Galanthus in October 2017

[Mariette]

Sorry for Your loss, Alan!

I wonder whether these forms may be regarded as var. elwesii or monostictus?

Not as lovely and special as Rick´s ´Ruby Baker´, but at least G. reginae-olga ´Tilebarn Jamie´ grows well in my garden, and potted, too.

[Rick Goodenough]

Alan, your elwesii is quite an eye catcher. Love the mark and so rare to see such an early elwesii v.elwesii.

Rick

[Rick Goodenough]

Not as lovely and special as Rick´s ´Ruby Baker´, but at least G. reginae-olgae Tilebarn Jamie´ grows well in my garden, and potted, too.

Mariette...your G. r-o 'Tilebarn Jamie' are every bit as lovely. A wonderful setting and terrific image as well. Nicely grown. Rick

[johnralphcarpenter]

The diminutive Galanthus peshmenii Kastellorizo Form (Rix 4010).

[Brian Ellis]

At the front of one bed, about 18" (45cm) apart I grow 'Rainbow Farm Early' and 'Barnes', when I got it from Mike Broadhurst he said that he thought that RFE was a seedling of 'Barnes' but earlier.  These were taken today showing that indeed, here that is true. 

[Maggi Young]

The 'drops are pretty with cyclamen as company, aren't they?

[Brian Ellis]

The 'drops are pretty with cyclamen as company, aren't they?

Yes it's a treat to see them like that (shame about the rubbish all around!

[hadacekf]

The snowdrops enjoyed the sun.

[Brian Ellis]

Lovely picture Franz, we all enjoy a bit of sun!

[pehe]

No sign of Barnes or Hollis yet, but Peter Gatehouse has shown its nose among Crocus ochroleucus.
My Galanthus peshmenii Kastelloriozo has finished, but another peshmenii form is still flowering.
Cilicus will flower in a week or so. In the open garden some of the early Reginae Olgae is over, while others are just starting.

Poul

[Alan_b]

I wonder whether these forms may be regarded as var. elwesii or monostictus?

These terms are not always helpful.  My understanding is that in var. monostictus the (single) mark on the inner petals is should be confined to the half of the petal nearest the tip.  If it extends further it's not var. monostictus so I guess it must be var. elwesii, even though we generally think of var. elwesii as having two distinct marks   

[David Lowndes]

Down here in Hampshire I have ‘Peter Gatehouse’, ‘Cambridge ‘, ‘Hogget’s Narrow’ all flowering in the garden. No sign of ‘Barnes’, ‘Hollis’ or ‘Kinn Macintosh’though. Various r.o’s flowering in pots. Interested in the  ‘lower temperature in pots stimulus theory’.  It’s been pretty warm since March down here!

[Mariette]

These terms are not always helpful.  My understanding is that in var. monostictus the (single) mark on the inner petals is should be confined to the half of the petal nearest the tip.  If it extends further it's not var. monostictus so I guess it must be var. elwesii, even though we generally think of var. elwesii as having two distinct marks

Thank You for Your answer, Alan! Most of the autumn-flowering G. elwesii I grow are var. monostictus, like this one.

[Mariette]

Others show a mark almost extended to the base of the inners, like this one. Someone suggested, that this should be called var. monostictus, too, as it´s still one single mark, simply larger. I wonder whether this is the scientific or just a personal view.

[Alan_b]

Thank You for Your answer, Alan! Most of the autumn-flowering G. elwesii I grow are var. monostictus, like this one.

Almost all autumn-flowering G. elwesii are var. monostictus.  The best-known exception is 'Peter Gatehouse' - which is a lovely snowdrop that I would recommend to anybody.

Others show a mark almost extended to the base of the inners, like this one. Someone suggested, that this should be called var. monostictus, too, as it´s still one single mark, simply larger. I wonder whether this is the scientific or just a personal view.

Well it is logical because it is indeed a single mark but I think it is neither helpful nor scientific.  I am pretty certain that if you look at a wild or naturalised population of G. elwesii var. elwesii you will find some snowdrops with two distinct marks and some where the two marks merge together.  If that is true then there is little point in using different descriptive terms for the two types.  Var. monostictus (classified as I suggest) is rare overall but very common amongst the early flowering elwesiis.  And if you buy imported elwesii bulbs then about 1 in 1000 will be early-flowering.  I am certain there is a mystery here that remains to be unravelled.