Nomenclature of Leucojum 'Gravetye Giant' was: Re: NOT - Leucojum aestivum cvs.?

Brian Whyer brian.whyer@btinternet.com
Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:10:29 PDT
Some time ago I mentioned this "form" to one of our major bulb suppliers. The reply was "is there any other form (in commerce)". If you Google it you will even find seed of it, complete with the RHS AGM. No doubt these should then be named "Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' seedling".
Maybe I should go and see it locally in the wild where it is called Loddon Lily. The Loddon is a tributary of the River Thames in Berkshire and Hampshire.
 
Brian Whyer, Buckinghamshire, England, zone ~8

 
The name 'Gravetye Giant' has been used in recent posts relating to the large-flowered form of Leucojum aestivum

Older references give the name as 'Gravetye var.'

I assume that these are the same plant, but why was the name changed? Is the reason that the original name included the word 'var', which invites confusion with the rank varietas of formal botanical taxomomy? And if so, does anyone know who made the change and when was it deemed official?

Jim McKenney


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