Spring Narcissus 2014

[YT]

Anne is right, they do look good. 2009 was a good year for Fairy Gold and not Narcissus fly I hope?! Luckily I have escaped the wee blighters so far. I presume we'd get them here...must look into that...

Fortunately we don't have any narcissus flies here. But crinum borer (Brithys crini) caterpillars eat into narcissus bulbs occasionally and consume all bulbs in a pot

[Matt T]

...must look into that...

Well, I've just checked on the NBN - National Biodiversity Network - Gateway for the distribution of large and lesser Narcissus flies. There are no records for any of these species in the Western Isles. However, I'm not going to be complacent. A lack of records here usually means under-recording rather than an absence of a species.

NBN Gateway - https://data.nbn.org.uk/

[Maggi Young]

I do hope it is not a case of under-reporting, Matt -  perhaps those famous Hebridean winds are keeping you clear?

[Chris Johnson]

Narcissus flies have a preference for shade and dislike windy conditions. This alone should help keep the species from colonising VC110.

It's relatively easy to inspect dormant bulbs but bulbs bought ready potted are a potential source of spread.

[Chris Johnson]

Sorry, post crossed with Maggi's.

[Matt T]

...perhaps those famous Hebridean winds are keeping you clear?

Let's hope so!

Narcissus flies have a preference for shade and dislike windy conditions...

Apparently they only fly when temperatures are above 20oC (how nice that would be) and there is little/no wind. So, I think we're safe! 

[mark smyth]

I think there are too many myths about what the Narcissus fly does or doesn't like. They do fly on warm days but how often do we get 20c in May and June? I do know for sure they do not fly when its raining or very cold. The last four Mays over here have been very cold and wet which kept them at bay but when the weather warmed in July they were there. They must have just stayed dormant in the soil. I now remove all Galanthus leaves when they go soggy

[YT]

JJA 699.814 Narcissus cantabricus. Spain, Madrid, Aldea del Fresno. 500m. Clay. Collected by Rafa

[johnralphcarpenter]

Narcissus perez-chiscanoi, if that is still a valid name.

[Maggi Young]

Narcissus perez-chiscanoi, if that is still a valid name.

You may well ask, Ralph.  Ian speaks of this plant in today's Bulb Log : http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2014Mar051394015970BULB_LOG_1014.pdf
 Confusus? who wouldn't be ?

[johnralphcarpenter]

And to add to the confusion, The Plant List says it is Narcissus hispanicus Gouan

[Maggi Young]

And to add to the confusion, The Plant List says it is Narcissus hispanicus Gouan

 Heaving large SIGH!  I give up - these taxonomists will be the death of me.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Taxing, aint it?

[Maggi Young]

It sure is  - as taxing as the taxonomists are trying........

[Gerry Webster]

Heaving large SIGH!  I give up - these taxonomists will be the death of me.

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxonomy."