Thanks, Mark, for taking the time to lead us through that interesting history. As I read your well informed comments, I’m reminded that what we’re doing here is a lot like what happens when a taxonomist approaches naming a new entity. In this case, I’m not sure we have actually established that there is an “entity” to be named. Important as the nomenclatural history is, in itself it will not answer my question: is there an entity which corresponds to the nurseryman’s name “cowanii” and is this entity in fact somehow different than nurseryman’s “neapolitanum”. You seem to be convinced that there is not. You make a strong case for the point of view that “cowanii” and “neapolitanum” are the same thing. I have no quibbles with the point of view that at the rank species they are the same, and your lengthy and interesting citation of the nomenclatural history makes it clear that anyone taking another point of view on that issue doesn’t have much if any wiggle room. But as far as I’m concerned, we have yet to reach the point in this discussion where that nomenclatural history has much if any relevance. What I mean it this: we still need to determine if there is an entity which corresponds to the nurseryman’s name “cowanii” and if this entity is in fact somehow different than nurseryman’s “neapolitanum”. I’ve read that there is a plant grown as “cowanii” (and in so-calling it this, I don’t mean to imply that it deserves this name, or that it is the plant originally called cowanii) which is distinguished from nurseryman’s “neapolitanum” by having larger individual flowers and longer scapes. I’ve read further that this is the form preferred for the cut flower market. I would like now to hear from other growers on this matter, especially commercial growers: is there something out there being grown and distributed (rightly or wrongly) under the name Allium cowanii which is for horticultural purposes distinct from what is typically offered as Allium neapolitanum? Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where a high of 87º F is predicted for today – and I’m predicting fried tulips. Crocus tournefortii has seed capsules up above ground already. My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/ Webmaster Potomac Valley Chapter, NARGS Editor PVC Bulletin http://www.pvcnargs.org/ Webmaster Potomac Lily Society http://www.potomaclilysociety.org/