Description
A rare species from the Lycian Taurus in Turkey, it can hardly be called new, as it was named in 1860 but it is now realised that it is very distinct from cilicicum into which it has been wrongly immersed for almost 150 years.
It is unique in having garnet-red cataphylls above the corm. There are 2-4 flowers made per shoot, in September. These are bright rich pink and sit on white tubes. The leaves do not follow until March and are characteristically floppy at the edges. An irregular or asymmetric corm complete the unique set of features of this excellent ‘new’ species.
Good in a sunny spot or a medium sized pot under glass if you wish, but fully hardy here and originally found at 1,600 m in montane pasture so this seems a reliable feature.
