Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: apothecary on February 19, 2008, 01:54:07 PM
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This is what I have as 'Straffan'. I assume it's generally ok although it looks very average to me. Is the inner marking known to vary? I have only one flower to go by, but one of the segments on this has a split marking unlike the other two (last pic). Is this just natural variation?
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It looks okay for Straffan, although all the marks are not quite the perfect little chinese bridge-shape (or upside-down U-shape) that Straffan ought to be. I assume this is a potted bulb, like your others, in which case it may be that the bulb isn't growing quite as well as it should in the pot. That could easily be the cause of the slightly smudged markings and the broken marking. Virus would be the other possibility, so keep an eye on the leaves for yellow streaks, especially as the leaves elongate and mature in the Spring.
If it came from South Hayes as 'Straffan', I think you can safely assume it's right. Is there a clump in the wood that you can take a snap of - the flowers in the open ground might be better with more 'correct' marks.
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This is what I grow as Straffan.
In N Ireland we call it strafan, In England I hear it called STRA-fan with the emphasis on the stra
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This is what I grow as Straffan.
In N Ireland we call it strafan, In England I hear it called STRA-fan with the emphasis on the stra
Mark, strafan and STRA-fan are one and the same so we both pronounce it the same way? ::) It's the old SONY trick again. A name that can only be pronounced one way. Aye right! Is that Sony ('o' as in 'hot'), Sony ('o' as in 'so') or Sony ('o' as in 'sonny' i.e. sunny)? ??? In English two sylable words generally emphasise the first syllable as in fragile, hungry, voter to grab words on the front of a magazine. Longer words tend to have different rules. CA-ri-BBEAN in the UK. Ca-RI-bean in the US. AluMINium doesn't role off the tongue in the US because they emphasise the second syllable , hence alUMinum.
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OK let me try again straffan with no emphasis
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The Irish is Srafáin. Paddy, Ashley?
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We seem to be hovering between two 'f's and one-which is it to be??
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I'm a musician Mark, there can never be no emphasis. That's robotic talk - exterminate, exterminate, exterminate. :o
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Kristina, Mark's photo demonstrates exactly what a perfect 'Straffan' mark should look like when the bulbs are growing strongly. The more I look at yours the more I feel it's 'Straffan' that's not growing very well and producing a rather poor mark. Can I see red-brown marks and distorted growth on one or more leaf tips in your photo? Could be disease if that's what I can see.
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I'm a musician Mark, there can never be no emphasis. That's robotic talk - exterminate, exterminate, exterminate. :o
I was going to say - I've been sitting here trying to say straffan with no stress on either syllable and it doesn't half sound odd. I thought in Ireland the stress was put on the second syllable of Straffan. At least that's what I was told.
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This is more than a little surreal... there is a discussion about how many different ways one might say the name of a plant which has dozens of different names but no differences :P ::)
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The Irish is Srafáin. Paddy, Ashley?
Well, Strafáin would be pronounced something like stra-FOYNE (i.e. emphasis on the second syllable).
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and how do you say it, Ashley?
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and how do you say it, Ashley?
STRA-fan 8)
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After all that, some wise old plantsman (or woman) will probably say you're all wrong - it's STRAWN! ;D
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it's STRAWN!
As Luit pointed out in another thread a few days ago, that is how he discovered the Aberdeenshire village of Strachan is pronounced!! 8)
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Here in the south-east of Ireland we would pronounce it 'snowdrop'.
Paddy
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Here in the south-east of Ireland we would pronounce it 'snowdrop'.
Paddy
;D ;D
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Kristina, Mark's photo demonstrates exactly what a perfect 'Straffan' mark should look like when the bulbs are growing strongly. The more I look at yours the more I feel it's 'Straffan' that's not growing very well and producing a rather poor mark. Can I see red-brown marks and distorted growth on one or more leaf tips in your photo? Could be disease if that's what I can see.
Well, as it happens you can, but only on one pair of leaves. I had assumed something had nibbled at the meristem when they were but babies, but you might be closer to the truth. It's hard to tell. One thing I have noticed now that I look more carefully is that there appear to be two different types of leaf and some, including the distorted pair, are a darker, glossier, longer, narrower than the ones that the scape has emerged from. Could this also be a symptom of disease? Or are they just another bunch of rogues?
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Here in the south-east of Ireland we would pronounce it 'snowdrop'.
Paddy
Careful or Mark will get in his lttle plane and strafe your house Paddy. ;)
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and in Holland we say straf-fan ::)
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Kristina, snowdrop leaves losing their way 'bloom' and turning greener can indicate that there's something wrong with the bulbs - bulb rot, poor rooting or disease. In combination with the browned and distorted leaves, I'd say there might be a disease problem; possibly stagonospora curtisii (a common fungal disease of snowdrops and narcissus - known as leaf scorch in narcissus).
For a start, pinch off the browned and distorted bits of leaf to help prevent spread to other leaves. I'd also suggest trying to get the affected bulb(s) out of the clump or pot and re-potting on their own while you observe them to see if they recover (and keep well away from other snowdrops). I'd also keep the healthier bulbs away from other snowdrops in case they're already infected. You could spray or water with fungicide, but the most effective (carbendazim) is not available to amateur gardeners - although you may well be able to get hold of it (but may not wish to use it).
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I brought Straffan into the house today to force them open for a close up then the electrician guy arrived and didnt leave until six. Putting the pot outside I noticed the scent of Straffan is very strong and smells of honey
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Is Straffan prone to virus or an inherent weakness? I have lost this one numerous times and now the most recent replacement is not looking terribly vigorous.
johnw
Z6 & Z7
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Is Straffan prone to virus or an inherent weakness? I have lost this one numerous times and now the most recent replacement is not looking terribly vigorous.
johnw
Z6 & Z7
Straffan is supposed to be quite easy to grow, but I don't find it very strong and easy, and I've lost clumps to disease. It's very old now and may be starting to show its age. I don't think it's especially prone to virus, but I think it may be susceptible to fungal disease, especially stagonospora curtisii. My Straffan that survive tend to be in places that are drier and better drained than usual (where stagonospora, which likes wet conditions, is less likely to cause problems).
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Martin - Thanks, point taken. I'll try a drier spot with sharp drainage.
johnw
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John,
You do know that G. 'Straffan' is an Irish snowdrop - so, what could possibly be wrong with it!
Seriously, I have found it a good plant in the garden, clumping up well and coming to its best at the moment.
Based in Nova Scotia, despite its New Scotland name, you might very well have Irish connections and this is an appropriate plant to grow and sure to prosper with you if you speak to it in Irish.
Paddy
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Paddy said "this is an appropriate plant to grow and sure to prosper with you if you speak to it in Irish."
Paddy - Must be the Gàidhlig to blame.
deagh feasgar
johnw
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I knew it! I was just about to post that there are likely almost as many Gaelic speakers in Nova Scotia and those Eastern Islands of Canada as there are left in Scotland.... and up pops the Irish Gàidhlig, too!
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If it's Irish I'll have to stop calling it Straff'n then? ::)