Yellow Nothoscordum/Ipheion

totototo@telus.net totototo@telus.net
Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:17:03 PDT
On 13 Apr 07, at 20:02, Mary Sue Ittner wrote:

[lament about the many names for Ipheion/Beauverdia/Tristagma/ 
Nothoscordum sellowianum/-a/bivalve/etc.]  

> This is all so confusing for those of us wanting to grow these
> plants, obtain them, or share them. 

It's like the mess with Spanish Narcissus (esp. the bulbocodium 
clan), but at the generic level rather than the specific.

It's clear that the botany of these South American bulbs is in a 
state of total disarray. Until somebody somewhere can devote 
considerable resources to their investigation, we're doomed to amuse 
ourselves with the plethora of available names. I'm not holding my 
breath for a resolution of this mess anytime very soon.

And even with adequate resources, there may be no firm conclusion 
possible. The Spanish Narcissus are a problem because the genus is 
clearly in a state of active evolution on the Iberian Peninsula and 
hasn't settled down to a fixed number of clearly distinguishable 
species. I have wondered if something similar is happening in 
Argentina with the Ipheion/Tristagma/Nothoscordum complex.

Sigh.

Anyone need a big box of Kleenex to soak up their tears over this 
mess?


-- 
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate

on beautiful Vancouver Island


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