The daffodil show continues

totototo@telus.net totototo@telus.net
Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:26:51 PST
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/…


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