Muscari ... and some relatives 2010

[DaveM]

Hans, your image of H lazulina reminded me of a problematic species seen last February on a trip to the Eastern Taurus; seen on the Bazat Pass, north of Kozan. Could this also be H lazulina?? Hans, Oron, any thoughts?

[Oron Peri]

Hans
In my opinion your Muscari looks more M. commutatum rather than M. inconstrictum: the mouth is more open, bell shaped, in incostrictum.

Dave,

It does look like H. lazulina and i think the location you have given is not very far from the original find in Gulnar.

[Oron Peri]

Hyacinthella nervosa is common in the area of Petra,
 interestingly it appears in all pastel colors and not in its usual blue color.

[Sinchets]

That is interesting, Oron. I've never seen a non-blue Hyacinthella before. Thanks

[Hans A.]

Oron thanks of showing this wonderful small beauties!

Dave, I agree with Oron, but I am not an expert. They look very similar to those I grow.

Hans
In my opinion your Muscari looks more M. commutatum rather than M. inconstrictum: the mouth is more open, bell shaped, in incostrictum.

Thanks Oron, this is a form of Cyprus, which seems to be quite different to the more eastern plants you have shown. In my opinion the mouth of the flowers it is not constricted enough for beeing M.commutatum and maybe the racemen of flowers should be denser.

Here a pic which shows a similar plant: http://rareplants.co.uk/product.asp?s=hjnwzY462707&strParents=&CAT_ID=0&P_ID=3351&strPageHistory=search&numSearchStartRecord=1

[Oron Peri]

Hans
In my opinion your Muscari looks more M. commutatum rather than M. inconstrictum: the mouth is more open, bell shaped, in incostrictum.

Thanks Oron, this is a form of Cyprus, which seems to be quite different to the more eastern plants you have shown. In my opinion the mouth of the flowers it is not constricted enough for beeing M.commutatum and maybe the racemen of flowers should be denser.

Here a pic which shows a similar plant: http://rareplants.co.uk/product.asp?s=hjnwzY462707&strParents=&CAT_ID=0&P_ID=3351&strPageHistory=search&numSearchStartRecord=1

Thanks Hans

Muscari inconstrictum was first described in the 50's by K.H. Rechinger from a specimen found in Petra.
I attach a photo of the true to type plant which i have photographed just a few days ago.
As you can notice the flowers are elongated, bell shaped and some thing i have noticed also in this species is that the basic color is more blue then purple and the color of the buds is vivid Green, this occurs also in the Israeli populations.
The form of the flowers in M. commutatum are generally more puffy, constricted mouth, with no trace of this clear blue.

How ever i have to add two things:
Both species are registered from Cyprus, I have been there quite a few times and couldn't indicate a plant which is similar to the more eastern populations.
But i have read more then once that there is a form from Cyprus that is considered to be a ssp. of inconstrictum [name is not given], might this form is the one you grow?
Or is there a transition form between the two species?
 

[DaveM]

Thanks, Oron and Hans. I eventually tracked down the location of Gulnar, west of Tarsus, whereas Kozan is east.   

Some wonderful small gems both of you, thanks for showing.

[Hans A.]

Thanks Oron - glad not to be botanist.
I had received this plant from a very skilled plantsman so I have / had no doubt about the correctness of the name.
It is just wonderful to have such a great forum with specialsts from all over the world!

[Sinchets]

An impatient Hyacinthella which has slowly been making its way up over the last few days.

[TheOnionMan]

An impatient Hyacinthella which has slowly been making its way up over the last few days.

Ooh, an incredible deep blue, and love that succulent foliage.  What Hyacinthella species is it?

[Sinchets]

Hyacinthella heldreichii I think- I am still waiting for it to show more leaf 

[ashley]

That's such a beauty Simon.  Is it the one you showed us last year?

[Sinchets]

No, Ashley that was another plant. This one was unlabelled and I am awaiting the leaves to see if it is a correct id on my part.

[David Nicholson]

for anyone interested there is a cracking picure (by John Evans) of a lovely potful of Hyacinthella glabrescens exhibited by Bob and Rannveig Wallis at the Harlow Show on Saturday, on the AGS Web Site. See http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/discussion/atshows/HARLOW+SHOW/353/#bottom

[Oron Peri]

David thanks for the link...some potfull to die for...