N. cantabricus flos.
Jane McGary (Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:25:56 PST)

Kevin asked,
At 01:22 PM 11/15/2008, you wrote:

This species has a number of different subspecies (or varieties, or
forms -- you'll have to ask Dr. Koopowitz about Narcissus taxonomy, a
subject on which I resolutely refuse to risk opinions). In some cases
the leaves are well developed before a bud emerges, and in others the
leaves seem to be about half their ultimate length when the scape
(flowering stem) is about half as long as the leaves. I noticed some
like that in the bulb frame today.

I feel that the different subspecies, or whatever they may be, are so
mixed up in cultivation that it is unwise to apply names like
"foliosus" and "monophyllus" to plants one has grown from seed of
cultivated origin. In addition, N. cantabricus has been hybridized
with N. romieuxii and there are some lovely intermediate forms.

In flower here today are a N. cantabricus selection from Walter Blom,
and seedings received as N. eugeniae, which I must look up to see
what the "correct" (i.e., British taxonomists') name is. The latter
are pale yellow and up-facing.

Kevin also asked whether he should chill N. rupicola ssp. watieri
bulbs. I don't know, because they do get chilled here naturally. Ask
Harold. For those unfamiliar with it, this is a very lovely pure
white subspecies, from North Africa; N. rupicola ssp. rupicola is
deep yellow. I have had hybrids of N. watieri appear as self-sown
seedlings between the pots, but I don't know the other parent; the
flowers are pale yellow. There is another member of this complex
called N. atlanticus, or rupicola ssp. atlanticus, which has
cream-colored flowers; and one that bears multiple flowers on a
scape, called N. calcicola. N. rupicola and N. calcicola are hardy in
the open garden for me, but I haven't risked the others out of the bulb frame.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA