Fritillaria 2009

[Gerry Webster]

If not, I would be happy you can confirm me F. pontica ssp. substipelata, hereafter in comparison with the type : what do you think about ?

François - in my opinion, & by comparison, your plant looks as though it probably is F. pontica ssp. substipelata though the examples  I have previously seen of this have been rather darker in colour.

[biodiversite]

thank you Gerry 

[Sinchets]

Well now I am plum confused. if some plants can be split into new species for having slightly different coloured flowers, anthers etc.. Then how can F.pontica substipelata still be F.pontica, when it has reflexed petals and a different flower shape in these pics? 

[Gerry Webster]

Well now I am plum confused. if some plants can be split into new species for having slightly different coloured flowers, anthers etc.. Then how can F.pontica substipelata still be F.pontica, when it has reflexed petals and a different flower shape in these pics? 

Simon - I've just checked in Flora of Turkey (Martyn Rix); substipelata is actually a variety not a subspecies. The name was coined by Candargy in 1898 based on some specimens from Lesvos but it is not recognised by the RBG Kew Checklist.

[Sinchets]

Thanks Gerry, but I am still confused how a variety with a widely different flower shape is still thought to be part of F.pontica. Maybe there are F.pontics forms in Northern Greece and he Turkish coast opposite Lesvos that are intermediates. The F.pontica we have seen so far in Bulgaria are all the typical shape, with the only differences being in the amount of colouring on the inners.

[Gerry Webster]

I can't help Simon. I just presume that in all respects, other than flower shape, the plant corresponds with F. pontica.

[Sinchets]

Sorry Gerry, just thinking out loud really. It seems that for some Fritillaria species growing on an island 5 miles off the mainland, and having slightly different coloured flowers sends you straight into the new species department, as with the whole Fritillaria 'graeca' complex.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I'm not a Fritillaria specialist - but I want to show this F. imperialis anyway because it has a story.
I must have had it for 15 years or so and after good flowering the first 8 or 9 years - the flowers became less and less.
Having applied loads of potash after the bulblogs instructions for 3 or 4 years - last year - no flowers again.
I decided to lift them - did so in May last year - put them in a basket in the Veranda (where it can get as warm as 35°C or more) and forgot about them...
Found them in September seeing roots already starting to grow...  I decided to replant them anyway and put loads of dried cow manure and more potash in the hole.

This is the result...

[Maggi Young]

Wow! That is an impressive result, Luc ... they are very handsome 
Now, where to find 35 degrees in Aberdeen......

[Armin]

Luc,
impressive frits. It makes a great show but also smells
Any signs of "Lilienhähnchen" (Lilioceris lilii) ?
I killed already a dozen...

[Lesley Cox]

Wow! That is an impressive result, Luc ... they are very handsome 
Now, where to find 35 degrees in Aberdeen......

Or cows, for the manure???

[WimB]

Wow! That is an impressive result, Luc ... they are very handsome 
Now, where to find 35 degrees in Aberdeen......

Or cows, for the manure???

Hmmm,

Luc lives in West-Flanders: there are a lot of cows over there...


Very impressive Frits, Luc. They seem to have liked that treatment

[Lesley Cox]

But maybe not so many in Aberdeen, Wim.

[WimB]

Maybe there are some Scottish lowland-cows in the vicinity?? 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks for the encouraging remarks friends ! 

Dried cow manure is sold in pellets in bags out here so no need to go on a search in the local meadows... if need be, I can send a bag to Aberdeen 
As to 35 °C I don't see how I can get that to Aberdeen ?? 

No sign of Lilly beetles yet Armin, but I'm vigilant...