Fritillaria 2010

[Anthony Darby]

Well I certainly didn't get them from Holland! Are the two species sympatric Dimitri?

[Gerry Webster]

Anthony - I think you will only be able to identify your frit with some degree of confidence if it produces seed capsules. According to Martyn Rix, that of F. ruthenica is winged whereas that of F. meleagroides is not.The old Flora of the USSR describes the capsule of the former as "winged, 6-angled" & that of the latter as "oblong-ovoid, obtusely 3-angled."

[Anthony Darby]

Thanks Gerry. That will help as I have pics of the seed capsules at home.

[Oakwood]

Yes, Anthony - these two species are sympatric and even share the same area but not ecotope! And Gerry is right, these two species differs by ovary and then fruit with wings (ruthenica) or wingless (meleagroides).

[Anthony Darby]

Yes, Anthony - these two species are sympatric and even share the same area but not ecotope! And Gerry is right, these two species differs by ovary and then fruit with wings (ruthenica) or wingless (meleagroides).

I've checked. The seed pods of plants from which mine came are acutely angled like the points of a star.

[Oakwood]

So, Anthony, if fruits of your frit are winged, it must be more probable F. ruthenica as the tendrils (although not well developped  ) are clearly visible.

[Gerry Webster]

I agree. I wonder if the leaves will show more of the characteristic feature as they age?

[olegKon]

Fritillaria caucasica (1) was the first to flower here together with Fritillaria stenanthera (2) with Fritillaria sewertzovii (3) and Fritillaria pinardii (4) to follow

[Anthony Darby]

I agree. I wonder if the leaves will show more of the characteristic feature as they age?

They come from proven stock that has been in the garden of the grower for over twenty years.

[Maggi Young]

Oleg, how nice it is to see these beauties coming to life after winter in your garden...all seem to be growing really well

[xthomasx]

These are some photos of a Fritillaria meleagris natural habitat. There are two of them in the Schwäbisch Hall county (80k E of Stuttgart in SW Germany) - one with a handful of flowers, and one with a few hundred, including at least four whites.

The latter one is fenced in (un?)fortunately, and few plants are in photo distance.

They grow alongside Caltha palustris in the wettest part of the meadow, next to an abandoned drainage ditch. Other notable flowers nearby are Cardamine pratensis and Colchicum autumnale (in foliage, of course), both known for their humid but not necessarily wet preferences.

[Miriam]

Hi Thomas,

Great pictures and plants!
I will be in SW Germany in two more weeks. Will there be still some flowers left to see?

[xthomasx]

I am afraid they are all faded in two weeks' time.

When and where will you be?

Hi Thomas,

Great pictures and plants!
I will be in SW Germany in two more weeks. Will there be still some flowers left to see?

[olegKon]

Thank you, Maggi, for sharing the pleasure to look at them. Next fortnight will be the peak of frit flowering together with american erythroniums.

[Miriam]

I am afraid they are all faded in two weeks' time.

When and where will you be?

I sent you a message.