[aroid-l] Dracunculus vulgaris

Dear Alan- Your bicolor spathe form and
Wilbert's All white and
Peter's detailed report on this genus
inspired me to write a botanist friend in Turkey and here's some comments to share:

"There are four variants of this plant ...:
1. Var. laevigatus Engler: described from Rhodos Island, was distinguished
by its smooth spadix and absence of sterile flowers; similar forms occur in
Europe.
2. Var. elongatus Engler: seems to represent the upper limit of variation in
spathe length.
3. Var. ??? (can be considered so): is noteworthy in having both spathe and
spadix densely covered in very short white hair-like processes from
Çanakkale, (Kirk 1856).
4. Var. ??? (can be considered so): a similar but much less dense indumentum
occurs on another specimen from the same area Assos in Çanakkale, (Sint.
1883:813).

It appears that it is not a pure species, but with many conspecific taxa. This can be also be justified from its wide occurrence in almost 1/3rd of
Turkey."

I don't know if these varietal names are valid, but I'll try to send him out to Canakkale next spring to take pics and maybe collect seed.

Now about those white flowered Cretan plants. Can't some S. European aroider just run by and collect seed which should be ripe now? It is so close.

Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
E-fax 419-781-8594

Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +

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