Fritillaria 2009

[Paul T]

Before reading Lesley's post I too was questioning the affinis.  It is nothing like anything I've seen under that name before..... and those I have flowered in the past (i don't think mine survive any more) were definitely not downward facing squared bell flowers like that one.  Unless there are different forms of course?

[Sinchets]

Fritillaria messanensis this morning just beginning to open and moreof the Fritillaria from yesterday. There is more red in the flower today and the leaves are alternate up the stems- the style is deeply split into 3- any help would be appreciated.

[Diane Clement]

I think I remember that the style of F latakiensis is clearly divided into three while F elwesii has a more or less undivided style.  I will have a look at my plants in the daylight tomorrow. 

 

Martyn Rix (Flora of Turkey) says both have trifid  styles though the branches are shorter in  F. elwesii where  the style is  7 - 10mm, very stout with  branches of  1 - 3.5 mm. In  F. latakiensis the style  is 8-9 mm  & it is  divided to the middle.   The most obvious difference is that  the perianth segments of F. elwesii have a clear green stripe. 

One problem is that I find the the literature confusing.  The description of the "green stripe" is not used consistently. 
Martyn Rix in 'Bulbs' say F elwesii has a lobed style and increases well by numerous bulbils (the photo of elwesii shows green outer tepals rather than a stripe, I think, although not clear as the flower is dissected.)   F latakiensis he gives no description, although the photo shows what looks to me like a green stripe.  In Peter Sheasby's 'Bulbous plants of Turkey and Iran' he describes F elwesii as having a strong green stripe, although the photo shows almost all the outer tepals as green, and his photo of F latakiensis is not really any different although I suppose the outers are completely green.  The style might be a better diagnosis, but my plants are not yet fully developed.  I'll take some pictures when they are.
 

[Gerry Webster]

Fritillaria ruthenica (or at least the plant I grow as this) and Fritillaria affinis (?) today in the garden. 

I'm not sure about the F. affinis either as it usually has an open bell shape, and the leaves are different, in a whorl at the base, 4 or 5 leaves all on the same plane. This one doesn't look like an American to me. Happy to be corrected though.

Simon - last night I looked at David King's chapter on frits in Bulbs of North America. Although I was unable to come to any definite conclusions as regards identity I am persuaded that it is American, so it could be F. affinis - apparently very variable. I also discovered that the online version of Flora of North America has a key to frits which, if you have the patience, might enable you to track it down:
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=113029

[Regelian]

Two classics which I finally seem to have the hang of.  They seem to like a dryish Summer and rich soil.  The red one is a named cultivar, but I thought it was Schlagzwerd (sp?), but I have my doubts.

Also, a F. meleagris alba which popped-up from seed.

[WimB]

Lovely frits everyone,

this one's not very special but he's flowering now in my garden:

Fritillaria meleagris

[Sinchets]

Thanks for the link Gerry- I used it but it kept keying out as Fritillaria affinis 
I think I may have to wait until it goes dormant, so that I can check the bulb. In the meantime I'm very happy with it whatever it may be.

[Sinchets]

Okay sorry to be a bore- butthe Frit I am having problems with was nearest a label for F.montana- after the voles had been through. So i just wondered could it really be an odd form of F.montana? Has anyone ever had pale forms of this plant? Or is it an oddity that may be cultural and not repeated next year?

[Maggi Young]

Simon, montana is VERY variable! Yours might well be a form  of montana  wnich would be European of course! .....it's not an affinis to my eyes.  We're thinking about it here 


 Frit. agrestis is a possibility, for an american!

[Gerdk]

At least the frits are starting to flower here

1.+ 2. Fritillaria meleagris - a pale flowering selection made by Herbert Sterz, Magdeburg
3. + 4. Fritillaria tubiformis ssp. moggridgei from the Alpes Maritimes
5. + 6. Fritillaria messanensis ssp. atlantica from the High Atlas

Gerd

[Maggi Young]

This form selected by Stretz is very beautiful.The pale form of F. meleagris that has the lovely shading on the outside is as pretty as an all white one....these flowers are exquisite in all their guises and will always be very special to me. It is the best thing that they are widely available and grow in many situations.... and growing them from seed will allow one to find new tones and colours to charm .

The short, fat bell of the last photo is adorable! 

[Sinchets]

Thanks Maggi- I never thought to see if the flowers were smelly- I will check tomorrow!

[chasw]

Some more Frits from me today
Frit Walujewii
The first picture showing the outer of flower
The second the inner
Frit Ferganensis,again the first showing the outer
The second the inner
Frit Frankorum/Frankiorum,not really sure whether correct name has yet been sorted
Frit Affinis,from canada

[J.B.Wyllie]

Lovely Frits but the first two are not F walujewii.  I have it and lable it aff. walujewii.

Jean

[chasw]

Is that Affinis Walujewii ,Jean?