Galanthus diversion to the Blues

[TheNorm]

I imagine that someone could help me with an ID of what I believe to be a Scilla.  Very dwarf, only 2" (5cm) above ground with quite broad leaves.  Flowers are white, suffused with vibrant blue which fades after a few days.  Each bulb only produces one flower as best I can see.  Photos attached (I hope).  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


Scilla? To be Identified by anyone who can please


Scilla? bulb

[TheNorm]

I have just been out in the garden and was looking at Puschkinia libanotica.  There are big similarities with that.  The single flower situation does make it definitely a different thing however.

Thanks,


Lewis

[Diane Clement]

Welcome to the forum, Lewis.  I think your "Scilla" is what most of us would call Chionodoxa but the genus has recently been revised and submerged into Scilla.  Your plant is a bit nibbled  but it is probably Chionodoxa (now Scilla) forbesii or Chionodoxa (now Scilla) luciliae.  The current taxonomy was revised in this RHS trials publication, but I believe is still not settled

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/planttrials/TrialReports/Hyacinthaceae%20hardy%202003.pdf

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/PDFs/Plant-trials-and-awards/Plant-bulletins/hyacinthaceae

[Maggi Young]

Ian and I have just been looking at 'drops in the garden ( they're pretty much all the same) we see some little blue bulbs coming up now too... they're not all exactly the same, but we still can't tell which is which....

[Diane Clement]

we see some little blue bulbs coming up now too... they're not all exactly the same, but we still can't tell which is which....  

The difference here is that some of my little blue bulbs are blue and seed around like crazy, and some are white and they don't seed around at all.  The white ones are single flowered, the blue are multi-flowered  
Oops, sorry I just realised this is all in a Galanthus thread    

[Maggi Young]

 
Oops, sorry I just realised this is all in a Galanthus thread    

I thought it was quite nice to spread a little colour into the lives of the white fever sufferers, but in case any of them are too too sensitive I've created this little diversion thread 

[Gerry Webster]

we see some little blue bulbs coming up now too... they're not all exactly the same, but we still can't tell which is which....  

The difference here is that some of my little blue bulbs are blue and seed around like crazy, and some are white and they don't seed around at all.  The white ones are single flowered, the blue are multi-flowered  
Oops, sorry I just realised this is all in a Galanthus thread    

Yes, what I still call Chionodoxa do seed around like mad. I'm convinced that each seed produces a flowering-size bulb within a year & the bulbs then divide at the same rate. In fact, attractive weeds which are crowding out the white things. They also hybridise with Scilla & the offspring are rather attractive.

[gote]

The difference between Chionodoxa and Scilla lies in that Chionodoxa has wide filaments to the anthers whereas Scilla has thin. The difference of course holds regardless of wether we believe in one taxonomist or the other. These flowers are very nibbled so it is difficult to see but the anthers look thinnish to me. That there is only one flower is probably because they are crowded.
Also I get the imperssion that there is colour lower down on the tepals than a light coloured Chionodoxa would have. A closeup of a dissected flower would be helpful.
Göte

[mark smyth]

Blue bulbs in my garden gone in a flash this year  only a few left. Too many tulips in flower

[TheNorm]

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your comments and ideas thus far.

I can say Diane that they are definetly not Chionodoxa forbesii or luciliae as I have both, including a couple of cultivars and while there are similarities, this is far smaller than them and only produces a single flower per stalk.  Back to the drawing board.

The slugs have done some work them and I appreciate that that is making ID much harder.

I will disect a flower and submit pictures Gote, I should have been more scientific about it, but was rushing earlier.  For now, I have another picture from this morning that shows scale a little better, if not detail.

Worrying now that I'll be thrown out of the galanthophile club now for introducing too much discussion on none Galanthus. eek

Thanks everyone,



Lewis

[mark smyth]

Are all bulbs producing only one flower per bulb?

[TheNorm]

Yep, one flower and only one stem per bulb.

I'm glad it seems to be a real challenge so far.

It isn't an amazing plant, just odd and I hate not knowing what I'm dealing with.  Was in the garden when I moved in a few years ago.  No history, or provenance.

L

[mark smyth]

I also think it is in need to some food and a new position. It looks sick

[TheNorm]

You may be right, but it looked good (ish), if moth eaten, last week. 

The leaves are always fresh green and bright, but the flowers are slight and underwhelming in volume.

Lewis

[TheNorm]

Can I assume from that Mark that you don't want any when I split them up?  You, like me, don't seem very impressed about it.

L