As a partial answer to Jane McGarys' enquiry about a damaged Crocus pulchellus, I have posted the insert below plus links on the wiki Crocus page. "Crocus are susceptible to virus disease. This is usually visible in the flowers. This distortion may take the form of twisted petals, streaking (as in tulip fire,) sometimes the flowers are depauperate and fail to open properly. The virus also reveals itself as light and dark blotching in the foliage which is most visible when the foliage first emerges. The pictures here have been manipulated to exagerate the streaking in flower and foliage to make it more apparent. (Massive hike in contrast levels does this.) http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/… http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/… Here is one with distorted petals http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/… The vectors are aphids which find refuge especially on the backs of the leaves. " I would add that only a very few of my plants exhibit signs of virus such as these and those that do are always removed and quarantined for further evaluation - which usually results in a decision to destroy the plants. Crocus serotinus and Crocus kotschyanus seem to be most susceptible but maybe this is because I grow so many variants of each. Plants grown under glass are much more susceptible, as are overcrowded plants. Both of these situations give shelter to aphids. I suspect that Janes plants are simply victim to some kind of mechanical damage but a very close examination of the flowers and foliage (when it emerges) should clear up any doubts. Tony Goode. Norwich UK. Mintemp -8C
