On 26 Jan 2010, at 20:47, Jim McKenney wrote: > I need help with Narcissus nomenclature. Narcissus cantabricus is apparently > still regarded as a good species, but N. albidus is not. Both N. cantabricus and > N. albidus have varieties named foliosus. Are the plants once called Narcissus > albidus now considered to be forms of N. cantabricus? And if so and assuming the > two varieties named foliosus are distinct, what are these two varieties > currently being called? It’s all very confusing to me. The plant I have under > cantabricus foliosus bloomed over a month ago; the one under albidus foliosus is > just starting. We all need help with Narcissus nomenclature, especially among the bulbocodium persuasion. My understanding is that Narcissus bulbocodium (sensu _very_ latu) is actively speciating in Spain, Portugal, and northern Africa. Hence it may be a fool's errand to try to pigeonhole these plants into neat, clearly defined species. It's quite possible that all bulbocodium Narcissus can viewed as a single polymorphic species, though I don't think any botanist has yet tried this approach. My best advice to those bedevilled by N. bulbocodium nomenclature is to have a stiff drink and find some other subject to worry about. It's the only way to preserve one's sanity. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate on beautiful Vancouver Island http://maps.google.ca/maps/…