Galanthus January 2009

[Martin Baxendale]

you may well have to cut out the anthers, in which case yes I'd give them plenty of time to dry to get the maximum pollen out as John suggests.

Martin - Another good point, then the anthers would be the culprit. If they were froze immediately in the freezer when you removed the capsule from the freezer to use  the pollen the anthers would thaw immediately and cause moisture in the capsule which could wet the pollen and then potentially ruin the batch upon re-freezing or fridge storage...maybe.

johnw

I was assuming that Rob shakes the anthers around in a container when dry to make the pollen fall out, then removes the anthers. I wouldn't leave the anthers in with the pollen for the reason you mention - or try to freeze anthers containing pollen.

[Martin Baxendale]

Martin is there a way to recognise when the stigma is receptive?

Not really. It's such a tiny stigma on snowdrops that you can barely see it in any detail even with a jeweller's eyeglass (which is what I use when pollinating). I just start dusting the stigma as soon as the flower opens then go back a couple more times as the flower ages and dust again. You generally find that the pollen doesn't appear to be sticking much when the flower first opens, and when the flower ages after a few days then you can see more pollen adhering. I assume from this that the stigma is not usually very receptive when the flower first opens and becomes more receptive after a few days. But I still pollinate straight away to try to ensure my pollen is the first to get onto the stigma and not the plant's own pollen or some other bee-carried or wind-carried pollen. I don't emasculate flowers as life is too short to be trying to cut out snowdrop anthers (a lot les easy than removing lily anthers, or narcissus) and most snowdrops seem to be have an in-built infertility mechanism that prevents self-pollination.

[Tony Willis]

Martin

thank you very helpful

[Maggi Young]

Morning Martin, most exciting what and that you tell about a galanthus in creamflower. I also have such a plant and some other galanthophile told me about theirs. It`s a good content for a new topic.
And I`m sure Maggi would replace the pictures of the cream for us?
I often meant I see cream only in wishes/thoughts.

look here please
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2790.msg64957#msg64957

Hagen' s  hint of cream....

[Maggi Young]

maggi is hint of cream a actual cultivar? i see the creamy area just below the ovary all the time in various snowdrops...sometimes as a pinkish glow.

I have no idea, Rob, I just re-posted the photo from where it appeared originally.......
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2790.msg64957#msg64957     ...... Hagen will say more if needed.....

[mark smyth]

Rob the pink glow is usually the anthers/pollen shining through

[Anthony Darby]

Is it a single or a double cream? If it is the former, I think it coud be Galanthus 'Elmlea'?

[Jo]

Well it has been a lovely day in Devon so I took a few pics.

Arnott, Atkinsii and that other one all being worked by honey bees. Then Fred's Giant and finally my sandersii with extra petals. All three that have opened have four petals.

[Anthony Darby]

Four petalled 'Sandersii'. Wow!

[Maggi Young]

I really don't believe a word of this, Jo.... sunshine, flowers AND bees..... you must be pulling our legs, surely?

[mark smyth]

Most Febs when I'm in southern England I see honey and bumble bees

And now some from my patch
'Atkinsii' Moccas form. I see no difference except height
'Helen Tomlinson' with drizzle drops.
'Maidwell L' - every snowdrop garden needs it
'Ivy Cottage Corporal' showing variation in flower height
'Primrose Warburg' - not very yellow

My unknown with short leaves and plicatus genes is probably 'Pride o the Mill'. See how the leaves show gracilis genes

[Alan_b]

Mark showed a picture of a snowdrop called 'Ivy Cottage' but there seems to be a series of other snowdrops, 'Ivy Cottage Something' (e.g. Ivy Cottage Corporal).  Does anyone know the origin of these snowdrops?

[mark smyth]

I'll email him and ask

[Jo]

I really don't believe a word of this, Jo.... sunshine, flowers AND bees..... you must be pulling our legs, surely?

I keep bees Maggi and this morning I thought the worst, they weren't flying and it was warm.  So I thumped the hive and there was a satisfying hummmmm. I must have woken them up cos they came out to play this afternoon.

The forecast is dire for the weekend onwards.

[KentGardener]

Is it a single or a double cream? If it is the former....

I had exactly the same problem yesterday evening when I was trying to work out what out what to put in my wild mushroom sauce!

John