A question - Leucojum vernum

John Grimshaw j.grimshaw@virgin.net
Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:38:48 PST
I think that I have probably seen the same population of Leucojum vernum in 
the Czech Republic as Diane Whitehead: it's swampy ground along a stream 
running through an Alder (Alnus) wood and certainly very squelchy at 
flowering time. Although it probably dries out considerably in summer, the 
Alder trees indicate that it must remain reasonably damp throughout the 
year.

Here at Colesbourne Leucojum vernum flourishes in shallow dry soil under 
deciduous and coniferous trees where the soil dries out completely in 
summer - quite contrary to all normal ideas about the species' requirements. 
The plants in these conditions seem in fact to do better than those in damp 
grass by the lake.

John Grimshaw

Dr John M. Grimshaw
Sycamore Cottage
Colesbourne
Nr Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL53 9NP

Tel. 01242 870567

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane Whitehead" <voltaire@islandnet.com>
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 5:41 PM
Subject: Re: [pbs] A question - Leucojum vernum


>  Diane Whitehead wrote:
>
>> When I saw where L. vernum was growing in the wild in the Czech
>> Republic, I knew why they never survived for me.  It was in the same
>> squelchy conditions where I would expect our native Lysichiton
>> americanus.
>
> Rodger Whitlock  wrote:
> Was it a site that is always squelchy, or just seasonally so? Our
> native skunk cabbage grows in some sites that are pretty dry in the
> summer.
>
> They were in a low area along a stream, with additional moisture
> being provided by melting snow. It would be drier in summer, but I'm
> sure it is never dry.
>
> There is a photo of them growing in a similar condition in Jim
> Jermyn's book, Alpine Plants of Europe.  The photo is in Timber
> Press' online excerpt:   http://www.timberpress.com/pdfs/excerpts/
> 9780881927344e.pdf
>
> Diane Whitehead
>
>
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