Today, Tulipa polychroma opened up, my first encounter with this species, and it's a delight to be sure! This is a miniature species suitable for the rock garden, only 2-3" (5 - 7.5 cm) in flower, carrying several white "star-cups" to the stem. The center of the flower is yolk yellow, but it's the outside of the flowers that give this species its character. The back of the outer 3 tepals are are tinged matte olive-mauve, and the back of the 3 inner tepals are lightly striped with green and blue. The flowers are deliciously scented, but it requires getting on your belly to take a sniff I posted three views, showing the flowers from above and side views to illustrate the outer tepal markings. Individual links: %%%http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/… %%%http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/… %%%http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/… ...or go to the PBS Wiki "species tulips" page at: http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… Mark McDonough Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States antennaria@aol.com "New England" USDA Zone 5 ============================================== >> web site under construction - http://www.plantbuzz.com/ << alliums, bulbs, penstemons, hardy hibiscus, western american alpines, iris, plants of all types!
