Crocus January - 2009

[tonyg]

Very variable in nature is Crocus biflorus isauricus. Unfortunately it is one of those subspecies for identifying of which you must to know from where comes your corms.

It is very difficult when the corms come from cultivated plants or from seed of the same
I am really enjoying your pictures and the comments you give .... as I am also enjoying reading 'Buried Treasures' which was a Christmas present.  At least some of the C biflorus 'aff' isauricus that I grow look quite similar to the ones that you have shown us.  They may flower soon if the warmer weather stays here (I hope it does not! - too early yet.)  I will post some pics when they do.

[Tony Willis]

Tony it must be something in the name,I also got Buried Treasures for Christmas and it is splendid.A really good read ,lots of cultivation information and wonderful pictures. makes me want to make lots more trips.

I have the odd Crocus biflorus ssp issauricus from Akseki and hopefully will be able to show them (possibly fallen over) in a few days. I must say that it has always mystified me that it might be necessary to know where a plant has come from to be able to confirm its identification. I have had this discussion with an orchid expert about Dactylorhiza where I was told it was necessary to know its origin before a positive identification could be made.
Here is one from last year

[I.S.]

Janis very nice pics from wild. I realy enjoy by waiting the crocus season here. According to your pictures can I say that C. biflorus subsp. isauricus has always yellow anthers?

[mark smyth]

Could someone put a name to this Crocus? It's label is missing.

[Janis Ruksans]

Could someone put a name to this Crocus? It's label is missing.

Seem to be species, not cv and most likely biflorus, but which one?
Janis

[Lesley Cox]

Like this, Luc

I hope you had your sunglasses on when you took this picture Mark.

[mark smyth]

Thanks, Janis

Lesley, I pollinated Sunspot today. If any seeds are set would you like some?

Luc, the flowers are coming up fast now. Sunspot was one of the first to die down last year due to my reglect. I'm very happy to see more flowers coming up.

[Michael J Campbell]

The sunshine today opened a few flowers.

Crocus biflorus subsp. isauricus
Crocus flavus subsp.dissectus
Crocus fleischeri.
Crocus korolkowii Kiss of Spring.
Crocus korolkowii Kiss of Spring.
Crocus korolkowii Lucky Number
Crocus siberi subsp. aticus

[Tony Willis]

Michael very nice, I am glad the sun is shining on you,here it is cold wet and dark so I brought a few inside to try and open them.

The first is Crocus graveolens which is quite untidy. The flower reflexes right back and smells pretty awful.

Second and third  are two clones of Crocus fleischeri.

Fourth and fifth are Crocus chrysanthus the first showing my problem with the light. I did think of tying it up for the picture.

Six and seven are Crocus cyprius.

The last is an interesting Crocus biflorus ssp. When I got this in 1992 it keyed out as ssp pulchricolor but it is 500 miles from where that grows and it was referred to B. Mathew who said it probably was that ssp. They have now been reclassified so it will be a new one but I have no idea what. The habitat is now destroyed and is an eucalyptus plantation.

[mark smyth]

Lovely combination of colours on C. cyprius.

For the experts I have another lost label Crocus. Unfortunately it looks like many other orange Crocus but it has, to my eye, distinctive shaped petals and anthers

[tonyg]

Might be Crocus flavus Mark.  The anther divergence and petal shape suggest flavus, not sure about the style and being at work I cannot check the books.

[mark smyth]

Thanks Tony. I know I have C. flavus in the collection.

[Lesley Cox]

Lesley, I pollinated Sunspot today. If any seeds are set would you like some?

Oh yes please Mark. I know they may not come true but there would be some similarity I expect. Marcus Harvey in Tasmania has a few corms I think but I expect it will be a while before he has enough to send it to NZ.

[annew]

C. cyprius is indeed a beauty, the overlaid colours are lovely. C. fleischeri is a favourite of mine for the scent, but I haven't seen one with the dark stripe before.

[ian mcenery]

Tony what well grown plants which are nice and compact and you complaining that they are being drawn. Mine are always drawn I think I will have to move house to find a place with more sunlight. Particularly like the cyprius thanks