Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => NARCISSUS => Topic started by: Jack Meatcher on March 14, 2013, 08:54:12 PM
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I have been trying to obtain a specimen of N. asturiensis (or should I say N. minor ssp asturiensis now?) and recently have been using the description in John Blanchard's book as my "specification". Having bought several bulbs purporting to be N. asturiensis in the past, I am becoming convinced that there must be either a lot of variations (cultivars?) or I've bought incorrectly named plants.
I was encouraged to see Ian McEnery's and ArnoldT's illustrations of their N. asturiensis as they both seemed to conform to the Blanchard description, especially the waisted corona. The N.asturiensis currently flowering at Wisley has the waisted corona but is 6"-7" tall and more upright. My specimen bought as N. asturiensis is too tall, somewhat glaucous in the leaf, doesn't have the waisted corona, and is rather upright. I do have Douglasbank and Wavertree but I expect these to be different from a "pure" plant.
I have some ex JJA seeds coming along but they are 2-3 years away from flowering so it may be some time before I actually have a specimen or two.
Does anyone else have these difficulties when buying N.a in bulb form?
Jack
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Good luck in sorting this one out, Jack!ike many others- very variable and, of course, there is always, even in the wild, the possibility of some hybridisation.
Anne Wright showed a lovely selection here : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6855.msg189006#msg189006 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6855.msg189006#msg189006)
and the forum displays a wide range of plants, many with "admitted" hybridity, over the years and many from wild origin too.
Confused- well, who wouldn't be?
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I received some bulbs of N. asturiensis from Pitcairn Alpines a few years ago & they appear to be true - they have the waisted corona referred to by Blanchard. They are just coming into flower now so I'll try & post a pic in a few days time. I suspect that many of the plants supplied as N. asturiensis are "N. minor" or "N. nanus".
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I posted a pic of the Pitcairn Alpines form in 2012, here:
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8248.msg235730#msg235730 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=8248.msg235730#msg235730)
It had a Stagonospora infection which seems to have disappeared following treatment with Trichoderma.
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Here's what I've been growing as N. asturiensis for over 15 years.
5 cm tall, max.
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N. asturiensis
This is a better photo of the Pitcairn Alpines form I mentioned above & shows the waisted corona referred to by Blanchard.
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That looks spot on Gerry, I've always had doubts about mine.
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Thanks for those responses and pics. Yes, it does seem that your Pitcairn Alpines N.a are true. I did buy 5 bulbs from them last year but nothing came up like those in your pics. I'll double check to-morrow morning to see if I've somehow lost sight of them.
Jack
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Narcissus asturiensis from Pottertons in a 11 cm pot. I think they are the true type as they fit Blanchards description. They are much smaller than Wavertree. Due to cold weather they are flowering a bit late this year.
Poul
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They look right to me, Poul.