Dear all, I have posted to the WIKI some photos of this species in flower taken by me in the Tien Shan in July 2008. On this journey I saw it several times at various altitudes, although travelling a very similar route three years previously I had totally failed to see it. It is a striking plant, with very variable flower colours, but almost unknown in cultivation. I don't find this particularly surprising as I have had seed several times and always failed to germinate them. However, this year my luck seems to be turning, as I do have some early signs of germination on seed collected fairly recently. Whether it is my technique or the freshness of the seed which determines success I don't know. However, from what I have heard from the few people that I have traced who have grown this plant, flowering it is even more difficult than germinating the seed. For those who may be interested further, I did write an article on the plant and my encounters with it for the RHS "The Plantsman" magazine, which was published in June 2009. Best regards, David Victor