Romulea species

[Ezeiza]

Thanks Oron:

                      I see we are growing the same species under different names in a number of cases, like Romulea "phoenicea".

                      The Flora Europaea criteria are based on the appearance of outer bract and bracteole (very important in Romulea) relation of style to anthers, etc. No mention of corm shape, so important in South African Romuleas. Another feature that seems useful and constant is the color of the tepals' backsides.

                       Your work is fantastic and each and every one of your postings is a lesson on the so little known bulbs and related plants of the Middle East. I have changed several of our labels after seeing your images.


Best regards
Alberto

[Oron Peri]

Alberto
Thank you so much.
Bulbous plants have been my passion since the age of 6 and i have been growing and searching for them on and of since then...
I may be wrong in some cases so don't harry to change names on labels...

R. phoenicia is growing in North Israel and Lebanon but there isn't any visual difference between this species and the more widespread Romulea tempskiana and so personally I regard it as R. tempskiana although on labels I write R. phoenicia.
Maybe a chromosome count would give an answer to its identity...

[I.S.]

Oron thank you for starting this topic. I also wish to add a little color from my region.
The first one is from Istanbul.
The second one is from near Kaz dağ / ida Balıkesir but I have seen this in Istanbul too.

Romulea columnae ssp. columnae
 Romulea columnae ssp. columnae 2
 Romulea linaresii subsp. graeca
 Romulea linaresii subsp. graeca 2

[Oron Peri]

Great photos Ibrahim,
do you know if other Romulea species reach the Istanbul area?

Attached a photo of R. columnae from Aksu, Antalya, they are realy tiny,
 beside there is a flower of R. bulbocodium just to give an idea of its size.

[tonyg]

Thanks for the photo showing scale Oron - I have a tiny Romulea that came as seed with some crocuses, it is R columnae I am sure.  As has been said elsewhere your posts are always informative!

[I.S.]

Oron, I have seen only these two Romulea sp. in my region. (Istanbul) There should be also R. ramiflora and R. tempskyana somewhere in western Turkey and some R. bulbocodium sp. from south east which I couldn't see yet. As you say mines are very small and thiny but in crocus season what I see on wild I take photos...

[Oron Peri]

Thanks Tony

 Thanks for the information Ibrahim,
I think probably all Eurasian Romulea grow in Turkey, certainly you live in a country which is blessed with the most beautiful and interesting small bulbs.

[Oron Peri]

Two more Romulea today:

Romulea crocea [Syn. R. bulbocodium var. crocea] from Antalya
Romulea tempskiana from Kemer

[I.S.]

Oron these are very lovely and sweet things. The first one is in my list as  Romulea bulbocodium subsp. crocea.
The second one looks very similar to my R. linaresii. I noticed only dark violet filaments on mine.
They seems very easy to grow!, no!

[Oron Peri]

Oron these are very lovely and sweet things. The first one is in my list as  Romulea bulbocodium subsp. crocea.
The second one looks very similar to my R. linaresii. I noticed only dark violet filaments on mine.
They seems very easy to grow!, no!

Ibrahim, The name of the first is not defined yet, you can find it under:
R. crocea
R. bulbocodium var. crocea [more sutible since it differs only by the flower's color]
R. bulbocodium ssp. crocea
I think for the time they are all valid names.

Romulea tempskiana is quite similar to R. linaresii but there are some differences, R. linaresii has  smaller flower, doesn't have a yellow throat,  the stemens overtop the style  and it blooms a bit  later.

I find this genus to be the easiest to grow. practically it doesn't need any attention, just plant it in a small pot and enjoy it for many years.

[Maggi Young]

I'm reposting this photo of Romulea tetragona (pic from Michael Campbell, posted in the Flowering Now thread) here, to join its friends!

[David Nicholson]

Many thanks Maggi.

[Oron Peri]

Some more Romulea in flower today.

R. columnae Aksu, Antalya
 Romulea columnae - Aksu
 Romulea bulbocodium var. crocea
 Romulea bulbocodium

[art600]

Whilst not enjoying the same acclaim as Crocus, if you really study them they can be like little jewels. 

[Ezeiza]

Hi Oron:

            These superb images in which we can see the sexual organs are truly invaluable. As defined, the Eurasian species varies in the height of the style, how much they supersed the anthers, or if it is hidden among or past them, etc. So far I have been comparing your images with the botanical descriptions and all coincide. Furthermore, your identifications are exact.

            A feature that is not properly detailed over time is the color, pattern and structure of the bract and bracteoles. These are diagnostic and very important in identifying South African species. If they are equally constant in Eurasian species, their study would be well advanced. Another constant feature is the shape of the leaves (cross section).




Thanks

Alberto