----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Shaw" <jshaw@opuntiads.com> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 8:03 PM Subject: [pbs] Crinum scabrum > I've run across a few dead ends (Brazil, Ceylon, etc.). Please jump in if > you understand C. scabrum, or just have ideas about it. > Joe I wish I knew more. There is plenty of discussion that scabrum is zeylanicum or a ssp or something thereof. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find it so and I'll tell you one reason: My "scabrum" bulbs are extremely sensitive to coolness in spring. The dormant, sparsely-rooted bulbs would start to grow leaves and form roots if the temperatures remained warm, relatively, but would fall back if they were exposed to subsequent cool. I started my bulbs indoors and would take them outdoors if it was warm, say 70F or higher, bringing them in at evening if nights were cool. If I left them out (forgot to bring them in?) and the temps fell below 60F, the newly emerging leaves would pale and wither within a few days. Root production was delayed as well. I understand that zeylanicum is very cold sensitive and can see that "scabrum" (if there *is* a difference) is too. I haven't yet taken my bulbs in for winter but have put them by the house amid slate flooring and brick wall warmed during the day, and they haven't reacted to the few nights below 60F that we have had thusfar. Understandable. I will be in no rush to get them started next spring now that I undersatnd a bit more about them, whatever they are. One thing that has caused me to continue thinking that zeylanicum is different from scabrum is that the web-posted pictures of zeylanicum oftentimes share a certain "look" that differs from the ones purported to be scabrum. (Not that there are a lot of pictures of these two.) I couldn't tell you clearly what the difference is, and I wish I could be more specific. Aside: Along the ID line, I wish that there were more full-portrait depictions of not only these two plants, but all plants in general. The flower isn't the only thing about a plant that can be used in identification, as if I had to say that. It's habit is very important to the layman such as myself and if a plant isn't in bloom, one good picture of its habit can cut down on waiting time to get an ID, certain possibilities having been ruled out by foliage comparison. I must say that the PBS-wiki does contain some fine picture that don't focus solely on the flower and that is a great resource. Robert.