Is Chionodoxa albescens true to name?

totototo@telus.net totototo@telus.net
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:59:09 PDT
In preparing the summary of Chionodoxa nomenclature that I posted on 
April 8, I noticed that descriptions of Chionodoxa albescens didn't 
tally with the plant I have under that name.

The plants I have came from two different sources, but are visually 
identical. The flowers are solitary, pure white, and open out quite 
widely as do other chionodoxa species. One group was purchased as 
bagged bulbs from a local garden center (presumably from a Dutch 
source) in fall 2006. The other group came to me about 20 years ago 
from a gardener who was selling off her plants, and likely was 
originally bought from Ed Lohbrunner's Lakeside Gardens nursery, now 
defunct.

The descriptions of Chionodoxa albescens differ from these plants in 
regard to shape of flower and flower color, as follows:

1. Shape of flower
==================

European Garden Flora, Vol. I, p. 215: (nothing said)

The Bulb Book (Rix and Phillips), p. 43: (depicts flower not opened 
widely)

The Smaller Bulbs (Mathew), p. 25: "not opening out widely in my 
experience but remaining shuttlecock-shaped"

Bulbs; the Bulbous Plants of Europe and their Allies (Grey-Wilson & 
Mathew), p. 101: "funnel shaped with the tepals not widely spreading"


2. Color
========

European Garden Flora, Vol. I, p. 215: "pale pinkish or lavender"

The Bulb Book (Rix and Phillips), p. 43: "white, pinkish, or pale 
blue"

The Smaller Bulbs (Mathew), p. 25: "pale lavender flowers with a 
large white centre"

Bulbs; the Bulbous Plants of Europe and their Allies (Grey-Wilson & 
Mathew), p. 101: "whitish flowers"


I conclude that I have something other than C. albescens, possibly C. 
cretica which has widely opening flowers.


Comments?


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

on beautiful Vancouver Island


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