I returned in mid December to a population of Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus that I had visited previously in late November. The colony was in full, spectacular flower on my second visit and I was able to get a really good impression of the extraordinary variation within this one site, which runs down a small stream for half a mile.
Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus growing along the margins of a field, near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus flowering through leaf litter. Near Antalya, 16/12/15
To avoid repetition with my previous blog post on this subject, I’ll allow the pictures to do most of the talking.
Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. An example with short-clawed, rounded outer segments and short leaves at flowering time. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. An example with a split apical mark on the inner segments. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. An unusually short clone. The scapes on this clump were 10cm tall. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. An illustration of the enormous variation in stature among different clones in this colony. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. Sublimely elegant flowers. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. An example with exceptionally narrow segments. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. An example with green markings towards the tips of the outer segments. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. An example with green markings towards the tips of the outer segments. Near Antalya, 16/12/15.
On this trip, I also found another, smaller population, a few miles from the first and at lower elevation. This population was growing mainly on the terraces of an orange grove, near a stream, and the plants were flowering through the fallen fruit, which is now perfectly ripe. The roads around Antalya are lined with stalls selling fruit.
Interestingly enough, although there was quite a bit of variation in plant stature and in flower size and shape, there was very little of the sort of variation that gets a galanthophile’s blood racing. Nonetheless, the finest plants were 40cm tall and absolutely magnificent, by any standards.
Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus growing on the terraces of an orange grove. Near Antalya, 21/12/15.Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. Near Antalya, 21/12/15.
