Tulipa 2009

[Hristo]

Hi Michael,
V.nice tulipa, I think we are several weeks and a couple of snow blizzards away from our first Janis tulip selections flowering!

[Oron Peri]

Tulipa agenensis is in bloom now, here are the two subspecies.

[Jim McKenney]

Tulipa agenensis is in bloom now, here are the two subspecies.

Very nice, Oron. I have never seen this species. However, a few months ago a friend sent me a link to a slide show which shows what I take to be this species growing in the high Negev. Here is a link to the site

http://www.guyshachar.com/Hiking_High_Negev_Mt_Mar07_Guy.pps

There are several other presentations available on this site which should be of interest to readers of this forum - spring flowers, autumn flowers and so on.

And this reminds me: I have friends who will be visiting Israel April 2-18. Can any readers recommend good sites for wildflower viewing at that time? It probably should not be anything too strenuous.

Thanks, everyone.

[Oron Peri]

Thanks Jim

There are two species growing in the higher Negev desert: Tulipa stylosa and T. biflora [misnamed in the past as  T. polychroma].
T. stylosa is closely related to T. agenensis.

Regarding your friends, they can send me an email, I'll be glad to help.

[Onion]

Oron in which way differ these T. biflora to T. polychroma?
I have grow them for years in different pots. But recoignized after three years it was the same species. T. polychroma.

[Lesley Cox]

I don't know what all the fuss is about  surely all we need is Tulipa polychroma and a set of hair-crimpers to make Tulipa regelii 

Are we still into hair crimping? I thought it was all hair straighteners nowadays. Fortunately I don't need those. 

[Sinchets]

Hi Lesley- I think crimping is due a comeback, if it gets the less fortunate of us a step closer to T.regelii.

[Armin]

Super tulips from everbody.
Enjoying especial the red brilliant ones...

It will last another 1-2wks until mine open their flowers in the garden.

[Arda Takan]

The first tulip is open (inside)

Tulipa binutans

Gerd

I am in love with your tulips! Amazing beatifully stunning great

[Oron Peri]

Oron in which way differ these T. biflora to T. polychroma?
I have grow them for years in different pots. But recoignized after three years it was the same species. T. polychroma.

Uli, that is also a mystery to me, from the little information available it seems that T. polychroma is a taller, robuster plant that grows in W. Iran and Afghanistan, While T. biflora grows from the high mountains of the Sinai Desert [Egypt], through the Negev desert, Jordan, Syria to Turkey.

I'm not sure if the plants that are actually in cultivation are real T. polychroma, probably another two species that need to be checked for chromosomes number.

[Sinchets]

Oron in which way differ these T. biflora to T. polychroma?
I have grow them for years in different pots. But recoignized after three years it was the same species. T. polychroma.

I guess it is another way for the bulb companies to sell the same plant twice- give them all different names, or the namesof similar looking species.

[Michael J Campbell]

Two more of JR selections.

Tulipa vvedenskyii  x  AMBERLAND
Tulipa vvedenskyii  x BERNADETTE

[Jim McKenney]

It seems to me that Tulipa biflora (as many of us grew it in the past) and Tulipa polychroma (which is relatively new to the trade) are horticulturally distinct. Tulipa biflora as I know it has small and rather uninteresting flowers. It is often compared to Tulipa turkestanica, and the comparison rarely is in favor of T. biflora. Superficially, it looks like a runt version of Tulipa turkestanica. The name Tulipa biflora appears on trade lists early in the twentieth century, and it has generally been among the least expensive tulips.

Tulipa polychroma, to my eyes, is a finer plant than either T. turkestanica and certainly T. biflora. And Tulipa polychroma has a strong, fine scent - something I have not noticed in the other two species mentioned.

If you looked at the Hike in the High Negev slide show, you saw another plant called "two flowered tulip" - I'm assuming that that means Tulipa biflora. This one is much finer than the commercial plant from years ago, and in fact approaches in form what we grow as Tulipa polychroma.  

I have no idea what the "facts on the ground" say about these tulips, and perhaps someone from within their range of distribution will offer some suggestions.

[Sinchets]

Well either there are some 'runt' forms of turkestnica out there too or I've had biflora instead of it. they were among the bulbs that i didn't bother digging up to bring here.

[Pete Clarke]

Tulipa humilis var. alba caerulea (? full & correct name for a terrific little tulip.)