Crocus September 2009

[Tony Willis]

Thank you for the comments on my plant and having looked at the key again then I agree if i am to conform it should be called nudiflorus and I have changed my label. In fact reading 'The Crocus' it is clear that the differences between them are so small and to my mind fall within any normal range of variation  they are in fact variations of the same species.

[Janis Ruksans]

Tony, could it be C. nudiflorus? I noticed in your picture it has stoloniferous corm and here in Central Sapin at least C. serotinus salzmannii has different type of corm. Tomorrow I will go to Navarra and maybe I will picture some C. nudiflorus in the wild.

According to Brian Mathew the stoloniferous habit can be rarely seen in Spanish C. serotinus subsp. salzmannii as well. I have such form, too. As my eyes shows (they are not so bright more) tunics looks as in C. serotinus subsp. salzmannii.
Janis

Tony, Rafa and Janis, for me the most obvious feature to distinguish salzmannii and nudiflorus are the leaves.


On nudiflorus the leaves appear not before spring, while on salzmannii the leaves appear before, or at least while
it flowers. In Tony's plant no leaves are visible so far, so my guess is, it's nudiflorus (if the leaves don't appear in the
next days!)

Like Janis' I also have two forms of salzmannii which form stolons, so the stolons alone  are not a sign
that Tony's plant is surely nudiflorus.


Mark, I'm with Janis, your white crocus looks like cartwrightianus.
Can't help with your clusii question as I don't have plants to compare.

My salzmannii are in full flowers but leaves still not visible, they will appear later, in second half of blooming (here).
Janis

[mark smyth]

Here are some of my Crocus that are flowering today.

[mark smyth]

I was about to say "who can name ..." when I realised the labels can be read.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Looking good Mark !!! 
What is the blue striped one in the third row from the left towards the back please ??

My first Crocus banaticus has opened in the garden today... finally !
I was getting frustrated 

[tonyg]

Thank you for the comments on my plant and having looked at the key again then I agree if i am to conform it should be called nudiflorus and I have changed my label. In fact reading 'The Crocus' it is clear that the differences between them are so small and to my mind fall within any normal range of variation  they are in fact variations of the same species.

The recent phlyogenic research confirms that these two are 'sister species' but not so closely as to merge them.  I agree that they appear very similar in some forms but I have not grown a form of Crocus serotinus that is stoloniferous like Crocus nudiflorus.  The 'stoloniferous form' plants of Crocus serotinus I have grown were either not stoloniferous or produce elongated baby corms around the parent that appear like stolons but are not the more root-like stolons of C nudiflorus.  These stoloniferous serotinus are reported as being from the extreme South of Spain which is a long way from C nudiflorus.  The connecting 'corridor' of Crocus serotinus ssps does make it seem likely that they may have evolved from one source.

.... I should be at home photographing crocus but having recovered from the lurgi that kept me in bed earlier this week  I am now at work covering for someone else who is ill

[mark smyth]

Luc, it's a very nice dark striped ?speciosus

[ashley]

... I realised the labels can be read.

Not by me unfortunately

Very nice Mark; tell us what they are.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Luc, it's a very nice dark striped ?speciosus

It does look nice allright - hope you can show a close up when it opens !

[mark smyth]

I bought corms of pulchellus this time last year at Wisley. They turned out to be speciosus that included a white flowered Crocus. The same pot of corms is flowering again now. The white one isnt up yet but there is a stunning palest silvery blue in flower. It's a dull day here today so no good photos

[Ragged Robin]

but there is a stunning palest silvery blue in flower

Mark, that is a real beauty - the shape is wonderful and the colour, my favourite 

[Martin Baxendale]

I bought corms of pulchellus this time last year at Wisley. They turned out to be speciosus that included a white flowered Crocus. The same pot of corms is flowering again now. The white one isnt up yet but there is a stunning palest silvery blue in flower. It's a dull day here today so no good photos

Mark, the pale blue flower is pulchellus (white anthers).

[Tony Willis]

Mark very nice,a good buy

[mark smyth]

embarrassed I didnt notice

The sun just came out so here's a better photo.

And the white form of C. ochroleucus 'Valerie Finnis'

[mark smyth]

In the green house - I suppose it's a bulb house at this time of year

row 5 L-R
nudiflorus Orla, pallasii pallasii, hadriaticus chrysanthus, speciosus, pulchellus

row 4 L-R
cartwrightianus white, kotschyanus malformed Dutch stock, cancellatus cancellatus, goulimyi white form, serotinus

row3 L-R
serotinis salzmanii, kotchyanus, speciosus, speciosus Late Love, ?kotschyanus x ochroleucus

row 2 L-R
serotinus clusii, goulimyi Alba, serotinus clusii Gwenoline Edwards, banaticus, kotschyanus

row 1 L-R
asturicus, pulchellus Alba, serotinus SF221, nudiflorus, ochrleucus Valerie Finnis, hadriaticus