Oxalis species for PBS Wiki
Lee Poulsen (Tue, 18 Nov 2003 19:20:28 PST)

Speaking of uncertainties and bones of contention with regard to
species names and synonyms, I was scanning through Dirk's latest list
of bulb offerings and happened upon this:

"Ipheion pelegrinans (syn. Tristagma pelegrinans) Known as I.
'Rolf Fiedler' in the trade before it's true identity was
established. Beautiful starry cobalt blue flowers in Winter to
Spring. Increases by stolons."

This is news to me.

Since in my northern hemisphere garden, my pots of Ipheion 'Rolf
Fiedler' are all coming out of dormancy now, this caught my
attention. One pot has a new label where I left room after "Ipheion"
for a species name in case that ever got settled.

My question is: When did it get settled? And when and who established
its true identity? Not having any Tristagma, nor ever having seen a
live plant, I didn't realize that they were similar enough to
Ipheions that there would be a synonymous name for it.

Finally, does this mean that it is merely a true species and
therefore we no longer need to nor should refer to it as 'Rolf
Fiedler' as Dirk now does in his catalog?

--
--Lee Poulsen
Pasadena area, California, USDA Zone 9-10