , family Orobanchaceae. Stunning, isn't it? It was shown in an AGS show earlier in the year, at Chesterfield, perhaps?
Michael Almond mentions this plant in his article on Georgia, see here: http://www.srgc.org.uk/journal/almond/highvalleysofgeorgia.html

[art600]

Thanks Maggi - I knew is was a Phelypaea, but not how to spell it.

[Diane Clement]

I don't know what that rather nice Allium is, Arthur, but the red wonder is Phelypaea coccinea a parasitic plant , family Orobanchaceae. Stunning, isn't it? It was shown in an AGS show earlier in the year, at Chesterfield, perhaps?

Phelypaea coccinea was shown at Chesterfield, in a pot with its host Centauria.  There's a picture of it
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1610.0  reply #14

[Anthony Darby]

I am fascinated by parasitic and saprophytic plants (the bird's nest orchid grows in the woods near me and I grow Orobanche hederae on my ivy in the garden), so will be on the look out for seeds of this plant.

[art600]

Left Khalkhal to drive to Miyaneh.  Took a previously untravelled road in the hope of finding something new.  The road turned out to be exciting - from a driving point of view, as it was largely dirt - and we saw some spectacular 'weeds'

[Gerdk]

Arthur,
Found your pictures as recently as today. Very interesting report - needless to say that I became a little bit envious and shocked by the mass of Galanthus .

Gerd

[art600]

Gerd
We too were shocked at the hillside of leaves intermingled with the Fritillaria grandiflora - that must have been a truly magnificent site, some weeks earlier.