Colchicum autumn 2009

[mark smyth]

Thanks Luc and maggi

press F5 because there are some changes
http://www.marksgardenplants.com/colchicums.htm

[Sinchets]

We visited the Evroi and Rodopi areas of northeast Greece yesterday. In the Dadia-Soufli National Forest we found Colchicum growing, together with Crocus pulchellus, Scilla autumnalis and Spiranthes spiralis, in open areas and clearings in pine, oak and beech woodlands.
The Colchicum we saw here proved hard to identify. They do not look much like the ones near here, which we have supposed are C.autumnalis, as they are much more ‘star-like’ with pointed and narrower petals. Nor do they look like the ‘standard’ C.bivonae we had expected to find in this area. They do however look similar to the plant pictured on page 240 of ‘Bulbs’ by Phillips and Rix. Here next to a flower of ‘standard’ C.bivonae, they mention that this is a “variable species”, with plant ‘f’ being from northwest Turkey. The flowers we saw were mainly in darker shades of pink with some lighter individuals, but none were noticeably tessellated.
Crossing back into Bulgaria we found similar Colchicum in the Sakar area, which borders onto northwest Turkey. Some of these had slightly tessellated flowers. They were growing at the edges of pine woodland together with Spiranthes and Scilla autumnalis. The woods further along the road also had Crocus pulchellus.
Any thoughts or ideas?

[dominique]

Real gems, Dominique, C. pusillum has wonderful contrasting anthers with the delicate petal colouring 

Where do you grow them?

Ragged thank you. I grow them in a cold glasshouse

[Paul T]

Awesome, Mark.  The Colchicum page is brill!!  Some crackers of photos in there.  It reminds me of just how much I miss my kesselringii... love that outer stripe.    Would you like some other luteum pics?

Without checking every pic...... is there are reason why the parnassicum has a ? beside it, and opens to a picture with a label of parnassos?

[Maggi Young]

Awesome, Mark.  The Colchicum page is brill!! 
Without checking every pic...... is there are reason why the parnassicum has a ? beside it, and opens to a picture with a label of parnassos?

That may be my fault, Paul: i sent Mark a message about spellings and I meant to add a comment about that.... Mark had Parnassos and I wondered if it was meant to be parnassicum, but thought it might have been that the plant was literally from Parnassos, rather than being the species, so added the "?"  !!  Should have included that comment to Mark, sorry!

[tonyg]

Crocus and colchicum aplenty in the greenhouse here.

Two colchicum species from Greece.  The first I have had for years without being able to name it for sure.  Narrow leaves follow the flowers.  ?Colchicum peloponnesiacum
The second came as seed in with crocus seed from Greece.  Narrow petalled, starry flowers - any offers?
Colchicum baytopiorum - I grow 2 forms, this one with a showy yellow zone in the throat is especially nice.
Colchicum cupanii var bertolinii - generous with its flowers and is increasing nicely.
Colchicum pusillum - small (very small) but perfectly formed

[Eric Locke]

Colchicum Parlatoris

Nice dwarf colchicum ,but a shame the flowers only last a few days.

Eric

[johnw]

A last posting from our largest local population of Colchicum autumnalae, the only population we have found that includes a white form. The white members of this population are always later to flower, some two to three weeks into the flowering at this location.
Cheers
Chris

Chris - Sorry I'm so late but I must say it's marvellous to see C. autumnale in the wild and standing so straight and sturdily.  I must be those crystal clear skies that do the trick!    It is rather maligned here for its floppiness but these photos should change a few minds.

johnw

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Wonderful Colchicum everyone !! 

Chris and Simon, I love it whenever you take us out on a stroll in the mountains !! Always great information and stunning pix !

Tony, I'm with you on C. baytopiorum !! What a beauty !!

Eric a really good looking wee dwarf that is !!!

Thanks for showing all  ! 

[Ragged Robin]

Crocus and colchicum aplenty in the greenhouse here.

Such a wonderful show of your Colchicum, Tony,  you must be very pleased - all are lovely in their own way but the tiny Colchicum pusillum is so cute, where does it grow in the wild?

[mark smyth]

I must knock out my baytopiorum and see what's happening. I know from last year the centre isnt as yellow as yours but now that I've looked up a photo it looks nothing like mine. I'm also thinking I didnt photograph it here because I dont top dress with gravel.

[Oron Peri]

I must knock out my baytopiorum and see what's happening. I know from last year the centre isnt as yellow as yours but now that I've looked up a photo it looks nothing like mine. I'm also thinking I didnt photograph it here because I dont top dress with gravel.

Mark
I think your plant is C. baytopiorum afterall.
Your plant has a wider, rounder petals but you can notice the swollen yellow bases of the filaments which are typical to this species.
Another point is that the flower in your photo is not mature yet, I'm sure later on it would have 'stretched' more its petals and filaments.

[dominique]

Colchicum peloponesiacum, very generous

[mark smyth]

sorry about the size of the photo. I checked mine and there is no sign of life - no roots and no flower spathe

[mark smyth]

Paul I have fixed the mistake and added c10 new images. Thanks for the input Maggi