Cyclamen 2009

[Maggi Young]

Kath Dryden used to say, to tell the difference, plant 'em outside... if it's africanum it'll die  


 Helpful photos, Diane, thanks 

[Diane Clement]

Kath Dryden used to say, to tell the difference, plant 'em outside... if it's africanum it'll die     

Yes, I've heard this one.  I do protect my largest plant, because I've had it a long time and don't want to risk it, but all my africanum seedlings and young plants were frozen solid in my Access frame last winter (down to -9C) and there were no losses.  I suppose outside (literally) is a different matter.  But take a look at the tuber - it's often pretty clear.

[Maggi Young]

  But take a look at the tuber - it's often pretty clear.

 Yes, and shows how easy it would be for water to collect in the "bowl" and cause rot. 

[Diane Clement]

David, could you post a picture of the white cyclamen's leaf, please?

[Melvyn Jope]

David, I agree with Diane, your plant is almost certainly Cyclamen hederifolium. I have never seen or heard of a white C.africanum, apart from in seed lists. As for determining the species by tuber shape I agree  that is always a pretty good guide, if for example you grow C.africanum from Jim Archibalds seed list which originates from his collection from the Kabylie area in Algeria the tubers are always concave on the top surface however there are exceptions, I also have a plant collected in Tunisia by John Thompson from Montpellier and the tuber looks exactly like a C.purpurasens tuber.
Frustrating when you dont get what you were hoping for but at least you still have a nice plant.....
I think the relationship between C.africanum and C. hederifolium merits further study both in the field and laboratory.

[Guff]

A few more.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Diane and Melvyn for responding. Pic of a leaf is below as requested by Diane.

The leaves are not fully developed yet. If I were to take a look a tuber now, rather than waiting until the next re-pot, would I be likely to damage growth in any way? I have four pots with two tubers in each and all survived last years bad winter in the greenhouse when I lost four pots of two year old Cyclamen rohlfsianum.

[Hans A.]

Very fine pictures (and plants) everyone!
Thanks Diane for the pictures of C. africanum - now I only have to find the one growing together with all the hederifoliums... (the label dwindled away long ago  )

Cyclamen rohlfsianum always starts the cyclamen season here.

[Tony Willis]

Some different forms of Cyclamen graecum in flower now and a Cyclamen cilicicum

First two Cyclamen graecum ssp graecum
Cyclamen graecum ssp candicum
Cyclamen graecum ssp anatolicum
Cyclamen cilicicum

[johnw]

Thanks Diane and Melvyn for responding. Pic of a leaf is below as requested by Diane.

The leaves are not fully developed yet. If I were to take a look a tuber now, rather than waiting until the next re-pot, would I be likely to damage growth in any way? I have four pots with two tubers in each and all survived last years bad winter in the greenhouse when I lost four pots of two year old Cyclamen rohlfsianum.

David  - I have  some hederifoliums with identical markings.

johnw

[Tony Lee]

Hello all, I find this topic very interesting as I have what i was told is C africanum and it is
white,It was at last Octobers AGS show at Loughborough and on the online show,
It always flowers without the foliage,
The plant in the picture is last year as it is just coming into flower,I hope i get the size right

[Michael J Campbell]

Cyclamen hederifolium confusum

[David Nicholson]

Very nice indeed Michael.

Tony, confusing ain't it, and I see you got a third in the On Line Show too. Hope someone doesn't rush in now and give you a NAS card

[Diane Clement]

Hello all, I find this topic very interesting as I have what i was told is C africanum and it is white,It was at last Octobers AGS show at Loughborough and on the online show, It always flowers without the foliage, The plant in the picture is last year as it is just coming into flower,I hope i get the size right

The size is right, Tony, the plant looks good.  Can you post a picture of the side view of the plant please?

[Tony Willis]

A picture to show the variation in some Cyclamen hederifolium flowers.

From left to right from Mt Olympus Greece,Langada Pass Greece,Kiouri Forest Greece, Gargano Italy