At 03:55 1/08/02 +1000, you wrote: >Hi Mary-Sue, > >How difficult is it to grow from seed? Mary Sue, I grow a couple of Merenderas, but really have nothing to add to the discussion on them which is why I haven't posted on them. I grow the same two as Lyn Edwards does, and given I live in the same city we have similar (very roughly) conditions. Posted earlier on IBS images list Howdy All, This was bought recently. I can find little in books about it except that it is either red-pink or white. The flower is tiny, less than an inch in width. As this is a first flowering I have no idea whether this is a typical size for the flower or not. I don't think there are any markings on the outside of the flower, certainly nothing at a casual glance. The petals are thin, almost see-through, making it hard to get a good picture. Diminutive but cute!! Does anyone grow this species and can confirm that it is correct? This is definitely either a Colchicum or merendera by appearance of the bulb and flower. Hopfeully someone can help. I also have Colchicum kesselringii flowering right now which was a nice surprise. I seem to have mislaid my Colchicum luteum which used to reside in the pot next to the kesselringii...... don't know where it has gone, but I figure I'll find it if it flowers as you just can't miss that wonderful gold." On Colchicums.... they grow very well here. The only ones I have tried from seed are C. kesselringii, which grew like the clappers even though they weren't axactly fresh (Rob ... you can cover your eyes and not read that. I know they were fresh when you SENT them to me...... just not by the time I planted them <grin>). The seed was harvested in late 2000 (Spring/Early Summer) and sent to me in January 2001. It sort of got misplaced (another bit you shouldn't read Rob) and eventually was planted on the 2th May 2001 (Late Autumn). Seedlings started appearing above the gravel on 4th August 2001 (Spring). This is just to give you a time frame of age of seed and time to germination etc. I hope it may be of some help. Interestingly enough C. kesselringii is the only Colchicum that has set seed for me. I haven't tried pollinating any species, but I did notice a seedpod on kesselringii after flowering last year. Unfortunately it won't be seeding this year as some beasties munched all three flowers to the ground this year <sigh>. At least my Colchicum luteum is in flower now and carefully guarded. Cheers. Paul Tyerman Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9 mailto:ptyerman@ozemail.com.au Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Cyclamen, Crocus, Cyrtanthus, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything else that doesn't move!!!!!