Thanks, Graham, for posting that Warmenhoven link. I took a look at the Allium pages at that site, and I found something which might be of interest to some members of this group. The account of Allium cowanii at the site begins: "The entire plant is stronger and much larger than both others that it is commonly mistaken for..." That's good news to those of us who are holding out hope that there is a recognizable entity which properly corresponds to the name Allium cowanii. On the other hand, I don't know what to make of the distinction the site makes between Allium azureum and A. caeruleum. Allium lovers, take a look and let us know what you think. Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where a very handsome Allium is beginning to bloom: I'll tell more about this soon. 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/