Dear John;
Without a plant in hand, but notes and memory (always
questionable) I am very intrigued by your reply. The plants in
questions have been in this garden for at least 20 years and maybe 40
or 50. They are very distinct and their large size and grey foliage
seems an easy id. I was fairly certain they had to be G. elwesii as
much from illustrations as from a later review of books.
It seems to fit your description of 'really big' G. gracile.
I checked out descriptions of 'Dorothy Lucking' ('Cassaba'), but
could not find 'Daglingworth', Nor 'Colesbourne', but 'Carolyn Elwes'
has yellow markings. It doesn't really seem to fit well anywhere.
I did not notice flaring segments, but I hope to get back to
the garden and perhaps dig a few bulbs from the 92 year old gardener.
Unfortunately it is difficult to get info on this plant except by
visiting.
Thanks and stay tuned. Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +