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