Crocus: October 2010

[Janis Ruksans]

Not to mention Wow, and Oh Golly!

I got half a dozen seeds last season. Now, what did I do with them?

Saw them as soon as possible. Earlier sawn, better germination.
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

Yesterday afternoon again some sun shined and warmed up air in greenhouse, so new Crocus pictures were made.
Now will start with Crocus goulimyi.
On the first is bicolored form found by me on Peloponnese, I named it New Harlequin. Last autumn color contrast was more expressed.
Next shows unusually uniformly colored and the darkest of goulimyi found by me on Peloponnese. Flower is mechanically damaged, it is not virus.
The third is most unusual - one of most pinkish colored crocuses found by my stepdaughter on Peloponnese, I named it Pink Wonder
Then two pictures of Crocus longiflorus from Sicily, flower was of so perfect color and form, that I put two pictures of it on forum.
Crocus niveus in trade usually are represented by slightly bluish form. Here two purest white, the second well increases ans is multiplied in my nursery as clone.
May be you tired from my endless C. cancellatus and pallasii pictures, but this one pallasii seedling is so beautiful...
And as last Crocus serotinus salzmannii with very large, rounded flowers which I got from Zhirair, who received it from UK. I like its speckled back of petals, but most important is that this clone is virus-free - quite rare nowdays between salzmannii.
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

In this entry I will start with two white Crocus cancellatus from different subspecies. In the first picture subspecies mazziaricus. Give attention to stigmatic branches. Stigma well overtops anthers and is moderately branched, sometimes in subsp. mazziaricus even minutely branched.
Subsp. lycius allways is white, very rarely striped on back (as you can see on second picture) but stigma is very branched but rarely and only slightly exceed anthers.
Crocus assumaniae can varies by color and flower segments form, I mostly like its white form.
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

One of the most beautiful autumn crocuses undoubtedly is Crocus mathewii. It is quite variable crocus. Between best forms are 'Dream Dancer' (it seems that my plant will not flower this season) and 'Brian Mathew' with very prominent dark throat and dark purple flower tube. Problem is that it is very slow increaser vegetatively. Another, very similar by color, but with pointed flower segments and very good increaser was selected by me (JATU-020).
Following is another C. mathewii acquisition (JATU-018) and
two forms of Crocus thomasii, the second from Apulia in Italy.
As last crocus in this entry - the first blooming of Crocus aleppicus, got from Israel only this summer.
At very end - two pictures of autumn blooming crocus pots in my greenhouse. Pots without flowers on left side are with spring blooming crocuses
Janis

[christian pfalz]

janis, a wonderful collection you have in cultivation....
i like the c. mathewii....
have a nice weekend
cheers
chris

[angie]

What an amazing sight. I would love to be in your greenhouse soaking in that sight 

Angie

[BULBISSIME]

SIMPLY STUNING JANIS 
I just wouldn't like to have to repot in your greenhouse 

[Janis Ruksans]

SIMPLY STUNING JANIS 
I just wouldn't like to have to repot in your greenhouse 

I only yesterday finished, of course, not crocuses, last this year were juno irises. It took all my time since June, with 2 week break for packing of orders and one week for fever (autumn virus). This morning all is white, road very slippery (I still have summer resin on my car), temperature outside minus 4 C, but some sun shines through clouds, so hope to make some new pictures of crocuses this afternoon.
Janis

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Truly wonderful pictures Janis !!
The view in your greenhouse is one to behold for all croconuts !

[Alex]

Some Crocus from the greenhouse today - C. mathewi and a late-flowering clone of C. gilanicus.

[hadacekf]

Thank you all for these fine crocus pics.
Self seedlings of Crocus goulimyi in my meadow

[Janis Ruksans]

Weather outside is very cold and only very short moments with sunshine lightened day, so very few new pictures.
One of the latest Crocus speciosus forms from Iran. Note low position of stigma - it ends well below tips of anthers.
Greatest surprise for today - multipetalled C. laevigatus specimen from Tripoli. Unfortunately it isn't permanent feature and most possibly next years the flower again will be with normal 6 flower segments.
Crocus cancellatus pamphylicus is the easiest to determine - by its white anthers. By samples which I have, it isn't very variable.
Very large flowers has this form of Crocus cancellatus mazziaricus from Greece.
And as last today - the brightest white Crocus cancellatus in my collection from Turkey.
Janis

[Alex]

A quick question if i may - I've just noticed that Crocus aerius, which i'm growing for the first time this season, has a nose at soil level. Is this normal for this Spring-flowering sp. or is it growing early for some reason?

Alex

[Mike Ireland]

Two crocus sieberi which have self seeded have different coloured stems, is this normal?

Mike

[Boyed]

And as last Crocus serotinus salzmannii with very large, rounded flowers which I got from Zhirair, who received it from UK. I like its speckled back of petals, but most important is that this clone is virus-free - quite rare nowdays between salzmannii.
Janis

Pleased, to know that this  crocus serotinus salmanii vigorousf orm is alive in your collection. I sent it few years ago, but never noticed you showing its photo. I had several corcus serotinus salzmanii forms, but got rid of all of them, only leaving this clone because of its good garden marits and vigorous habit.

Your crocus pictures are stunning as always. Especially was intrigued by pinkish form of crocus goulimyi.