Narcissus January- February 2009

[Gerry Webster]

Including these beautiful pictures of the bulb John Forrest grows as 'Julia Jane' and which do equate with what I think is the right thing

I think it  likely that any group of plants raised from JJA seed pop. ref. 705.120 (which is from 'Julia Jane' selfed) will contain some plants which resemble 'JJ' to a greater or lesser extent. However close the resemblance, they are still not entitled to the clonal name. Indeed, according to Blanchard, petunioid forms are fairly common among all these High Atlas hoop-petticoats so we might expect them to occur in any seed-raised population.

John Forrest's plant is certainly very attractive but it  does not have the "whitish spathe" mentioned by John Richards. But why should we believe this is a significant feature ? It is not really much help to say that 'JJ' is like N. cantabricus petunioides since, as we have recently seen, there is uncertainty over the identity of that plant.   

[Lesley Cox]

It is also very misleading to describe JJ's flowers as "greenish yellow." Pale yellow should be emphasized, or "pale lemon" yellow even better. The ones in Luit's picture seem too cup-shaped to me. John Forrest's look right for shape but are deeper coloured than the true original and could, as Maggi suggests have a camera or lighting issue rather than the wrong bulb.

Seedlings from JJ do vary considerably, all generally similar, especially to colour but the shape of the cups can vary a lot, the second generation (i.e. seedlings of the seedlings) even more so. I think Anthony's equates with 'Atlas Gold' which has a smaller flower than JJ and also has a heavier, more fabric-like (and weather resistant)texture.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

The picture I showed as JJ in the first post of this thread is from a pot with ten young bulbs obtained last year from the AGS Summer bulb sale.  Three are flowering now - three different shapes and colours - only the one I showed in the picture seems to meet the JJ standards...  As mentioned before, they're all beautiful though 
I guess they're all seedlings.

[Gerry Webster]

I think it would be sensible if all these supposed 'JJs' were called N. romieuxii ex 'Julia Jane' or, even better, simply N. romieuxii. I doubt this will happen since the name has acquired an aura of mystery & elusiveness.

[Anthony Darby]

The pics in reply #57 are exactly the colour of my plant. The fluorescent light in the kitchen darkens mine somewhat. Whatever it is, the small prostrate leaves are much better that the 'grass' in many other varieties.

[mark smyth]

I'm getting hooked on these wee things

[Anthony Darby]

There's a fantastic pic of Narcissus bulbocodium ssp. praecox  ‘Moulay Brahim’ on the latest Wisley log. [see http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2009Jan061231251143Log_1_of_2009.pdf]. Not a clone I know, but definitely one to look out for.

[Maggi Young]

I'm getting hooked on these wee things

Glad to hear it!
 I believe that these wee narcissus deserve a much wider audience.... the trouble is that at this time of year, when so many are in full flower, there are very few shows and it is certainly the case that there is nothing like exposure at the shows to engender interest in a group of plants.  I have yet to come across anyone who on encountering these little gems in real life for the first time,  has not been enchanted by them and enthused to learn more.
Yes, they are offered on various lists, but since so many folk don't "know " the plants in real life, it seems they don't much order these types 

[Gerry Webster]

The pics in reply #57 are exactly the colour of my plant. The fluorescent light in the kitchen darkens mine somewhat. Whatever it is, the small prostrate leaves are much better that the 'grass' in many other varieties.

Anthony - I didn't notice this the first time round but the prostrate  leaves suggest your plant is not 'Atlas Gold' which has more or less upright foliage ("grass"). Are the leaves rounded or flattened?

[Anthony Darby]

Round, but I'll check later?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I think it would be sensible if all these supposed 'JJs' were called N. romieuxii ex 'Julia Jane' or, even better, simply N. romieuxii. I doubt this will happen since the name has acquired an aura of mystery & elusiveness.

The ex is already on my label Gerry ! 

[Gerry Webster]

I think it would be sensible if all these supposed 'JJs' were called N. romieuxii ex 'Julia Jane' or, even better, simply N. romieuxii. I doubt this will happen since the name has acquired an aura of mystery & elusiveness.

The ex is already on my label Gerry ! 

Congratulations Luc. I hope everyone follows your example.

[Anthony Darby]

I think I put 'ex' and 'Julia Jane' together my wife would ask difficult questions?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

 

[Gerry Webster]

I think I put 'ex' and 'Julia Jane' together my wife would ask difficult questions?

Ex-wives don't  ask questions, difficult or otherwise.