Galanthus - Ebay digression 2012

[mark smyth]

Yes I did say but no answer so far

[mark smyth]

the reply ...

hi mark, do you live near ipswich by any chance,
if so would love you to come and identify my
snowdrops have 6 different types, which will be
put on here in the next couple of days, and been
has i am only starting them at a 1.00 it is up to
the individual whether or not to take the chance.
thank you for your feedback, much appreciated.
best wishes
sharone

[Anthony Darby]

The only way to identify snowdrops is to read the label and then check the plant matches the label, otherwise people will just wander into a wood and, on a good day, could collect a specimen of every variety of Galanthus nivalis in Bishop, Davis and Grimshaw and think "that's the way to do it" (I think that's called a Punch line).

[kentish_lass]

Quote from Ebay

i am no expert on galanthus, but
studying various sites and pictures
on the internet i believe this to be a
hoverfly

looks like an elwesii to me

Mark - the last time this lady listed this snowdrop I mailed her and told her it was wrong.  I sent her a photo of what Hoverfly should look like and she accepted it was wrong....now she is listing it again    I told her that she cannot just look through photos and decide what they are as experts cannot even do that.  Talk about a waste of time mailing her.

[ronm]

Dont know this lady Jennie, so cannot comment but I would say to all members that there are a number of 'experts' around who will tell you what a plant is from a photograph. Well maybe ...maybe not!!! be careful and dont rush one way or another. All plants, and animals, change appearance etc. as they grow and mature. They are 3d things that need to be appraised over a period of time. Judging from a 2d photo is very very difficult. I have learned the hard way that very often the key to a plants name can be traced only through its provenance. If the origins cannot be traced then a definitive id is difficult to say the least.  They are still beautiful though....

[bulborum]

The good thing from pictures
you almost certain can tell that a specific Galanthus is wrong named
I think lots of Galanthus don't deserve a name

life would be much easier if there where just a few hundred serious named ones
I can name over 1000 G. elwesii var monostictus
but most are lookalikes
so why name them

who is naming (and accepting) names
if you can't recognise them
sounds for me stupid

Roland

[daveyp1970]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRUMPY-Snowdrop-bulbs-collectors-/230752087638?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item35b9e56e56#ht_500wt_1202
They are really taking the mickey now  

[ronm]

A fool and their money are.. etc...etc,

[mark smyth]

Must be a joke

[Alan_b]

I think it's rather a good joke; really a warning against paying a lot of money for nothing in particular.

[Brian Ellis]

...yet I wouldn't be surprised if someone buys it

[ScotsmanInKent]

I recently purchased a snowdrop as viridapice.

I am very happy with it as nice sized bulb and good roots and does indeed have nice green outer petal marks and nivalis type leaves.

However.... it has a split spathe. It really looks like Scharlockii. Do any of the many forms of viridapice have split spathes, or does the double "donkey ear" spathe mean it must be something else? It also has a very long pedicle.

I can take a better picture tomorrow if that would help, this one doesnt show the spathe. Hoping someone will know.

[ScotsmanInKent]

Looks like a normal elwesii to me Hee Heee
Plus Grumpy seems to cost about £20 to £30 anyway.....

[Brian Ellis]

Simon Viridapice has a noticeably large spathe, I'm not sure that it splits though, I've only just got mine so will have to nip out and have another look.

Just been out to look and the largest bulb has a spathe that is translucent in the centre, but not split like 'Charlotte Jean' and the Galanthus nivalis 'Scharlockii'.

Davey posted a picture here:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8483.msg233518#msg233518
they don't appear to have split spathes, it could be as the spathe ages?  Someone intelligent will know I'm sure.

[mark smyth]

Warei