[aroid-l] Dracunculus vulgaris

From: James Waddick jwaddick at kc.rr.com> on 2003.07.22 at 14:52:31(10419) 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. +More 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 ?anakkale, (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 ?anakkale, (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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