KentGardener's Galanthus Blog 2012

[Brian Ellis]

Gog Magog where we walked over what passes for hills in Cambridgeshire

You'll get drummed out of the brownies, they are mountains for East Anglia

Great to see these John and Alan, and also to see Wandlebury Ring home to those famous 'drops.

[johnw]

Alan & John

What a goldmine of snowdrop genes in that secret spot! And what a pity it couldn't be declared a protected spot for all to enjoy. But then we know what would happen if that were the case. Hats off to Alan for meticulously keeping this spot safe and secure from predators. Hopefully it will be never see bulldozers and developers.

johnw

[mark smyth]

stunning green tipped, John

[KentGardener]

I do wonder if it the colouring would be as strong in future years Mark.  The bulb looked like it had been trod on by an animal as it was sprouting, the strong green tips were only on two petals and the third was much less stronger coloured, so I am guessing that really strong green might be a one off to enjoy for this year.

[Hagen Engelmann]

John, this is a "normal" problem of the inverse poc.
I have to notice this colour  ( and size) constellation also on my NEVER BEFORE and NOBODY IS PERFECT.
But this plant is worth a try!!!

[kentish_lass]

Some very interesting specimens found in Alan's secret location.  I love the nivalis with very long outers - very elegant.  I cannot fully understand what a 'reverse poc' is?  Anyone?

Jennie

[Jo]

Hi Jennie,   I think a poc is when the inners are like the outers and an inverse poc are when the outers are like the inners and show some of their markings and also maybe a bit of the sinus as well

[art600]

Perfect description Jo 

[Alan_b]

Yes, "poculiform" actually means "having the shape of a goblet or cup" but as applied to snowdrops it means that the inner petals take on something of the character of the outer petals, so the "best" poculiform (abbreviation poc.) snowdrops have six white petals, all much the same size (but still arranged as three inners and three outers).

In some snowdrops the outer petals take on something of the character of the inner petals.  "Trym" is quite a good example of a snowdrop showing this behaviour.  Nobody has coined a name for this type of snowdrop (AFAIK) so it sometimes gets called an inverse poculiform.  But if somebody can think of a better name then there is definitely an opening.     

[KentGardener]

Hi Jennie,   I think a poc is when the inners are like the outers and an inverse poc are when the outers are like the inners and show some of their markings and also maybe a bit of the sinus as well

Hi Jennie

Jo (and Alan) have explained it perfectly.  

I first became aware of the actual term 'inverse poculiform' when Matt Bishop featured these interesting flowers in his interesting article in the 'Daffodil,snowdrops and Tulip Yearbook 2011'.

Remind me to show you the article when you next visit.

[Hagen Engelmann]

Last year Matt was here too and he told about inverse pocs. I mean, it a good terminus and I renamed in my classification the group of TRYM into inverse poculiforme.

Here is another example

NOBODY IS PERFECT

[KentGardener]

Hi Hagen

on this thread ( http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6670.120 ) are 2 pictures of interest - one shows the inverse poc that Alan had previously seen - and also a picture of the example of this type of flower that we found on that day this time last year.

[Hagen Engelmann]

I`m happy about the time we will have to speak about these wonderful flowers. It`s only a question of few days .

[Gerard Oud]

Hagen that one looks pretty perfect to me. What a beauty!

[johnw]

NOBODY IS PERFECT

Hagen  - How many outers on that one?

johnw