I wonder how many other people thought what I thought on reading John Lonsdale's post: doesn't this remind us of something? That something is the way the seed capsules of Crocus korolkowii form underground and never appear at the surface. Synge described Colchicum colchiciflora as sweetly scented, so perhaps this species has a pollinator which responds to scent and not to the sort of visual clues provided by petals. Or, maybe those seeds are produced by apomixis. This species is also described elsewhere as having a short style. It would be interesting to know if the plants which bloom underground have long styles which protrude above ground. There are orchids which bloom underground, too: maybe this Sternbergia is moving in that direction. John, when you say "why do some plants do this and others not", are you saying that certain plants always do this and certain other plants always do not, or are you saying that a given plant might or might not do it depending on some limiting factor? As I read your full query, it seems to suggest the latter. But isn't the former a possibility? Keep us posted: this is fascinating. Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7 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/