New photos and questions
Jane McGary (Wed, 25 Feb 2004 09:46:38 PST)

Regarding the identity of the plant on the wiki as
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/…

Harold Koopowitz wrote that it appeared to be Narcissus rupicola:
"Both species are quite variable with regards, size of plant, leaves, size
of flower, height and time of flowering.I have examined both species in
Spain. N. cuatrecasasii has three stamens sticking into the corona and
there are three in the tube. In N. rupicola all six stamens are in the
tube. In N. rupicola the opening to the tube is restricted, in N.
cuatrecasasii it is wider. N. rupicola often has a pronouncedly scalloped
and shallower, flatter corona like your flowers show, while in the other
the corona is more of an acorn-cup shape. One definite way to tell is to
remove the flower sheath. N. rupicola has amost no pedicel = stalk between
the ovary and flower stem, while N. cuatrecasasii has a pedicel about 1 cm
long. Check yours out and let me know."

This morning I did that. There are 8 flowers in the pot of seedlings, some
of which are identical clones, since it has been repotted since originally
being grown from seed. Two of the 8 flowers have almost no pedicel. One has
an 8 mm pedicel, and the rest have pedicels from 4 to 6 mm long. None have
exserted stamens and all have flaring, scalloped coronas. All of them have
an angle at the point where the tube opens, rather than flaring gradually,
but in no case is the tube constricted at this point.

Does this mean that these plants represent hybridizing (possibly in the
supplier's collection, even though the seed was supplied with a collector's
number)? What should I call this pot of narcissi? How about "Tall N.
rupicola hybrids"? It's so different from any others I have that I want to
keep it.

Thanks,
Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon. USA