Crocus November 2012

[David Nicholson]

Edge of petals is not straight but with "cut" edge + seems some discoloration on petals, too.
Janis

But that could equally be normal cultivational damage and the light the picture was taken in couldn't it?

[Gerry Webster]

But that could equally be normal cultivational damage and the light the picture was taken in couldn't it?

Or nibbling by some beastie. Signs of this on the leaves.

[tonyg]

I have grown a plant that looks just like this one, I got it back in 1990 as Crocus cartwightianus albus.  At the time there was some suggestion that it was an albino form of C hadriaticus.  Later BM described Crocus hadriaticus ssp parnassicus as a pure white variant.  Posted below is a pic from today of a seedling of ssp parnassicus.  My original 1990 plants show occasional ragged edged petals but no other sign of virus and they have been long lived.

I would add that in my collection the plants of the sativus group seem to hybridise freely.  I have many pots of seed raised Cc cartwrightianus, oreocreticus, mathewii (several batches have been predominantly white, no purple throat) and especially thomasii which are 'confusingly varied!'

[tonyg]

Here are two hybrid seedlings from Crocus thomasii

Don't know what is going on but when I post with attachments I get "try again later" messsage only to find post appearing a short while later!!

[tonyg]

Crocus oreocreticus
Crocus biflorus melantherus

Both raised from my own saved seed.  The oreocreticus looks OK but another pot of seedlings had thrown up white flowered plants with slight purple veining, likely a hybrid with cartwrightianus.

[Gerry Webster]

Apropos 'C. cartwrightianus albus'. BM states that the stock originated from a collection made near Tripolis by Oliver Wyatt & is "fairly typical C. hadriaticus". It seems to be widely available in the trade.

[ArnoldT]

As I said in my note on the original posting this Crocus was  a Superstorm Sandy survivor.

[YT]

At last crocus season is just coming to my place Crocus tournefortii

[Janis Ruksans]

Just checked B. Mathew's "The Greek species of Crocus, a taxonomic survey".
Extract from key:

8a - Style branches not more than 1/2 as long as segments, flowers white - 7. C. hadriaticus
8b - Style branches more than 1/2 as long as segments, flowers usually lilac ior purple (sometimes albino plants occur.....9
       9a - ....... style branches 2.5 - 3.2 cm long   - 5. C. sativus
       9b - ........style branches (0.5)1-2.7 cm long ....10
                 10a - Throat pubescent.....    - 4. C. cartwrightianus
                 10b - Throat glabrous.....       - 6. C. oreocreticus

Janis

[Gerry Webster]

I'm afraid that doesn't solve the problem of the identity of a plant - like Arnold's -  which has both long style branches & the style divides high up. The plant pictured by T & M (which I linked above) is similar.

[bulborum]

Maybe this helps a very little
Crocus hadriaticus Corm tunic fine netted fibres
Crocus cartwrightianus Finely fibrous corm tunic, reticulated

Roland

[udo]

Very interesting the discussion over Crocus cartwrightianus 'Albus' hort.
Here seedlings from this form, around 50 % have pale blue flowers like cartwrightianus, other plants pure white.
I think, this is a cross between hadriaticus and cartwrightianus.

[udo]

and some pure species:
Crocus biflorus ssp.melantherus 2 forms
   ''       laevigatus, dark form
   ''       wattiorum with close and open flower

[Gerry Webster]

Very interesting the discussion over Crocus cartwrightianus 'Albus' hort.
Here seedlings from this form, around 50 % have pale blue flowers like cartwrightianus, other plants pure white.
I think, this is a cross between hadriaticus and cartwrightianus.

Dirk - Very interesting. Can you exclude the possibility that the plants have hybridised  with you?

[udo]

Gerry,
i harvested the seed about 15 years ago. At that time was cartwrightianus 'Albus' hort. my first winter-green Crocus.
I cannot exclude a hybrid in general, but it is not very probable.