Winter Flowering Colchicums December 2008

[johanneshoeller]

We have 30 cm snow, but the last Crocus (or Colchicum?) is flowering. A very tiny (2 cm) Crocus (Colchicum). The name (from Kreta)?

[Ian Y]

Hans, your Crocus look like a Colchicum to me.

[johanneshoeller]

Ian, thank you!

[Thomas Huber]

Hans I would say your colchicum is C. pusillum.
I have some from the same source, but mine are long over now.

[Lvandelft]

We have 30 cm snow, but the last Crocus (or Colchicum?) is flowering. A very tiny (2 cm) Crocus (Colchicum). The name (from Kreta)?

Hans I am pretty sure it is Colchicum pusillum, which grow on Cyprus too.
Flowering this late depends on how long the bulbs were kept dry.
I grew it many years and it always flowered in November. Must have a look if I still have it or a picture of it.

[Janis Ruksans]

Hi, I add here 2 pictures of Colchicum pusillum, stock comes from Crete.
Janis R.

[Anthony Darby]

I have several colchicums which are variously labelled 'pusillum' and 'cupanii'. To my mind the latter has two leaves forming a tube. These leaves can be over 1cm wide. Pusillum has many leaves and these are <1cm wide, usually just over half that. I have another plant with similar flowers from Crete which has many leaves about 3mm wide!

I have Colchicum hirsutum in flower now (thanks Jānis). I hope to take a pic at the weekend.

[Hans A.]

Nearly all Colchicum are over - actually left is just Colchicum cousturieri which has started to flower some days ago - here a few pictures of Colchicum pusillum, Colchicum stevenii and Colchicum cousturieri.

[mark smyth]

My cupanii have 2,3 or 4 leaves

[Anthony Darby]

I will take a pic of the leaves tomorrow.

[mark smyth]

Here are by C. cupanii leaves. The widest leaf in the lowest photo is 4cm across. The one to the left is 3.5cm across.

[mark smyth]

With so many new people on board now I think I should ask again if anyone knows this Colchicum. It flowers in October.

The flowers always emerge in a set sequence
first flower emerges
first flower in full flower and second flower emerges
first flower elongates and falls, second flower full flower and third flower emerges
first flower now over, second flower elongates and falls, third flower now open

[Oron Peri]

Great photos all, Thank you for showing them.

Mark your Colchicum  looks to me like C. cretense.

[Janis Ruksans]

Here are by C. cupanii leaves. The widest leaf in the lowest photo is 4cm across. The one to the left is 3.5cm across.

By leaves it is cupanii
Janis

[Boyed]

Mark,

your photos of colchicum cupanii a surprised me a lot. I couldn't imagine that such a small colchicum can develop such large leaves, which are attractive at the same time.