Snowdrops species IDs

[Sinchets]

I agree with you Martin regarding atypical G.ikariae, or a new subspecies of this, personally I would prefer to think that all of the populations of G.ikariae have not been found yet- if this is a new population then who knows what range of forms are there which are not represented by the 2 pictures I have posted.
As I said, having been to the site where it is from, I cannot see how it could be in this location as an introduction. I have been to Greece many times and can recognise sites which have plants, because they are former rubbish dumps, graveyards or habitations. This site has no possibility for any of these it is a steep north facing limestone slope with mature oak woodland and a diverse woodland flora- something one would expect to see as a stable climatic climax community for this area. It was not agricultural land or even regenerated forest. It was not near a village and not near a road.

[Maggi Young]

Folks, I've been trying to split off the ikariae posts to keep them more easily found.... it's a fiddly job, please bear with me.

[Oakwood]

Simon, was this on one of the islands or on the mainland?

It was on one of the islands. Maybe just a new floral finding for G.woronowii in Greece 

Simon, but the island - you could name it at least? Andros, Naxos or Skyros? 

[Brian Ellis]

I would prefer to think that all of the populations of G.ikariae have not been found yet- if this is a new population then who knows what range of forms are there which are not represented by the 2 pictures I have posted.

I have to agree with you Simon, I think there are an awful lot of snowdrops in the wild just waiting to be discovered

[Sinchets]

Simon, was this on one of the islands or on the mainland?

It was on one of the islands. Maybe just a new floral finding for G.woronowii in Greece  

Simon, but the island - you could name it at least? Andros, Naxos or Skyros?  

I am sure you will understand my reluctance in naming a new location- but it does not come from any of the above islands. As such I would prefer to return to the location to confirm it before I say any more.

[Oakwood]

 

[Sinchets]

We will make an announcement as soon as we have been back.

[Oakwood]

"Galanthus ikariae is endemic to the Aegean Islands of Greece. Since its discovery
on the island of Ikaria it has been collected from three other Aegean islands, namely
Andros, Naxos, and Skyros, and further collections have been made on Ikaria.
Recently, there have been rumours of G. ikariae growing in western Crete, although
these sightings have not been confirmed".
p. 43, in:
Davis A. P. The genus Galanthus – Snowdrops in the Wild / M. Bishop, A. P. Davis, J. Grimshaw // Snowdrops. A monograph of cultivated Galanthus. – Cheltenham : Griffin Press, 2001. – Chapt. 2. – P. 9–63.

[johnw]

We will make an announcement as soon as we have been back.

Wonderful Simon and let's hope you have made a very important discovery.

johnw

[johnw]

Page 162 of Davies makes for an interesting read.  Has anyone looked at leaf cross-sections of their (now sunken) ssp. snogerupiis?

My only verified ikariae received last autumn failed to appear in its pot.  I probably gave it a drink to early in the autumn, now I could use one.

johnw - +6c

[Oakwood]

Page 162 of Davies makes for an interesting read.  Has anyone looked at leaf cross-sections of their (now sunken) ssp. snogerupiis?

My only verified ikariae received last autumn failed to appear in its pot.  I probably gave it a drink to early in the autumn, now I could use one.

johnw - +6c

yes, John, the leaves of both subssp are now cut and merged in a spirit for a month to be denser for section and staining