February Narcissus 2011

[ArnoldT]

Anyone know anything about:

Narcissus quatrecasasi

[Lesley Cox]

I'm wondering if this is mis-spelt N. cuatrecasassii which as I have it, is very similar to N. rupicola but a good 2 or 3 weeks earlier and the seed ripens a good month before rupicola.

[David Nicholson]

I think there is just one 's' at the end-cuatrecasisii-named after the Spanish botanist Jose Cuatrecasas(1903-1996). I 've had one for a couple of years(or it might be rupicola!) but it never flowers for me.

[David Nicholson]

Oh Anne, some cracking seedlings there.

[Gerry Webster]

I think there is just one 's' at the end-cuatrecasisii-named after the Spanish botanist Jose Cuatrecasas(1903-1996). I 've had one for a couple of years(or it might be rupicola!) but it never flowers for me.

cuatrecasasii I think - as in the botanist.

[David Nicholson]

You're right Gerry.

[David Nicholson]

Gerry, if you have the time I'd appreciate it if you would have a look at my two N. asturiensis on Page 21. I'd welcome your views.

[Gerry Webster]

Gerry, if you have the time I'd appreciate it if you would have a look at my two N. asturiensis on Page 21. I'd welcome your views.

David - I'm not sure my opinion is worth much. According to Blanchard (which I think you have) the main characteristic of N. asturiensis is the constricted corona; neither of your plants seems to show this. So, either N. minor or N. nanus? My own plants of N. asturiensis (from Susan Band & flowering for the first time) are still in bud; I'll post a pic when they open. Blanchard implies that all these plants are variable & I suspect there are lots of hybrids around.

[Casalima]

I have two buds on the N. cuatrecasasii from last year's Mid-Anglia sale hoard. I also have Tiny Bubbles, Hawera, Snipe, Stocken and Baby Boomer in flower, but no pictures as my camera has gone to the menders. I'll have to ask my daughter to take some photos with her (not to be touched by mamã!) camera. The bulbs seem to be doing very well in general. My main problem at the moment is too much rain - I have to pour off rainwater from their trays regularly to prevent drowning.
By the way, Cuatrecasas is a Catalan surname, cuatre being a (less common) spelling of quatre (four) - Fourhouses

[David Nicholson]

Gerry, if you have the time I'd appreciate it if you would have a look at my two N. asturiensis on Page 21. I'd welcome your views.

David - I'm not sure my opinion is worth much. According to Blanchard (which I think you have) the main characteristic of N. asturiensis is the constricted corona; neither of your plants seems to show this. So, either N. minor or N. nanus? My own plants of N. asturiensis (from Susan Band & flowering for the first time) are still in bud; I'll post a pic when they open. Blanchard implies that all these plants are variable & I suspect there are lots of hybrids around.

Gerry, many thanks, I would be interested in seeing a pic of your plant when it's ready.

[Rafa]

Narcissus cuatrecasasii Fern.Casas , M.Laínz & Ruiz Rejon
syn. Narcissus rupicola subsp. pedunculatus (Cuatr.) M. Lainz ex Meikle

The are several differences between N. rupicola and N. cuatrecasasii

N. cuatrecasasii is more robust than N. rupicola, it has wider leaves, one or two fowers per scape. which is longer than N. rupicola. Filaments are also diferently inserted in the tube. Corona in N. rupicola is lobulated and not in N. cuatrecasasii

Most important to me, geographical distribution, and soil conditions: N. cuatrecasasii only grows in Cazorla and Magina Mountains in limestone, and rupicola in silicium soil. I only know one place in Spain where N. rupicola grows in limestone.

It is possible to find N. rupicola with two flowers constricted.

[Gerry Webster]

Gerry, if you have the time I'd appreciate it if you would have a look at my two N. asturiensis on Page 21. I'd welcome your views.

David - I'm not sure my opinion is worth much. According to Blanchard (which I think you have) the main characteristic of N. asturiensis is the constricted corona; neither of your plants seems to show this. So, either N. minor or N. nanus? My own plants of N. asturiensis (from Susan Band & flowering for the first time) are still in bud; I'll post a pic when they open. Blanchard implies that all these plants are variable & I suspect there are lots of hybrids around.

Gerry, many thanks, I would be interested in seeing a pic of your plant when it's ready.

David - have a look at the photo on Susan's website:

http://www.pitcairnalpines.co.uk/narcissus-asturiensis-927-p.asp

Although it is not very clear, if you look carefully you can see that the coronas  are like those in the drawing in Blanchard. It will be a few days before my plants are ready for photos - I hope they look like this.

[Brooklyngirl]

Thanks to those who answered Arnold's inquiry about N. quatrecasasii (I had posed the question of what the derivation of the name is to him since he's the closest expert on this genus whom I know. He's over the Hudson and I'm in Brooklyn) I now know a lot more about it than I did. I wish I had the Blanchard book, but I do have E.A. Bowles' book on Narcissus, which could confuse me more than help me in preparations for a slide talk next week for our local NARGS chapter! Thanks to all you growers over the pond.
Lola

[Lesley Cox]

Sorry about the double ss. Slip of the finger I guess.

This is what I have as N. cuatrecasasii. It was raised from seedlist seed, source unknown. I find it very vigorous and carries two or three flowers per stem. It makes masses of quite large seed and this will go to both lists later in the year.

[Gerry Webster]

Sorry about the double ss. Slip of the finger I guess.

This is what I have as N. cuatrecasasii. It was raised from seedlist seed, source unknown. I find it very vigorous and carries two or three flowers per stem. It makes masses of quite large seed and this will go to both lists later in the year.

Lesley - I have never seen N. cuatrecasasii in the flesh but your plant does not seem to correspond with Blanchard's description of the morphology of the corona (should be entire or very slightly crenulate)  or with other pics I have seen. A characteristic feature  is the pedicel which is quite long (about 12mm) - not really visible on your pic. B states that number of flowers is 1-2  but usually solitary.