Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: robsorchids on March 08, 2008, 10:01:59 AM
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hi guys, i have been chatting with paul (granite chippings) about sybil roberta, and the rare plants website says that this is the old name for dionysus.
paul says his sybil is distinct from dionysus, are these two distinct cultivars now?
i find the ID of the greatorex doubles very confusing!
thanks
rob
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That's not true as 'Sybil Roberta' is quite a new name.
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i find the ID of the greatorex doubles very confusing!
You are not alone ::)
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The monograph book also says that Sybil Roberta is a syn. for Dionysus and that "Of all the Greatorex doubles this is undoubtedly the most historically confusing." Sometimes the book helps, usually it is right but there is always a chance it could be wrong! I am really looking forward to a new updated version.
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You will notice I didn't say that 'Sybil Roberta' wasn't a synonym for 'Dionysus', but I got 'Sybil Roberta' from her daughter and remember it being described in an SRGC journal.
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Galanthus plicatus 'Sybil Roberta' was named by SRGC Member Evelyn Stevens, after her late mother.
The following is extracted from Evelyn's article on new snowdrops in "The Rock Garden" journal Volume XXV, Part 4, Number 101 of January 1998........
The plant was awarded a PC from the RHS Joint Rock Committee in February1997 . The plant had been given to Evelyn by Henry and Margaret Taylor, who recalled they had got it from Jim Sutherland in 1973, he had probably received it in the late 1960s from Col. Campbell in the Black Isle. Evelyn had given the palnt to Jum Jermyn ( then of Edrom Nurseries) who had taken it to an early spring show at Vincent Square, where it was seen by Mathew Bishop who contacted Evelyn in early 1996 for more details, expressing expressing his view, and that of other southern galanthophiles, that it should be named.
I'll see if I can get a copy of the photo to post.
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Okay, here we go, a photo of Sybil Roberta and the four pages of Evelyn's article....
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You will see that there is an upturned flower at the foot of the photo of 'Sybil Roberta'; very handy.
Here is a photo of 'The Linns', from the same article
and, for good measure, 'Sophie North' ( from a show report)
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Here is Paddy Tobin's lovely pic of Dionysius from January 2007
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=163.msg3047;topicseen#msg3047
G. 'Dionysius'
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Oh Maggi,
Here I am all flattered at seeing my photograph reposted.
However, I was about to post a comment on G. 'Sophie North' which for me has double appeal, first that it is a beautiful snowdrop and secondly for its association. I know I have mentioned this previously but it really does resonate with me and I treasure it for this association; something shared by Anthony Darby, I believe.
Today I lifted a bulb of G. 'Sophie North' to send off to a friend. It has an amazingly big bulb, a real whopper, big as many a narcissus. In the days when snowdrops are named at the drop of a hat it is good to have one which so deserved to be named and performs excellently and with robust good health in the garden. An excellent snowdrop indeed, one to be treasured.
Paddy
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Well said Paddy, and thanks for doing all that homework Maggi :D :). Mick North was a colleague of Evelyn's, hence the connection. I must pop up and see Evelyn as I have some nice snowies to swap with her. She only lives a couple of miles up the hill from me.
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Here's a nice double I've recently acquired: Galanthus X plicatus 'Baylham'. [Picture from Ebay.]
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That is certainly a distinct looking 'drop. With that strong green I may even be prepared to overlook its being double!
Never heard of the variety, Anthony,Is it named for a place or a person? As I type this, I remember that I borrowed "the book" from the local group library at the last meeting at the end of January.... I really must open the flippin' thing and read it :-[ :-[ :-X I think I left it under a pile of papers in the dining room :-\
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This is the description from Ebay: "This is a new double nivalis x plicatus cross which is not available from any other source. It is a unique cross found ten years ago by myself, and which I have bulked up. The plant has all the beauty of the Greatorex doubles,with cleanly shaped inner petals in a stunning shade of green. The plant is a good doer and grows to approximately 5”. The flowers are deliciously perfumed."
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The flowers are deliciously perfumed
I'm liking it more by the minute!
Seriously though, if it makes a habit of opening so fully to show off that deep green inner, it is a 'drop that IS going to be easy to tell from the others as well as being handsome in a clump. Hope it "does" for you, Anthony.
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Very nice, Anthony,
Very neat arrangements of inner segments and well marked indeed. Good scent also, excellent. And it grows well - very important!
Paddy
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Is it named for a place or a person?
Barrie says that he found it in a roadside verge ::) and named it after a village in Suffolk which holds a lot of memories for him.
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Thanks, Brian... the names of villages in Suffolk are a complete mystery to me :-[
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Thanks Brian. I think the history around a name adds so much to the plant. I do hope Barry doesn't mind me posting his pic? I'm afraid this year I've just been carried away with white fever. :D
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Suffolk are a complete mystery to me
I can't think why that should be so :P
Anthony I am sure he will not mind, when I spoke to him on the telephone he seemed very nice, and amazed at the prices that he was being paid for his snowdrops especially Finchale Abbey :D
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The photo of 'Baylham' looks good, I like the small ovary and angle on the pedicel along with the other attributes, guess it's another one to sit and wait patiently for, it's especially nice to see something new at the end of the season.
I will say 'Hello' to Ian if he is not too busy Maggi.
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I will say 'Hello' to Ian if he is not too busy Maggi.
It is not Ian's policy to be too busy to be greeted by chums... and that certainly includes Forumists, Carole ;) You grab him and tell him who you are! 8)
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You grab him and tell him who you are! 8)
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Will do Maggi