The perceived advantage of autumnal flowering is that it occurs at a time when flowers are relatively scarce and insects relatively plentiful, enabling effective pollination. The crocoid genera in the Mediterranean mostly have subterranean seed capsules that are not exposed to winter weather, so come to no harm if pollinated early: amaryllids such as Narcissus serotinus and Acis autumnalis ripen and shed seed very quickly, so the capsules are unlikely to suffer from winter damage. John Grimshaw Dr John M. Grimshaw Garden Manager, Colesbourne Gardens Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Nr Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP Website: http://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Judy Glattstein" <jglatt@hughes.net> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > > I'm still puzzled as to why some crocus flower in fall when many of them > bloom in spring. And what advantage does colchicum gain, flowering in > fall and waiting 8 months to produce seed. > >