Tulipa 2010

[Armin]

Fred,
very beautiful T. biflora.

I found some hint in Peter Nijssen catalogue. My biflora likely derive from Caspian Sea or Caucasus area. It looks like a small version of T. turkestanica.

[TheOnionMan]

Janis Ruksans in his book Buried Treasure, writes about the Tulipa bifloriformis-T. turkestanica complex.  He reports "At Chimgan we had to find T. bifloriformis, whose anthers are mostly black.  As it happens, we found plants with all variations of anther color: they were black, yellow, and yellow with a black tip".  

I uploaded two photos of what I have as T. bifloriformis obtained some years ago from Jane McGary. Some people have suggested my plants look like T. turkestanica, not surprising when learning about the similarity between the species.  In the photos I show, there are dark anthers, which is supposed to place it in the bifloriformis camp.  Curiously, in the Phillips & Rix "Bulbs" book, there's a photo of T. turkestanica, with the caption reading "Tulipa turkestanica Regel. This plant, from commercial stock, shows the dark anthers supposed to be a character of T. bifloriformis Vved."... (so are they actually showing T. bifloriformis?).

Perhaps Janis can comment on these two species, is there a definite way to tell the two apart. And it seems, most of what is being grown actually sides with the T. bifloriformis camp. Comments?

PS. In the second photo, ignore the distracting yellow thimble-weeds behind the Tulipa

[Armin]

Mark,
many thanks for the T. bifloriformis photos. There are similarities with my tulipa.
Is yours stoloniferous?

[TheOnionMan]

Mark,
Is yours stoloniferous?

Not that I'm aware of.  I do scratch in seed around the base plants, and there are younger seedling plants.

[TheOnionMan]

I've been in touch with Sara Gold, manager of the Wildflowers of Israel site.  She encourages usage of this valuable resource.
http://www.wildflowers.co.il/english/plantsIndex.asp

I used the web site feedback mechanism when I spotted one out of the seven photos of Allium carmeli looked suspect, showing a scabrid red-flowered Allium (of section Allium), and not the pink smooth-tepalled A. carmeli as beautifully depicted in the other views.  A correction was made, that one photo taken down.  We got to chatting, and it's a small world, as she mentions having lived in the Boston area 30 years ago, not far from where I am.  

I asked about the issue regarding nomenclature; the aforementioned Tulipa polychroma versus T. biflora status in Israel, and they are taking it under advisement.  When she last responded, she sent along a photo she took last week (approx Feb. 14, 2010) of a Tulipa species in bloom... looks like T. systola agenensis (thanks Oron!).  I downsized the image and share it with you here.

[Armin]

Thanks for your reply Mark,
maybe Janis can comment and advise.

The photo of T. systola in the wild is great!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Interesting observations Mark !

Thanks for enclosing the pix from the Israel site : glorious !!

[Oron Peri]

  When she last responded, she sent along a photo she took last week (approx Feb. 14, 2010) of a Tulipa species in bloom... looks like T. systola.  I downsized the image and share it with you here.

Mark,

The tulip in the photo is T. agenensis, recognized by the pointed petals.
Tulipa systola is a more solitary plant and grows generally in clearance, undisturbed by other plants.

[TheOnionMan]

Mark,

The tulip in the photo is T. agenensis, recognized by the pointed petals.
Tulipa systola is a more solitary plant and grows generally in clearance, undisturbed by other plants.

Oron, thanks for the correct ID, I corrected the message above and retitled the image as well. 
I had a 50/50 chance of getting it right (only 2 red Tulipa in Israel), yet I still got it wrong... too hastily jumped to conclusions

[Janis Ruksans]

If I will have time before leaving to mountains next week I will try to translate key for Centreal Asian sp. of bifloriformis/turkestanica group, but few years ago I tried to make a key and failed as various sources are too contradictious. In many cases the wool on inner surface of bulb covering sheets, its intensity, position (at top, throughout or at bottom) are main features listed to separate species.
Regarding plychroma comparing with biflora - if I remember well - polychroma in Iran was much larger plant.
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

I think this one is Tulipa polychroma from Iran, pictured by me two years ago. I can't reach my office and nursery to controll due heavy snowing and closed roads.
Janis

[Michael J Campbell]

Tulipa Turkestanica Aman-Kutan

[art600]

Tulipa Turkestanica Aman-Kutan

Michael

A very nice tulip. 

[cohan]

Tulipa Turkestanica Aman-Kutan

among the most beautiful i have seen!

[Ragged Robin]

I agree with Cohan - it stands out a mile