Dear John:
Your site remains one of the best resources in the web. Thanks for
sharing such superb images. Particularly those of the organs in crocus
flowers are so useful in identification.
The plant we know as Ipheion sessile grows in Argentina and in
Uruguay, normally in well drained soils in full sun. They are
autumn-winter-spring growers flowering in late autumn-early winter. Bulbs
have a buff shell like tunic. Roots are perennial and new roots appear
during dormancy. Bulbs are found some 5 cm deep. In Nature they receive year
round rains, an average of 900 mm. (now with the global warming almost
double that). Temperatures are like for Cape bulbs. Dormancy in summer under
hot conditions in the wild. Although these bulbs have genes for some
hardiness it is far better to grow them almost frost free. Propagation from
seed sown fresh and from offsets.
Kind regards
Alberto