Re: "Scarlet Bells" = Fritillaria recurva ?

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----- Original Message -----

From: Reid Family

To: medit-plants

Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 5:50 AM

Subject: Fw: "Scarlet Bells" = Fritillaria recurva ?

 

Subject: Re: "Scarlet Bells" = Fritillaria recurva ?

 Cal Flora lists Fritillaria recurva as having "scarlet bells."  Native to most of the far north counties.

See:

http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Fritillaria%20recurva&ttime=1110255814

I have never personally seen the plant.

Knowing what Trader Joes normally sells, is it suppposed to be an edible delicacy?

 

Richard Starkeson

San Francisco

 

Ha!  Actually, Trader Joe's sells flowers and the occasional potted something or other.  I'm guessing the location of the Trader Joe's and its proximity to local good nurseries influences what interesting floral odds and ends it sells.  I once bought a beautiful datura in a 6-inch pot from a grocery store in the Napa Valley.  You just never know!

 

Karrie Reid

Folsom Foothill Gardener

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 Timothy J. Toohey wrote:

I have just purchased a plant locally calls "Scarlet Bells",  which is described as "native to California."  To my eyes, the plant is identical to Fritillaria meleagris (Snakeshead fritillary).  Is anyone familiar with this a plant that is "native to California" that is commonly known as "Scarlet Bells" or that is similar to the fritillary?

 

I suspect that this is a case of mistaken (or purloined) identity.  The plant is wholesaled in California at Nurserymen's Exchange and I purchased it at the local non-nursery called "Trader Joe's"