Re: "Scarlet Bells" = Fritillaria recurva ?

To my eyes, the "scarlet bells" still looks like a Snakeshead fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) more than the pictures of the scarlet bells that are posted on Cal Flora.  But it seems very odd that this would propogated as a potted plant in California and marketed as a California native. 
 
 
Fortunately--or unfortunately--Scarlet Bells is not in the food section of Trader Joe's, but for sale as a potted plant!
 
Tim Toohey
Los Angeles
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Sent: 3/7/2005 8:28:28 PM
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
 

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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"
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