Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Crocus => Topic started by: Janis Ruksans on March 06, 2012, 01:47:56 PM
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My second trip this year was to SW Turkey. I had fantastic companion and guide on Turkish mountains who really ensured all success of my trip. Without his driving skills we never could reach those mountaintops where some rare crocuses grow. I learned a lot from him, and greatest lecture was - never stop and never return from your target halfway (I many times would return if Imy friend would not be driver). Roads really were horrible - usable by tractor only (by my opinion), not for Renault-Symbol what we rented.
But I must return to travel step by step. In Turkey (as in Latvia, too) returned real winter. First shock I got in Istanbul Airport when I saw on screen that temperature in Antalya is minus 3 C. And that in March, in Antalya, on Mediterranean coast! Ibrahim maid car reservation, but we at first checked resin on wheels and accepted only third offered car with only 20 000 km on odometer with good trod on wheels. I’m attaching picture of our car that was our main tool in this short-time but not short in mileage trip. During four days we passed 2000 km - so in average 500 km in day.
We slept first night in my usual Lemon Hotel on W side of Antalya and morning view through our room’s window was not promising. I many times was in Antalya but never saw so much snow on neighbour mountains. Internet picture of urkey immediately stripe out our main target of this trip - Crocus lydius. Map shows that this part of Turkey is under deep snow. So we start to North in direction of Denizli but quite soon we decided that it is not worth, so we turned to West in direction to Muģla, where some years ago found locality of Crocus fauseri (when it still was not named by Erich Pasche), hoping that at least this place will be without snow. At Korkuteli we turn west through snow covered mountain sides. Near Bekciller there are some crocus-like spots without snow - so we maid small stop - and there they were - nothing special - Crocus danfordiae - but very nice bright yellowish form. Another plant blooming there was Cyclamen trockopteranthon. As I’m interested in corm tunics, I dug out one plant to picture underground parts. It was not easy as soil were frozen up to 10 cm deep. Same was almost everywhere.
Janis
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After short discussion about priorities we decided to go for Crocus fauseri - just recently described by Erich Pasche. Ibrahim found this crocus few years ago during one of his trips and after Erich’s article understood that he found just C. fauseri. Search of locality on Google map confirmed that Ibrahim’s and Erich’s localities are the same. Really it was not easy to find where road up starts. When we leave asphalt my eyes open wide. I never could have courage to drive by such road. It is windy, sometimes very narrow, but fortunately frozen, so not slippery. At some spots we step out to look how better to pass some turn where melting snow waters cut deep ridges and in some places we even are placing stones at spots which wheels must to pass to make those ridges passable. I several times offer my friend to stop and follow on foot but he continues higher and higher. Then our road is crossed by large fallen pine tree. Fortunately some cut narrow pass through trunk some 10 cm wider than our car, but we must take out branches from bottom. Unfortunately I can’t help as my right hand isn’t at best shape - I’m living on painkillers. But finally we pass the spot without scraps on car sides. Further road is better but regardless at every wider spot I offer to stop for turning car back way and walking up on foot.
But top is not very far - and there it is - Crocus fauseri in company of Crocus fleischeri and C. cancellatus. A little higher starts snow. There are flowers of C. fauseri, too (on snowless spots) but soil is frozen hard. With some efforts it was possible to dig out some corms for collection and corm tunic pictures. Fortunately still some evening sun keeps some flowers half open. One of best is bud with quite prominent yellow shade. As you can see from habitat shot - conditions for this crocus is quite hard. It is growing in small pockets of soil between those stones and a lot we saw just on road. The greatest surprise for us was well expressed, long side growing stolones from single Crocus fleischeri corm dug by us. They are longer and fetter even than in case of C. herbertii. Such C. fleischeri plants are mentioned by Brian Mathew in his monograph, but I never saw such by myself before. Road down is easier and it is completely dark when we reach hotel in Milosh.
Janis
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Welcome back - it sounds we can expect again an adventure-filled travel report ;D
Thanks for showing the corm tunics of C. danfordiae.
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Few more pictures of Crocus fauseri.
Janis
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Cro9cus fleischeri from Bencik Dag (C. fauseri neighbour).
Janis
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Beautiful Crocus Janis. ;D ;D ;D
Congratulations on finding your prize, on what sounds like another very interesting expedition ! :o
Amazing habitat photographs. Really harsh environment.
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Fantastic pictures Janis !!!
C. fauseri is magnificent !
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Janis
super report,makes me wish I was there.The fauseri pictures are excellent.
You mention the C. fleischeri stolons and I found these on corms from near Feithye. They were up to 10cms long and each corm had two or three with tiny cormlets at the end.
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Fascinating and highly entertaining report!
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Thanks to all for kind comments. Today I will try to write some more about search of Crocus biflorus caricus and others. For my right hand problems for me is not easy to long work on computer. Returning to earlier posts I would like to turn your attention to picture with yellow shaded fauseri bud. Note the leaves grazed by cattle almost to ground level before flower bud pushed out. Normally fauseri leaves overtops flowers and it is single fault of this otherwise very charming species. The plant with speckled back of petals (next after yellowish) is quite unusual in this aspect. The leaves only started development at blooming time, it isn't typical for fauseri but only confirms that isn't possible to judge about species features only by single plant. Of course it makes identification more difficult if you have only one specimen in your collection. But those are crocuses. May be we would not like them so much if everything will be too clear... ;D
Janis
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Janis and Ibrahim, sincere thanks for letting me and all Forumists take part in your fascinating and adventerous planthunting trip - the next best thing to be there in person which I doubt will eventuate . So glad you found "my" Crocus fauseri . ,so I'm hoping to see it in cultivation in a few years . Your photos are superb and they show some variation
Otto.
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Thanks for sharing this. Some lovely pics and so cool having a crocus named after you. 8)
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We had very good evening meal in restaurant with glass of wine for me. My right shoulder is very painful, so I’m using painkillers and sleeping tab for night. Frozen soil was too hard experience for me. Next day we have two targets - number one is Crocus biflorus subsp. caricus, and after that we decide to search another novelty - subsp. yataganensis. Still remain hope to find somewhere subsp. ionopharynx. Both - yataganensis and ionopharynx flowers inside is blue, so easy separable from white caricus and fauseri.
A day before in late evening when around was dark we visited one of Ibrahim’s localities of crocus marked by him as “caricus?”. In second attempt driving in by small round we found his locality recognised by large gravel heap staying there for years. After short look around we spotted this crocus, just on side of pine forest. Soil was frozen so hard that it was impossible to check corm tunics but heating flower by breathing on it and slightly helping opening - we found that it really is caricus. The attached picture shows that filament colour can vary a lot.
In morning we are going to Labranda - locus clasicus for autumn Crocus nerimaniae. It is my fourth visit to Labranda. At first time I was there in mid summer and found some crocuses which turned heavy virus infected nerimaniae, but between those were two corms of perfect healthy caricus, too. Thinking that all is nerimaniae one reached Rik’s collection, other went to Gothenburg BG labelled as nerimaniae.
After so bad experience (virus) I went there in autumn and found that less than 10% of plants seem to be healthy. But in flowering time it was possible to collect few healthy specimens for further propagation by seeds. Last year I went there in spring to look for more caricus. All forest looked as ploughed up by wild boars. It was very difficult to find some crocus especially for deep fog and fine rain all the day. Few I spotted but flowers were too damaged by water for checking. Now weather was marvellous, but again there “worked” wild collectors - crocus lovers. Turkish people are not eating pig’s meat, so no one is hunting wild boars. It was very difficult to find even few leaves but in one small spot we finally found few blooming crocuses and they really were very typical caricus. Soil is frozen and temperature regardless of sun is only around zero. You can judge by small picture of icesticks in pine forest.
On spot we decided to change our plans and to go further to few mountains not visited by Ibrahim before hoping to find there subsp. yataganensis - described by Erich “from mountains near Yatagan”. Ibrahim visited almost every mountain around before, and found nothing. Still left a pair not visited - so we will go there.
Janis
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Few more pictures for previous entry.
Janis
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As always, this report of a crocus trip is exciting and brings on the "wish I were there" feeling.
I know there are some car-mad people in the world - I live with one - but why are we looking at a car picture 54 times and the crocus pics in the 20 and 30s?
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As always, this report of a crocus trip is exciting and brings on the "wish I were there" feeling.
I know there are some car-mad people in the world - I live with one - but why are we looking at a car picture 54 times and the crocus pics in the 20 and 30s?
Looking for dents in the car? ;D
Crocus pics look good even in thumbnail :)
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Janis You have explained all perfectly! I don't have much to add more! Your photos are wonderful, mines are not comparable with yours at all!
Yes the car that we have rent was very sample but that model of clio is turkish made especialy for bad roads of Anatolian villages, It is more higher than all other rental models. Where we have passed we could never do with another car. That was the reason for choising this car.
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Janis You have explained all perfectly! I don't have much to add more! Your photos are wonderful, mines are not comparable with yours at all!
Yes the car that we have rent was very sample but that model of clio is turkish made especialy for bad roads of Anatolian villages, It is more higher than all other rental models. Where we have passed we could never do with another car. That was the reason for choising this car.
Thank you, Ibrahim. I just looked on same Renault here - it is much lower than in Turkey. But you forget to mention quality of wheels. I think that if we would accept first offered cars, we never could reach our targets.
Janis
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Sorry for break in my report. Yesterday passed in hospital for checking and after some “torture” couldn’t work at all after returning in home.
So after visiting Labranda and seeing how deep frozen soil in so mild district as this one was, we turn back to main road and drive to direction of Yatagan. Using good map of Ibrahim we easy find selected road and drive in by narrow but good asphalt road to selected village. There some problems started. So many splits and you can’t judge which one turns further or only to some more isolated house. Paving was the same - small stone chips. Seeing nice and small sparsely pine forested slope we turn a little back and check this one, but nothing more than C. fleischeri there was in bloom. But at least some crocus we saw.
After some talk with local people Ibrahim got information that there is some road to hilltop - we simply must drive in direction to Kavak (Poplar) village and before that must take left road. Again it was some shock for my nerves, but in any case road was far better than yesterday to C. fauseri location. We stopped in a pair of spots but without any crocus - nor spring, nor autumn were there. I collected only a pair of Gagea sp. for my German friends making DNA research on them. Further by road forest around just recently was cut off and road was closed by tractor taking off timber. After some waiting it opened for our car narrow space for just passing between gorge and car wheels.
For my horror Ibrahim drives up and up. Almost to snowline where road became too moody and slippery for melting snow water. Bright sun defrosted road surface and finally Ibrahim agree to turn around car. This spot you can see at first picture of this report. The place is covered by dense shrubs of dwarf oaks with spiny leaves and other shrubs but some passes guide us through to some slightly stone covered meadow - and there it is - nice white blooming biflorus crocus. As in Labranda - all around is ploughed up by wild boars, so we found crocus only at stones, but at least soil here is much less stony comparing with C. fauseri location. Checking of flowers shows that this is only the same subsp. caricus seen before at Labranda, although altitude is much higher - 980 m. No reason to walk up as very soon starts total covering by snow. So we decide to turn back, hoping that still we will have time (daylight) for another peak near Čina city.
Janis
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Few more pictures for last entry
Janis
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I just returned from greenhouse where real crocus-fewer started. It seems that some species (adananesis, kerndorfiorum and some others) suffered from hard late frosts this winter. Flowers open at soil level and it is not good feature. Hope corms will alive.
But now I will return to our trip. Quite easy we found road into mountains from Čina city. It is good quality asphalt and soon we are at last village border where we must to turn in direction to yaila by dirty roads. And there our problems start. There are such labyrinth of junctions, turns, dead ends etc that decide which one is correct isn’t easy. Unfortunately we haven’t “Ariadne threat” guiding us by correct way. Even Ibrahim’s laptop on which Google Earth shows each smallest path didn’t help much due some mistake in data entering, which marks our present position. At several spots Ibrahim fills gaps on road with stones for we could drive further. Then we maid incorrect turn what guided our car to stream passable only by tractor. On the roadside I saw few spots where crocuses could grow, but we wanted to reach higher altitudes, so not stopped there.
Our road ended at nice stream below cascade of small waterfalls. As we stepped out Ibrahim spotted firs crocuses - beautiful C. chrysanthus population with quite great percentage of specimens with dark brown speckled back of petals. It is the first spot during our trip where soil is not frozen so we can collect few corms without great problems. But only slightly higher where is more shaded - soil again is frozen stone hard. There are blooming snowdrops, Scilla bifolia, Gagea sp. The last comes out from splits of rocks, so I can’t reach some bulb for my German friends.
It becomes darker and we must to turn back. Finally we found our mistake and now laptop shows where we did wrong turn, but it is too late to correct. Yaila must be left for another year.
On way back Ibrahim stops at nice spot “to wash hands in stream”. I well understand that it is only reason to check the neighbour meadow - just that one which I noted when we came here. And follows his - Janis - biflorus is here. Unfortunately it again is “only” subsp. caricus. But in last sun we make some pictures as soil here is frozen hard, too.
Now we must turn to direction of Antalya. So we still will stay without biflorus yataganensis. Another subsp. which could grow in explored district is subsp. ionopharynx. For great surprise for myself, today I found that I have good stock of it in my collection under name of subsp. nubigena. I got this one several years ago under such name from Gothenburg BG.
It quickly becomes dark, but road is good and soon we are near coast at Kalkan city from which tomorrow we will go again inside Turkey to North. Surprisingly easy I spotted Kelebek Hotel located just on roadside but turned away that car noise don’t miss night sleep. I accidentally spotted this very comfortable family run hotel with fantastic meals few years ago and since that I always try to sleep there. Pictures again in two entries.
Janis
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I add here two pictures of subsp. ionopharynx from my collection. Note dark purple spot deep in throat just at base of filaments. Dissecting flower you will see that purple zone something enters on inside of tube.
Janis
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I know there are some car-mad people in the world - I live with one - but why are we looking at a car picture 54 times and the crocus pics in the 20 and 30s?
Lesley,
I think that I understood - why. Simply people want to see which kind of car is so brave to bring us by so horrible roads. Of course - without Ibrahim - it wouldn't be possible at all.
Janis
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Really interesting reading as always Janis. :) :)
And superb pictures, giving a real feel of the journey. I love hearing every detail.
Does the fact that you've just discovered the ssp. ionopharynx in your collection of ssp. nubigena, mean that some people who got ssp. nubigena from you might have got ssp. ionopharynx ?
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Does the fact that you've just discovered the ssp. ionopharynx in your collection of ssp. nubigena, mean that some people who got ssp. nubigena from you might have got ssp. ionopharynx ?
It is difficult question. I don't think that I used this stock fur business, although it is quite large and may be, if I was short in corms, I took some from this one, too. But everyone can very easy to check this - if it is true nubigena - throat will be without those minor purple spots in flower centre. If you will find this small purple coloured zone in very bottom of flower - you are winner and got quite recently described new subsp. ionopharynx. Spots you can better see in second picture (whiter flower, although typical color is more blue as in first picture).
Janis
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Thats very clear, thank you Janis. :)
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Janis,
You do not miss any detail! that is perfect.
The last two photos that you attached as subsp. ionopharynx. For me they are typicaly nubigena!
On subsp. ionopharynx, the black spot in throath is not visible from outside. Just when you slice the flowers then ıt can be seen a dark violet spot in throath. The color of flowers from dark blue to pale blue or almost white but never striped!
ibrahim
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Janis,
You do not miss any detail! that is perfect.
The last two photos that you attached as subsp. ionopharynx. For me they are typicaly nubigena!
On subsp. ionopharynx, the black spot in throath is not visible from outside. Just when you slice the flowers then ıt can be seen a dark violet spot in throath. The color of flowers from dark blue to pale blue or almost white but never striped!
ibrahim
Yes, Ibrahim. They are prominent when you slice the flower, but you can see them from top view, too. They are very minor and to be certain that it isn't mistake I just sliced flowers to confirm identification. I have stock of ionopharynx from Erich, quite close to this one. I will post today typical nubigana pictures on March topic.
Janis
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Fascinating stuff !!!
Thank you Janis and Ibrahim !!
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All our hotels were moderate prized - 30,- Euro for room with two beds inclusive breakfast. Good, clean, comfortable. Only two faults - water not so hot as we would like due absolute out of season’s time - In Kelebek Hotel we were single guests. Another fault breakfast starts only at 8 o’clock (in Kelebek - 7-30). We would prefer earlier.
It is third day of our trip. At first we go to another coastline city - Kaš from where we turn up in mountains to Tuzla Tepe from where Erich Pasche mentions some Crocus close to nubigena. We want to find it. Rocks on roadsides are too steep to walk up and our first stop is behind first village at some clearings in forest at 994 m altitude. Oh yes, there are plenty of crocuses but unfortunately only autumn bloomers - Crocus cancellatus and some of pallasii group - may be mathewii or asumaniae, collected by me few years ago something NW from this spot. There I’m collecting a pair other Gagea sp. for my German friends, blooming at bush-side of very sunny meadow. Everywhere are blooming beautiful Romulea tempskyana.
Something further road goes down but we turn to right to good asphalt road going to Asar dag - highest peak over Kaš. Few stops on road to yaila give us nothing - only same autumn blooming crocuses are growing there. We stop at middle of yaila, further road guides to military camp and radio-location station, not the best place to visit with photo camera in hands. So we go up to ridge up to its top where steep rocks start down up to sea. There are plenty of crocuses, but again the same autumn bloomers. And everywhere are spring colchicums - many times giving impression of crocus when seen from distance. Returning back to yaila we start search below large sparse conifers growing on border where yaila turns to rocks. And there it is - first spring bloomer with annulate tunics. On spot we decide that it could be biflorus - white with dotted back of petals. Although similar by flower to danfordiae, it seems too large for this name. Now I more tend to think that it was only whitish danfordiae. Will see later when few collected plants will start blooming here.
Janis
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We did great mistake in morning - didn’t refuelled our car. Going up by steep road took a lot of fuel. Having bad earlier experience when I several times reached fuel station by last drops on fuel in my car (once even pushed it by hand last meters to fuel pump) I’m panicking and force Ibrahim to turn back to coastline although further road through valley seems very promising.
We return to Kalkan where just at turn to Belpinar Beli - famous Crocus mathewii locality - is petrol station and refuelled we go up to Belpinar Beli, hoping that there will not be snow. But its altitude overpasses 1000 m and regardless of proximity to coastline both roadsides are covered by snow. Only at very top snow melted on some roadside clearings. But we found only Crocus danfordiae there. Really meadow where it blooms is so covered by rubbish that I couldn’t find good view for picturing of it.
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Further by road Ibrahim show me nice locality of bluish member of Crocus biflorus group. It is located not far from Elmali, on open stony field where I never would stop for Crocus search. I would more like just opposite side of road where by Ibrahim he found no one crocus. But just this one - open to all winds very moderate slope is full of them. Wind is very hard and cold. Soil is frozen but flowers are blooming, mostly closed but some even opened petals for bright cold winter-like sun. I have no idea which subsp. it could be. Altitude is very high for this trip 1210 m. Most likely on so open landscape snow simply was blown away by strong winds. It is last acquisition for me during this trip. Further I’m only picturing as I’m really revisiting spots visited a year before or earlier, but I want to show Ibrahim some localities and plants.
Janis
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Our next stop is near Avlan Golu where a year before I collected Crocus beydaglarensis just recently described by Erich Pasche. I suppose that it must be locus classicus as description of habitat and neighbour plants is identical with that given by Erich.
It is afternoon and flowers start to close but some good pictures of C. beydaglarensis we can receive but C. baytopiorum in general closed its flowers in tight buds. Only at small still sunny spot some flowers are open. Here C. baytopioum is growing on stone-slips. It is quite unusual place for crocuses.
Janis
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I still hope that it will be possible to show Ibrahim locus classicus of C. flavus sarichinarensis described in my book.
After two days of experiments I finally learned how to operate with my navigator. Really it is excellent if you know how to get all options - the format of coordinates (I still prefer grades, minutes and seconds instead of decimal system). That I found quite soon, but to find how to see altitude took me more than two days. Sometimes I got this option, but then suddenly in mysterious way lost and again pushed button by button searching how returns it to mood liked by me. Now I think that I will know it forever.
Navigator is excellent tool. Unfortunately it sometimes selects shortest way but it doesn’t mean that it is fastest and best road. It is our case, too. We are guided by narrow village streets, but road isn’t very bad. On street side I enjoy small antique amphitheatre at Limyra and then road guides us in mountains to Altinyaka. Still remain some hope to reach it during daylight. But hopes suddenly are broken by huge stones crossing the road at current turn. There are built up new road and we must return loosing at least 2 hours. It would be my decision, but car is guided by Ibrahim. Starts road nightmare - steep, narrow, muddy, winding by almost vertical slope somewhere up. Dividing endless times where we must to hope that selected correct turn. Several times we took wrong direction entering some farmhouse. Ibrahim can speak with locals, but I can’t understand how he remembers after which side road he must take left or right direction. Road quality becomes more and more worth. After last talk with some strange man who is more interested why we came there than to explain where to drive further and small part of really horrible quality road part we suddenly jump on narrow asphalt. It guides us down just after road block spot. But it is dark now to find some plant. Even more - everything around is in snow. I quite easy spot the locality of C. flavus sarichinarensis covered by snow but Ibrahim turns car in way that its lights give some light on roadside slopes and goes with my mobile telephone light to search crocus. I remember how last year I showed this spot in same darkness to my other Turkish friends and how we searched this crocus by mobile telephone lights. And then we found it! Now the locality is covered in too deep snow and Ibrahim can’t spot any crocus.
Next stop is at locality where I collected some years ago some C. biflorus and C. antalyensis. The last is one of Ibrahim’s plants of top interest. But it is dark and seems that all is still in deep snow. Quite soon we reach Antalya and our Lemon Hotel. Tomorrow will be last day of our common trip and we will go to East.
Janis
Pictures from Altinyaka surroundings are from my earlier trips there.
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Janis,
You will not believe but on my last day after you left I returned back again to habitation of sarichinarensis! Snow was almost melted and I spend more than one hour in the same spot I could not find any single plant of sarichinarensis! Everwhere was covered by cancellatus like gras I found lots of galanthus, colchicum and cyclamen but no where any single flavus flower or even leaves! It was very strange I checked both side of road and bot side of that small river. unfortunately no where was this plant. I think it was too early for this plant on this altitute!
At least I had it in my collection from last year :)
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My last day of this short trip started. Final point is the target by which I wanted to start this trip - Crocus roseoviolaceus described by Erich at his locus classicus. My point was at much lower altitude and more to West from locus classicus, but due snow situation in situ, we changed priorities. Now our first point is spot so much visited by plant lovers that may be not worth even mention this. For me it will be at least fifth time when I’m going there. It is Gundogmus - place from where Iris pamphylicus is described and still growing there and it is locus classicus for Iris stenophylla allisonii.
Last spring when I was there it was non-stop “raining cats and dogs”, so impossible to step out of car. Now day is nice and sunny.
I have in my collection all plants from Gundogmus, although only Iris pamphylica I saw there blooming in nature few years ago. It is very rare there, but even now I spotted few leaf tips coming out. How it looks in cultivation you can see in Iris reticulata entries of this forum (entry of Hans 27th of February). My target to go there is to see the variability of Crocus antalyensis at this spot and may be to find some of biflorus group. At my first trip there in 2003 I collected 1 corm of it - and it was with white stigma, as described for subsp. striatus, but lacking stripes on inner petals. At further visits I found few antalyensis out of flowers, but few collected still not bloomed with me. It is not the best grower with me.
Ibrahim is very interested in this species, too as he may be found new subspecies of antalyensis but more research is needed to know its variability. It is first time when I’m so early there and some kilometres before village we stop at nice mountain plato of mixed small rock outcrops, meadows and shrubs. And first flowers are there - Crocus chrysanthus - most with brown speckled back as in famous ‘Gundogmus Bronze’ variety selected in Gothenburg’s BG from plants collected just there. Unfortunately I forgot to change my camera settings for so bright sun, so most pictures of C. chrysanthus were overexposed. But there are many Iris stenophylla allisonii in full bloom just now. I never saw so much of this very difficult in cultivation iris growing here. Usually cattle take off a lot of leaves. After long search I finally found one plant of C. antalyensis with water-damaged flower, but opening it saw that stigma is orange, it means that my white stigma plant is only unusual form.
We didn’t see any biflorus, may be too early, but between my gatherings from here in summer I got only C. chrysanthus, too. It is quite surprising as only slightly further in N direction are plenty of chrysanthus and biflorus isauricus.
Janis
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Iris stenophylla allisonii and Crocus antalyensis (single one seen).
Janis
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Now we are going in direction to Akseki - Ibradi. Ibrahim wants to see Crocus isauricus blooming in nature. As closer we go to Ibradi as more snow we have on roadsides and after Ibradi everything are covered in very deep snow. Soon after pass road is closed by police - it is dangerous to drive in daylight for possible avalanches, so we turn back. In any case there would be nothing to see. From pictures you can judge how deep was snow in place where meadows are covered with beautiful isauricus. I’m adding picture from my collection pictured 2 days ago in my greenhouse.
On way back to coast before getting road from Beyshekir to Manavgat we cross deep valley between ridges. At bottom is nice river with very good restaurant something hided from road but well marked by signpost at bridge. I’m always stopping there for fabulous grilled trout (ala-balik) and as Ibrahim is driver - I can enjoy very good cold Turkish Efes-bira - very good beer produced in Turkey. At this trip it is my first and last bottle of beer slowly enjoyed during fish becomes ready.
Janis
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Would like to stay there longer but we still hope to reach in daylight Crocus roseoviolaceus growing N and NE from Alanya. To find the road isn’t problems. I was there twice before (initiated by Dave’s fantastic pictures on Forum) - two years ago I was there at 4th of March and it was far too late - impossible to spot crocus leaves in long grass. Last year 22nd of February with other Turkish friends we found this crocus at peak of blooming regardless of almost non-stop rain, and prepared its description for publishing in September, when Erich published the same species in June. So our job was lost, but Erich included so much in exploring of biflorus crocuses in Turkey that I can only admire his efforts and simply can step back giving him all priority. Now again is 4th of March, but never before I saw so much snow at Akseki (I pictured there crocuses in full bloom 22nd of February)
Road up isn’t so easy as before. There are road jobs but it is Sundays afternoon when city people returns from holiday picnics, so our driving up is not as fast as we would like it. And as higher we are as more snow on roadsides. Now it is certain that it is not worth to go Erick’s locus classicus - remain only hope that I could show this beauty to Ibrahim at my locality (may be same as Dave’s) which is only at slightly higher altitude than 700 m (not more than 1000 m as at Erick’s place).
But road at which side I found it last year is closed by snow and not passable. Google Earth shows winding streets deep down to village and then up - may be we can reach the spot from opposite side. Knowing Ibrahim’s driving skills from previous days I’m not protesting more. And starts our labyrinth drive… There were places where even with Ibrahim’s skills I closed my eyes as both sides of asphalt where deeply washed off by snowmelt waters and left only narrow strip between. At least two hours we try to approximate the spot and when we are there it is completely dark, started night. Yes, regardless of night I recognise the place and Ibrahim took my mobile telephone using its lights walk up to search roseoviolaceus. After some 10 minutes he returns asking for my help. He found some cut off Castanea trees below which this crocus is grow here. This is quickly developing part for holiday house building and this small spot between houses will go under building, too. Job just started. I’m stopping at first tree and in few minutes three plants are found - the first with wilted flower, second without and the third with nice fresh flower. It is full night and single natural light comes from Moon. Ibrahim got what he wanted and now we must try to find road back. Again helps Ibrahims Turkish language. Soon we stop the lorry going to coast and now left only to follow him. It is some 15 minutes longer way but not so slippery as that used by us before. It is night and all holiday drivers are at their homes. We are at our Lemon Hotel in Antalya half pas eleven. For me is packing and early morning Ibrahim brings me to Airport. He still will stay there one day to return to Altinyaka to try to find Crocus antalyensis at place shown by me. May be he will finish this report with his experience.
I’m going next week again to Greece, for another short trip to picture crocuses in nature together with Kees Jan from Holland.
Janis
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I have one more long day after Janis flight back to Istanbul so what to do! Almost all my target point were very high and under snow.
Than I decided to go closer and lower parts of the mountains. There were A few yaila west of the Antalya which should not be very far but I have no idea if this area is under snow or not so just turn this way. (Feslikan, Harımyurt, İkizce and Altınyaka) It was very early in the morning
at 08.00 I made my first stop altitute was 850m. I look all around there were no spring crocuses. Only I have seen few cancellatus leaves and lots of Colchicum baytopiorum leaves have been frosen.
I made second stop when I have seen very small shining points at altitute was showing 1124m. I just checked around it was C. minutus just look more carrefuly and focused my second crocus of day too.
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After 4-5 km I have seen a dirty roads and drive in. Jast after 15 minutes I have found an antalyensis location with minutus again. I made a few photo than return back there was very good a bunch just on the middle of road. I stop the car and took photos and I have seen second bunch just behind me. Thay were almost sama very good striped just was a little doubt in sizes of flowers. Than one was antalyensis and second one was a biflorus. That was realy big surprise for me!7
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When I arrived altitute 1300m. I have found another very good biflorus location. The flowers were small in size and outer petals vere always spriped and and the anthers were always black. Itwas not easy for me to tell which biflorus is this. So here are some photos from this location.
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Pity, that I couldn't stay with you one day more :'( :'( :'(
Janis
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After when I reached to one of my target I didn't wanted to continue more so I decided to change destination to another yaila towards to Feslikan yaila. After half hour I discovered another very good location of antalyensis. There were lots of antalyensis some strşpeds some speckled and there was perfect sun it was the time for photographie. This time antalyensis was with minutus and Colchicum triphyllum. Location was between old cultivated flats. Under shrubs and little stony area altitute 1260m.
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On the same way I found again two locations of this biflorus on altitute 1374m. It was realy biflorus fast for me with perfect suny weather so I made some pictures of this biflorus. All the forms are striped and with black anthers I have seen only one with blue form and one with yellow anthers. What a pity I couldn'd see the isauricus one day before so I could not make compare with it. But in isauricus there are very often speckled forms on this one I have never seen any speckled or faintly speckled!
Yes it was realy pity that Janis was not with me there :(
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This black anthered biflorus was a very good find of day but not exactly my target. My target crocus should has yellow anthers!
The road was very bad with lots of big holes were everywhere on ground. But at least the snow was just both sides of road so I could still drive to top. I decided to drive up as much as car can go. At mid day I was almost at the top my phone shows 1791m. Around still there were some small spot under old pine trees where snow was just melted. So my crocus has to be somewhere here! I just checked under the trees so they were waiting for me!
It was very interesting biflorus. This time anthers were yellow rarely balck connective and with very good scent flowers. Out part of segments were very vary some have strips, somes without strips, and some have dark shades.
Here are photos of my targest biflorus.
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It is very exciting to see these photos. Thank you!
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Maggi thank you very much for nice compliments.
When my target was reached so there is no time for me to wait there. I have still half day so I decided to see locations of aff. atrospermus and sarichinarensis. I thought it will be very easy reach these targets because Janis said me exact point of habitations just two days ago. Than I start to drive non stop towards to Aytınyaka first stop was the İkizce yaylası. I spend 1 hours here but just I have found few antalyensis no where was aff. atrospermus than my second stop in the afternoon was sarıchinarensis but there also I couldn't find this crocus. Again return back to Antalya with quite disappointed. Just after dense torestier of Altınyaka on left side I have found a very good antalyensis location with very good striped, nice colored and with big quantite. But it was late for make photos so I will leave you with best scene of my last biflorus habitation.
It was realy great trip for me especialy with a crocus expert like Janis. I have learned lots of things from this trip...
I wish all the best for all croconuts....
ibrahim SOZEN
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Janis and Ibrahim
Thank you for this extraordinary report.
Really amazing plants!!
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I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this. ;D ;D ;D
Thank you Janis and Ibrahim for sharing with us.
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thank you Janis and Ibrahim for sharing with us your exciting trip -much appreciated .
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Great trip! I wish I were there
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Yes, thank you for a very interesting account of your crocus hunting.
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Thank you Janis and Ibrahim for sharing this very interesting report.
It was a specially interesting reading for me since I visited the Antalya area about the same time you did (3-10 of Mars). I was also very surprised by the amount of snow we saw in the mountains. In some areas well over a meter. We also visited Gundogmus and Akseki where we came across some Crocus species. At Gundogmus we saw quite a lot of Iris stenophylla alisonii and also the same type of speckled Crocus chrysanthus you showed. We also saw what I think was Crocus antalyensis. In Akseki there was a lot of Crocus biflorus ssp. I think.
We also visited Termessos situated 30 km north west of Antalya. A very beautiful ancient city with fantastic ruins and a breathtaking amphitheater at the very edge of the cliff at 1000 meters altitude. Here we also found a Crocus species.
Maybe you could help me identifying some of the Crocus (I did not look at the corm tunics).
First from Gundogmus
Johan
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The next batch of pictures are from Termessos.
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The following pictures are from around Akseki
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Johan fantastic crocus photos :D
That is very nice that you post them here so We can imagine what we have missed on this trip. We have passed just near Akseki but We thought no worth to go that part because of Akseki was higher than Ibradı as you have seen the snow. But who knows! On our last day I have seen the crocus att 1750m.! .
Your photos from Akseki 7-8 they are Crocus antalyensis. the rest Crocus biflorus subsp. isauricus.
And from Termessos I am not very sure they are the exactly same like my first crocus on last day. They might be also subsp. isauricus just with black anthers.
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I agree with Ibrahim. Blue from Gundogmus - antalyensis, Akseki plant - isauricus. Termesos - difficult to judge here in airport of Athens. My screen here too small.
Janis
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Thanks for your responses!
Crocus antalyensis & Crocus biflorus subsp. isauricus are both names that I have thought of. But I was not sure at all. Interesting with the big variation! Now I can attach correct names to the photos.
Thank You!
Johan