Hi Gang, The local H. liriosme-type plants is an early bloomer, a welcome sight in spring. I photographed 2 plants over the weekend; the earliest bloom opened on 2/15 or 2/16. Last year they opened about 2/26 and the year before it was about March 5. They sure open a lot earlier than many populations. Right on the coast there is a population I've been monitoring for about 4 years; the first flowers there have never opened before April 1. Those plants are at least half a climate zone warmer, and some years nearly a whole climate zone warmer. Yet, they bloom a month behind my local plants. So, the Conroe plants open a 3-5 weeks before the coastal plants. And the Conroe plants are smaller. Who knows, perhaps the Conroe plants are just a minor variation on a theme or perhaps there are real differences between the 2 populations. In the photos (see LINKs below), the Conroe plants are in standing water. It doesn't show but they are in a man-made low area that is slated to become the next 2 lanes of a 4-lane highway. This winter was dry, and many of the Conroe plants have not bloomed yet. I will be curious to see if the population by the coast gives its normally heavy bloom, or if they have reduced bloom. In my garden H. liriosme often blooms even if not submerged for the winter. LINK: H. liriosme, photo 1, Conroe, 2006 (submerged) http://members.aol.com/conroejoe/… LINK 2: H. liriosme, photo 2, Conroe, 2006 (submerged) http://members.aol.com/conroejoe/… LINK 3: H. liriosme, photo 3, coastal, May 2005 (not submerged) http://members.aol.com/conroejoe/… LINK 4: H. liriosme, near Victoria, TX (near western and southern limit for species) http://members.aol.com/conroejoe/… Cordially, Conroe Joe
