Tulipa 2010

[tonyg]

Amana edulis

I have only a single clone so would be delighted to swap pollen if anyone is interested.

I have only a single clone - its a good doer ... bet its the same clone!

[Oron Peri]

Thanks guys,

Fred you are right it is Helianthemum vesicarium, usually plain pink but at about 1000m it appears in many colors.

Mark, Tulipa systola grows at all elevations up to about 900m.

[TheOnionMan]

What's the latest nomenclature on Tulipa biflora versus T. polychroma    I went to the Wildflowers of Israel site, and didn't see biflora listed, but T. polychroma is listed.
http://www.wildflowers.co.il/english/plantsIndex.asp

I found some links that indicate polychroma as a synonym, and some sites listing it as biflora.
http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Middle_East/Israel/photo98434.htm

If it is true that T. polychroma is a synonym for biflora, is it true throughout the whole range of the species (in Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, and elsewhere).  I notice that the species in Isreal can have more pink shading on the exterior than plants common in cultivation which are probably sourced from other places.  In the Phillips and Rix book on bulbs, it is listed as T. biflora.

[Oron Peri]

Mark
It is T. biflora, used to be called in the past [in Flora Palestina] T. polychroma.
Tulipa polychroma is said to be growing in Iran and described as a robuster plant than P. biflora but i never seen a photo or a description of it in the wild.
I'm not sure that T. polychroma that is widely grown in cultivation is the true species.

[Armin]

Oron,
super tulips Is T. biflora stoloniferous? 

[BULBISSIME]

From KEW world checklist, both species are accepted and different !
I've never seen a pink (tepals) T. polychroma, as seen in T. biflora.

[Oron Peri]

Oron,
super tulips Is T. biflora stoloniferous? 

No Armin it isn't, infact i liked this group of plants growing in a straight line.

[TheOnionMan]

From KEW world checklist, both species are accepted and different !
I've never seen a pink (tepals) T. polychroma, as seen in T. biflora.

Thanks Fred, I was wondering if that was the case, whereby the plants in Israel are a separate species.  Here are a few photos of T. polychroma (from Dutch bulb sources) taken in 2006.  The first photo shows the pastel soft grayish-greenish slightly tinged purplish backs of the flowers, then two photos after the sun came out.  Oron, do you notice any fragrance in T. biflora?  Tulipa polychroma flowers have a rich fragrance.

[Oron Peri]

No i havnt noticed any perfume, by the way how many flowers are there per a single bulb?
In biflora generally there is only one flower per bulb, often two and just rarely three flowers per bulb.

[TheOnionMan]

No i havnt noticed any perfume, by the way how many flowers are there per a single bulb?
In biflora generally there is only one flower per bulb, often two and just rarely three flowers per bulb.

Typically 3-4 (most often 4) per bulb; in the first photo 4-flowers per bulb can be seen in a couple clear enough spots.  The photo in the Phillips & Rix "Bulbs" book, showing the entire plant with the bulb, has three flowers blooming and 1 unopened bud, thus four.  Of course, this book gives T. polychroma as a synonym of biflora, so maybe what is pictured there is more representative of polychroma.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Wonderful pictures Oron !  Fabulous tulips !
T. systola was on my wants list - these pix remind me why !! 

[Oron Peri]

Thanks Luc

Mark another thing, i understand where the 'biflora' name derives from but in the form you have shown what 'polycroma' stands for?

Biflora = Two flowers
Polychroma= Many colors

[Armin]

Mark,
an invalid name for T. polychroma ->Tulipa biflora var. grandiflora

Oron,
I have T. turkestanica (not stoloniferous) and T. biflora (flower like T. turkestanica, red stem, undulated leaves, stoloniferus!, always 1-3 flowers per stem, height 15-20cm max). (And there there is T. bifloriformis).

What is the correct name for my biflora?

[TheOnionMan]

Mark,  an invalid name for T. polychroma ->Tulipa biflora var. grandiflora

Interesting!

I have T. turkestanica (not stoloniferous) and T. biflora (flower like T. turkestanica, red stem, undulated leaves, stoloniferus!, always 1-3 flowers per stem, height 15-20cm max). (And there there is T. bifloriformis).
What is the correct name for my biflora?

Armin, that's an impressive T. turkestanica clump   We need to get Janis to offer his opinion on the turkestanica / bifloriformis issue.  He addresses some of this in his book Buried Treasure, and I guess the two are very close, lots of confusion.  Later on I'll post my T. bifloriformis photos and ask Janis to comment... meanwhile I must run while the sun still shines today.

[BULBISSIME]

Here is Tulipa biflora from Syria,... with only one bud !
pink tepals ( not shown on this bad above pic )