Crocus January - 2009

[mark smyth]

Nothing exciting with this photo except defrosted ice crystals

[Maggi Young]

Nice pictures of your  diamond encrusted Crocus Uschak Orange , Mark 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Mark,
The artist in you is waking up !! 
Great pic.

[mark smyth]

First, forced day, open for my chrysanthus 'Sunspot' and amazed to see it's pollinated already.

[Janis Ruksans]

For third day I'm in bed with fever and high temperature. So I'm rarely opening Forum pages. Today my step-daughter brought to me from my office some pictures. Although still not communicable I'm sending you few pictures from wild Crocuses pictured in Turkey last spring.
The first is another natural hybrid between chrysanthus and biflorus isauricus. Real chameleon - note how it changes flower color.
Another is very unusually colored chrysanthus pictured near Ulu-dag Milli Parki gate, alt. 1535m where it is growing together with biflorus puchricolor. In 100-200 m distance there is growing Crocus herbertii, too (just near Milli Parki gate). I have true albinos of chrysanthus but this one is especial (you can look for it on first opening between pine forest on left side of road driving down from Milli Parki)
And the last one is albino form of Crocus flavus subsp. dissectus pictured on way back in very early foggy morning, It isn't pot plant to bring in and force opening. For me it was the first albino of C. flavus seen.
Hope recover soon
Janis

[mark smyth]

As ever Janis you have seen some fantastic Crocus in the wild. Wrap up warm and get well soon!

[Tony Willis]

Janis

I think the Crocus biflorus / chrysanthus hybrids near to the entrance to the Milli Park are exceptional. There were hundreds in the V made by the entrance and exit road behind the payment hut. Here are two I have raised. Hopefully the next generation will flower this year

Crocus biflorus hybrid

[mark smyth]

Tont the dark one is very nice

[David Nicholson]

Both lovely.

[Janis Ruksans]

Janis

I think the Crocus biflorus / chrysanthus hybrids near to the entrance to the Milli Park are exceptional. There were hundreds in the V made by the entrance and exit road behind the payment hut. Here are two I have raised. Hopefully the next generation will flower this year

Crocus biflorus hybrid

Yours, Tony, are hybrids between chrysanthus and biflorus pulchricolor. The white one seem to be pure biflorus - it is very variable, there (alt. 1535m - just near gate)
Mine (picture one on previous entry) is between biflorus isauricus and chrysanthus (pictured  near Akseki, alt. 1475m)
White flavus is pictured near road from Eskisehir to Saricakaya; alt. 1270 m
On attached pictures pure puchricolor (very typical) near Milli Parki gate and possibly hybrid, but I'm something doubtful.
Janis

[Tony Willis]

Janis

yes they are hybrids betwen Crocus chrysanthus and C.biflorus pulchricolor. I would not agree that the white one is pure C.biflorus pulchricolor although of course we will never know unless I get further plants from its seed. A couple of pictures of C. biflorus pulchricolor growing with C. gargaricus and numerous scilla and then on its own

I have seen both the C.biflorus issauricus and C.chrysanthus near Akseki but have not found any hybrids. I think the C.chrysanthus is a nice form

Crocus gargaricus and Crocus biflorus pulchricolor Ulu Dag
Crocus biflorus pulchricolor Ulu Dag
Crocus bilforus issauricus Akseki
Crocus chrysanthus Gundogmus

[Lesley Cox]

Mark, how do you know your 'Sunspot' is already fertilized? Or do you mean it is pollinated (but not necessarily fertilized)?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

First, forced day, open for my chrysanthus 'Sunspot' and amazed to see it's fertilised alreday.

Mark, I remember you posting a picture of Sunspot last year with numerous flowers from just one bulb - what is it doing this year ??

Truly astonishing hybrids Janis and Tony - absolutely wonderful - don't let me keep you from posting more ...

Get better real soon Janis !

[mark smyth]

Lesley, stoopid mistake by me.

Luc, I had, from memory, 27 flowers from 5 corms. Many of my spring flowerers are small this year due to the drought last spring. I watered the pots but they yellowed very quickly. They have just started so time will tell

[mark smyth]

Like this, Luc