Hi Jim McK, and all, Get a copy of the Chinese paper (in English) on Lycoris species from Jim Waddick, if Jim W. still has any left. Since the hybrid origin is not all that clear (as far as I can recall -- wait for someone to do DNA) I suspect that the only properly published name is squamigera. In any case, it seems that new species arise by hybridization in nature. Since L. squamigera is reproductively isolated from other Lycoris species including, I presume, both its original parents, it is probably a good species anyway. Hybrid origin per se would not disqualify it; reticulate evolution in action. I think there are parthenogenic (apomictic) species of Zephyranthes (rain lilies) that are considered good species botanically. I don't have bloom size squamigera planted here, but I have one scape each showing on LL. sprengeri, chinensis, and longituba. More should be popping up any day now. Regards, Jim Shields in central Indiana (USA) At 10:27 AM 8/6/2005 -0400, Jim McK. wrote: >Lycoris squamigera is starting to bloom now here in zone 7 Maryland. >........ > >Can anyone tell us what the correct name for this plant would be according >to the rules? I don't think we can use Lycoris squamigera, because it was >published as rank species. Does a combination exist for plants of the >parentage assumed for what we call Lycoris squamigera? > >Jim McKenney ************************************************* Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd. P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/ Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA