Crocus October 2009

[mark smyth]

This is my oreocreticus BM10106. Sadly only two flowering corms this year

[Gerry Webster]

This is my oreocreticus BM10106. Sadly only two flowering corms this year

That's a very handsome form of  oreocreticus Mark. Where did it come from?

[Janis Ruksans]

Here is my C. oreocreticus clearly showing long cataphylls and leaves developed together with flowers as well as shape of flower segments, of course smaller details of flower (absence or presence of hairs in throat) is important, too, but those, listed by me, you can check without magnifying glass. I have only two aquisitions of this species and both are very similar, possibly variability is larger.
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

We have all admired the Crocus mathewii from Peter Moore.  Here is Peter's Crocus boryi - form an orderly queue please  

Very nice, never before saw such C. boryi. Variability inside Crocus species is really incredibly wide, making identification sometimes very difficult.
Janis

[tonyg]

We have all admired the Crocus mathewii from Peter Moore.  Here is Peter's Crocus boryi - form an orderly queue please  

Very nice, never before saw such C. boryi. Variability inside Crocus species is really incredibly wide, making identification sometimes very difficult.
Janis

I completely agree with comments re variablity.  In the case of C boryi shown is it possible that the plant is a (natural) hybrid with Crocus laevigatus which can have similar feathering?

[Armin]

Janis,Tony, Mark
thank you for posting the C. orecreticus and cartwrightianus pictures. Very beautiful.

I also agree with comments regarding variability. As more you study crocus in details as more exceptions/abnormalities one can find.
In this context I find it remarkable that the styles of C. orecreticus are shorter than the anthers while compared to C. cartwrightianus it is opposite case.
I this a possible valid additional features to distinguish between the two species?

[Janis Ruksans]

In this context I find it remarkable that the styles of C. orecreticus are shorter than the anthers while compared to C. cartwrightianus it is opposite case.
I this a possible valid additional features to distinguish between the two species?

Yes, it is one of features for separating both species. Although in a few cases I have seen blooms where the style was shorter than half the tepals length but probably it was a seasonal variation and not very characteristic to Crocus cartwrightianus. In oreocreticus style divides in the throat into three bright orange to red branches which end near the tips of anthers.
Janis

[Gerry Webster]

We have all admired the Crocus mathewii from Peter Moore.  Here is Peter's Crocus boryi - form an orderly queue please  

Very nice, never before saw such C. boryi. Variability inside Crocus species is really incredibly wide, making identification sometimes very difficult.
Janis

I completely agree with comments re variablity.  In the case of C boryi shown is it possible that the plant is a (natural) hybrid with Crocus laevigatus which can have similar feathering?

This seems quite possible, after all C.boryi hybridises with C. tournefortii. I have a couple of very attractive & colourful plants, received as C. tournefortii, which appear to be  hybrids, though of what I cannot decide  - C. laevigatus seems a possible parent.

[BULBISSIME]

Crocus flowering now, from Lebanon, is it C. pallasii ssp pallasii ?
no leaves at all , and closed for the night...
Sorry for the bad pic, the bad flower, but windy this afternoon, and snails are aout 

[Sinchets]

That's a lovely pale C.pallasii, Fred. I wonder whether it will be C.p.pallasii!
Flowering here now and defying the camera's autofocus- Crocus biflorus melantherus

[udo]

Fred,
your crocus is possible pallasii ssp.turcicus.

[BULBISSIME]

Thank's all 

[I.S.]

Fred your crocus does not looks like pallasii to me.  
It might be C. hermoneus hermoneus  

[tonyg]

Fred your crocus does not looks like pallasii to me.  
It might be C. hermoneus hermoneus  
/quote]
Mmm - I tend to agree although there are some unusual forms of C pallasii in the area.  Oron Peri might have a relevant opinion.

[I.S.]

Tony, I am in the work at the moment and my flash disc is not with me to day