Crocus October-2012

[Gerry Webster]

The supplier has admitted that the colouring of these 'mathewii' isn't correct and that these seedlings should have been rogued out during last season. He has promised to send some replacements next year. That is an answer of a responsible supplier, and I will gladly buy bulbs from him again.

Poul

Poul - possibly "the colouring of these 'mathewiii' isn't correct" because they are C. hadriaticus as Janis suggested.

[Hans A.]

Very accurate to my eyes Gerry, I wonder how much the black background influences the way the colour is seen?   ...... by cameras or humans!

This question motivated me to take pictures with different "cameras" of the same small group of dark Crocus cambessedesii to see how different the same plants/colours are shown - especially "blues" seem to vary from camera to camera.
First was taken by Mobilephone (Samsung), second by Bridge camera (Lumix) and  third by Reflex camera (Nikon)

[Hans A.]

The supplier has admitted that the colouring of these 'mathewii' isn't correct and that these seedlings should have been rogued out during last season. He has promised to send some replacements next year. That is an answer of a responsible supplier, and I will gladly buy bulbs from him again.

Got the same answer of a supplier when I had received a wrong pink mathewii a few years ago, the replacement was as wrong as the first plant -  it was pink, but it was not mathewii...
Hope you have better luck.

[ian mcenery]

Here a couple from me

 photos 1 and 2Crocus salzmanii el torcal offsets given by a good friend a couple of years ago

Crocus gilanicus from yet another forumist in 2006. Can't recall whether this was from seed or bulbils

[krisderaeymaeker]

Here a couple from me
 photos 1 and 2Crocus salzmanii el torcal offsets given by a good friend a couple of years ago
Crocus gilanicus from yet another forumist in 2006. Can't recall whether this was from seed or bulbils

Nice C. salzmanii Ian .
I am confused about the gilanicus . He looks quit different from what I grows as gilanicus ? 

[pehe]

Poul so is it still mathewii or another sp,if it is still mathewii why is it that because of us humans it needs pulling because it hasn't got the fashionable purple centre,also can i ask why is it all of a sudden purple centred forms of other sp are being found,were they always there but not considered noteworthy or is the purple center to all these sp hybridisation in progress?Not by growers but naturaly before i get my head chopped off for implying something.Have they all evolved from one sp which had a purple centre in the beginning and then genetically changed from there.
Sorry for all the questions.

Davey,
I am no crocus expert, but I will try answering the best I can.
I am not sure if it is mathewii, hadriaticus or maybe asumaniae. The corm tunic of mathewii and hadriaticus are quite different, so when I lift them identification will be easier.
According to Janis Ruksans mathewii can be quite variable, with more or less purple throat. Albino forms exist too. To my opinion the white form with a dark purple throat is the most beautiful. Other people may have other favourites and many search for rarer forms. Mathewii is a relatively new species, so maybe in some time, it will be divided in some subspecies.
I don't know why some crocus species develop purple throats, but in general crocus are very variable in nature, just look at chrysanthus or biflorus. It is hardly hybridization in nature unless compatible species are brought together and then one can discuss if this is nature. I don't think purple throats are something new, it is more a question of fashion and the fact that many people find it attractive, that these forms are collected and shown.
Wether all crocus species are evolved from a single species I think only God can answer.
But the fact that there are so many crocus species and such a variation make that genius very exciting.

Poul

[ian mcenery]

Nice C. salzmanii Ian .
I am confused about the gilanicus . He looks quit different from what I grows as gilanicus ?

Hi Kris

You are quite right to be suspicious the plant does not look like gilanicus for a start leaves are present and the flowers are large. It is  strange though as I have checked the label and it was raised from seed from a good source. Whether it is a case of swiched labels, hybridisation or  a mix up at the growers end who knows but I will try to do  a little detective work. Meanwhile would be interested in any opinions as to what it is as this may assist the search. Is it serotinus salzmanii??

[Gerry Webster]

If memory serves,  'El Torcal' is a selection of C. serotinus with large flowers.  I had it years ago. I think  'El Torcal' is the name of a Spanish village or perhaps a mountain.


Edit:   ‘El Torcal’ was introduced by Henning Christiansen in 1973 from a collection (HC 3069a) made near Antequera. See AGS Bull. 65 (4) p 407, 1997.

[Tony Willis]

El Torcal is a magnificent limestone formation covering a large area outside the town of Antequera not far from Malaga. The crocus is widespread across the whole of it. It has a wonderful selection of flowers including paeonies and orchids and Iris planifolia in large numbers. The nearby reservoir has at times large numbers of flamingos on it.

[Maggi Young]

But the fact that there are so many crocus species and such a variation make that genius very exciting.

Poul

I agree Poul, these plants exert a great fascination for the Croconuts because of their variety.

[David Nicholson]

El Torcal is a magnificent limestone formation covering a large area outside the town of Antequera not far from Malaga. The crocus is widespread across the whole of it. It has a wonderful selection of flowers including paeonies and orchids and Iris planifolia in large numbers. The nearby reservoir has at times large numbers of flamingos on it.

A beautiful place.

[Tony Willis]

Crocus laevigatus in flower today.

I also noticed that when I brought Crocus nerimaniae into the kitchen to pollinate it ,it had a very strong scent something not noticeable in the cold and draughty greenhouse.

[Gerry Webster]

Crocus ligusticus    

From collections by David Stephens (DBS98-47) and Peter Bird & Mike Salmon (BS376); Italy, Liguria between Carcare & Ferrania. 

This  does not seem to increase vegetatively & rarely sets seed. Unfortunately my last batch of seedlings was killed in the harsh winter of 2010-11. The flower is somewhat smaller than usual this year

[Armin]

Gerry,
I like this attractive, highly contrasting form of C. ligusticus with the white center and dark stripes in the throat
I don't know if this is the nominate wild form or the forms with the dark center (usually cultivated).

Unfortunately, I lost C. ligusticus last winter by bare frosts, just after 2 seasons. Never got any seeds.

[Gerry Webster]

Armin - this is the wild form. The form which is  commercially available & usually cultivated is very slightly later with me.