early narcissus

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Ah, the joys of the english language..... yes, Luc, clanger can mean a mistake.... as in the phrase "Tim dropped a clanger" meaning that Tim made a faux pas...but clanger is also another term for a "clapper", the metal piece which moves to ring the note in a bell.... we thought the flowers were nicely bell-shaped with good stamens that made us think of this part of the bell, and clanger seemd nicer than clapper......

Thanks Maggi !
Always glad to learn something - and I see the resemblence..

[Anthony Darby]

Ah, the joys of the english language..... yes, Luc, clanger can mean a mistake.... as in the phrase "Tim dropped a clanger" meaning that Tim made a faux pas...but clanger is also another term for a "clapper", the metal piece which moves to ring the note in a bell.... we thought the flowers were nicely bell-shaped with good stamens that made us think of this part of the bell, and clanger seemd nicer than clapper......

...and there was me thinking 'tiny' and 'clanger' meant something else? Wouldn't the bell thingy be clangour?

[Gerry Webster]

Re Narcissus 'Nylon,' I'm not too sure whether it should be 'Nylon' which is a cultivar name and implies a single clone, so every one identical, or x Nylon which is a grex (the seedlings from a specified cross) and so a batch very similar but not necessarily the same. One of the Narcissus experts should be able to tell us. But having said that, so many are around as Nylon, that I'd be inclined to go for the latter. I have a dozen almost the same plants only one of which I have as Nylon but the others which came from seed as foliosus and various other names are to all intents and purposes the same thing, in colour, form, height, and flowering time (autumn through winter), so what is Nylon? As well, I've sown batches of seed from all these so probably the name 'Nylon' is a no-brainer anyway.

Lesley - according to The Hillier Manual of Trees & Shrubs 'grex', when used in relation to rhododendrons which are the product of one cross, is synonymous with 'group'. So, by analogy, I suppose 'Nylon' might be referred to as the 'Nylon group'. John Blanchard simply refers to it as 'Nylon'.

[Lesley Cox]

That sounds pretty reasonable Gerry and I'll go along with it rather than trying to identify many very similar plants, each as something different. So, Nylon Group it is - for me anyway.

[Diane Clement]

John Blanchard simply refers to it as 'Nylon'.   

It was John Blanchard's father who raised 'Nylon' so presumably John has still got the original clone.   

[Lesley Cox]

Sure, but which of dozens around under that name is the "true" 'Nylon?'

[annew]

Both Daffseek and the Internationsl Daffodil register say they should be referred to as Nylon Group.

[Gerry Webster]

John Blanchard simply refers to it as 'Nylon'.   

It was John Blanchard's father who raised 'Nylon' so presumably John has still got the original clone.   

It appears from John Blanchard's remarks in his book Narcissus: A Guide to Wild Daffodils (p138) that there is no original clone: "It is really a name which should never have been given because it was bestowed by Alec Gray on all the seedlings my father sent him.......Nylon is therefore not a clone".

[Diane Clement]

It appears from John Blanchard's remarks in his book Narcissus: A Guide to Wild Daffodils (p138) that there is no original clone: "It is really a name which should never have been given because it was bestowed by Alec Gray on all the seedlings my father sent him.......Nylon is therefore not a clone".

So what about the other fabric names Taffeta, etc (what are the others??) are they not clonal names either?  I'd always assumed they were sister seedlings - presumable they are not either?

[Gerry Webster]

It appears from John Blanchard's remarks in his book Narcissus: A Guide to Wild Daffodils (p138) that there is no original clone: "It is really a name which should never have been given because it was bestowed by Alec Gray on all the seedlings my father sent him.......Nylon is therefore not a clone".

So what about the other fabric names Taffeta, etc (what are the others??) are they not clonal names either?  I'd always assumed they were sister seedlings - presumable they are not either?

Diane -  John Blanchard's text in full is:  "It is really a name which should never have been given because it was bestowed by Alec Gray on all the seedlings my father sent him from which 'Tarlatan' and the others ['Muslin', 'Taffeta' and 'Jessamy'] had been selected. Nylon is therefore not a clone". This seems to imply that  the other named forms are genuine clones

[Diane Clement]

Diane -  John Blanchard's text in full is:  "It is really a name which should never have been given because it was bestowed by Alec Gray on all the seedlings my father sent him from which 'Tarlatan' and the others ['Muslin', 'Taffeta' and 'Jessamy'] had been selected. Nylon is therefore not a clone". This seems to imply that  the other named forms are genuine clones

Thanks for that, Gerry, I'm being lazy as I have Blanchard's book at home but I'm at work now without access to it.  So Nylon is the group, and Muslin, Taffeta etc are seedling clones from Nylon Group?  I now remember the names, there's also Poplin. 

[Maggi Young]

From where I stand, "Nylon" is just a rather unpleasant-to-wear fabric  
I have been a follower of the Group theory ( not to be confusedwith being a "groupie" which is quite other..... which brings me, in a somewhat convoluted fashion, to my next point.....

...and there was me thinking 'tiny' and 'clanger' meant something else?  Wouldn't the bell thingy be clangour

No, Anthony: clangour, an alternative spelling for, and derived from the same Latin word, clangor means a constant clanging noise.... no reference to the metal clapper widgit which makes said noise. 

[Anthony Darby]

Well there you go. I've just been down to the staff room where the soup dragon plied us with various broths for a fiver, to raise money for 'Children in Need'. We managed £345.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks to everyone for clearing up the Nylon discusson. Simple really. It was in the UK that I first experienced nylon sheets on a bed, truly ghastly experience. Don't think they've ever been available in NZ. Thank heaven for small mercies.

[David Nicholson]

So, is the correct way to write it 'Narcissus x Nylon'