At 09:27 PM 18/08/2009, you wrote: >Hi, A friend in Portugal sent me this beauty, from the woods near Lissabon >, does anyone know what it is? (more or less!) He wrote thus: >"Strange thing is that is has no leaves. Just sprouts from the > soil, about 50-60 cms tall." >I have no idea myself, perhaps in the Asphodelaceae family? Neil, I don't know whether they're native to there or not, but my immediate thought was Urginea maritima? Darker stem than those I am used to, but the rest of the bud arrangement looks about right. Emerging without leaves also fits, and late summer/early autumn. Would that fit? Cheers. Paul T. Canberra, Australia - USDA Zone Equivalent approx. 8/9 Growing an eclectic collection of plants from all over the world including Aroids, Crocus, Cyclamen, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Galanthus, Irises, Trilliums (to name but a few) and just about anything else that doesn't move!!