Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Gerdk on December 03, 2009, 06:07:58 PM

Title: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Gerdk on December 03, 2009, 06:07:58 PM
I received the attached pics from a friend who visited Cyprus a week ago.
The plants were seen near Paphos.
I would be glad if anyone is able to identify these small bulbs.

Gerd

Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Hans J on December 03, 2009, 06:24:12 PM
Gerd

maybe a Scilla ?

Hans
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Paul T on December 04, 2009, 10:43:57 AM
The bulbs remind me of a small hyacinth?  So perhaps somewhere in their relations?
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Melvyn Jope on December 04, 2009, 12:09:16 PM
Gerd,
Your bulb looks very much to me like Scilla morrisii, its endemic to Cyprus. I have grown it for several years and it does very well in pots.
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Gerdk on December 04, 2009, 05:43:10 PM
Hans, Paul & Melvyn - Thanks for trying to identificate the plant.

Gerd
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Oron Peri on December 04, 2009, 05:48:14 PM
Gerd

I agree with Melvyn and Hans, Scilla morrisii.
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: ChrisB on December 04, 2009, 07:27:58 PM
That's truly amazing that you can identify the bulb from a picture without a flower.  Hats off to you all.  Isn't this site wonderful?
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: mark smyth on December 04, 2009, 09:25:11 PM
http://www.hillkeep.ca/images/H.Scilla_morrisii_001-247_20.3.06.jpg (http://www.hillkeep.ca/images/H.Scilla_morrisii_001-247_20.3.06.jpg)
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Lesley Cox on December 05, 2009, 02:39:14 AM
Nice one! :D
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Hans J on December 05, 2009, 07:47:26 AM
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2949.msg84705#msg84705

Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: bulborum on March 01, 2010, 09:21:53 AM
maybe it is not Scilla morrisii but allium cowanii as far as I know grows Scilla morrisii not near Paphos
knowing from only a few locations but the flower will tell us later but if the old bulbskin is crusty it is Allium

Roland
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: TheOnionMan on March 01, 2010, 01:10:38 PM
maybe it is not Scilla morrisii but allium cowanii as far as I know grows Scilla morrisii not near Paphos
knowing from only a few locations but the flower will tell us later but if the old bulbskin is crusty it is Allium

Roland

Looks like an Allium to me too...possibly A. neapolitanum or one of several allied "Molium" Allium species, having ovoid bulbs with membranous to chartaceous bulb coats.  But without a flower, it'll be tough to be sure of even the genus.
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Gerdk on May 22, 2010, 06:52:18 PM
At least the mystery plant from Cyprus flowered (opened today) - and turned out to be an Allium - as suggested by some forumists.
I would be glad if someone will tell me what species it is.

Gerd
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Gerhard Raschun on May 22, 2010, 08:53:55 PM
Mayby Allium subhirsutum....

Are the leaves with hairs ?
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Maggi Young on May 22, 2010, 08:59:11 PM
Not much like a Scilla, then!  :-X

I think Roland and McMark have got it right with Allium cowanii syn . neapolitanum. (actually, A. neapolitanum syn. "cowanii"  says  McMark)
.... those leaves don't  look at all hairy to me..... pix I have seen of A. subhirsutum have quite visibly hirsute foliage.
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: TheOnionMan on May 22, 2010, 10:35:00 PM
Not much like a Scilla, then!  :-X

I think Roland and McMark have got it right with Allium cowanii syn . neapolitanum (actually, A. neapolitanum syn. "cowanii" - McMark)..... those leaves don't  look at all hairy to me..... pix I have seen of A. subhirsutum have quite visibly hirsute foliage.

I confirm my opinion that the "unknown bulb" is Allium neapolitanum (known to occur in Cyprus, a species ubiquetous throughout Mediterranean regions).  Note, the name "cowanii" is an invalid name, merely just a form of A. neapolitanum.
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: TC on May 23, 2010, 12:16:09 PM
According to Mediteranean Wild Flowers Allium subhirsutum is not found on Cyprus. I had a look at my holiday notes written in 1993 when in Paphos on holiday. Amongst the list of plants seen near the Tomb of the Kings and Paphos lighthouse was the Star of Bethlehem.  Later, I discovered the Latin name - Allium neapolitanum.  I don't have a picture of it as I eat onions and garlic -not photograph them.  My guess is that this is the plant shown by Gerd.
Title: Re: Unknown bulb from Cyprus
Post by: Gerdk on May 23, 2010, 07:48:08 PM
Thank you alltogether for your kind help in identifying this plant!

Gerhard: no hairs!

There was another suggestion from a friend (than A. neapolitanum) who supposed Allium conmutatum (not commutatum).
What's about this identification?

Gerd
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