Description
A lovely autumn flowering species found from Cyprus across Southern Turkey to Syria, Jordan and Israel. Though widespread, it seems that this is rarely a common plant wherever it is found.
It makes a succession of small to medium-sized, clustered, bright pink flowers which vary in the depth of their colour from pale to dark, most having a slightly darker centre. They are produced without the foliage but when this follows it is very thin, almost thread-like and it is thus neither large nor obtrusive.
When growing normally this makes “normal” flowers with both male and female parts, but at the very end of the growing season, it makes only male flowers. This also happens under conditions of stress or dryness. It is a way of reducing the drain on resources associated with seed production.
A lovely plant, good in a well-drained sunny spot or in a pot, as the bulbs are naturally very small. (please see our picture so that you are clear about their small size before ordering). It is proving to be remarkably hardy here and as it is a miniature it is superb in a pot or pan under alpine glass.
Offered for the first time ever in our lists in May 2008.
Photograph is of the plant in the wild, © Gideon Pisanty, from Wikipedia, used under C. C 3.0 Up
