The fall Sternbergia species (there are spring ones too) are at their flowering peak now in Oregon. After an annual expedition into the internet to try to identify the most unusual one I grow, I find that the geniuses at Kew have spared me further effort by declaring that almost all of them, including the former S. sicula and S. greuteriana, are Sternbergia lutea. I think Sternbergia clusiana remains distinct; after many years I have one that flowers nicely, though increasing very slowly. I'm sorry to see that S. greuteriana has been sunk, as its tiny stature and oblique scapes seem quite different to the observer deprived of a DNA lab. I put a number of its bulbs in an open, slightly raised bed a couple of years ago and they're doing well. I never did really believe that S. sicula was that different from S. lutea. My "odd one out" is the size of S. greuteriana (that was) but has fully erect scapes and hysteranthous foliage (i.e., flowers before the leaves emerge). Photos from the wild sometimes show leafless plants in flower, so maybe this varies from population to population, or is affected by growing conditions. I wonder if this little plant, grown from seed, reflects variation among the former S. sicula in Crete; this was noted by botanists in debunking Ravenna's "S. minoana" as merely one form in a variant population, not an uncommon fate for the latter's publications. I think I distributed it at one time with the note that it was probably a small form of S. lutea. The photo in the wiki showing a large flower of S. lutea with those of the little form is misplaced under S. greuteriana, but thanks to Kew that's all right now. I suppose the wiki page on Sternbergia should be reorganized now, or at least the introduction should acknowledge the lumping view. I assume the page was composed by someone more knowledgeable than myself, so will not presume to edit it, but it probably should be done. Jane McGary Portland, Oregon, USA _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…