Description
A gorgeous, strong-growing, white-flowered new species from Icel province in southern Turkey where it grows over limestone at around 1,00-1,500m altitude.
This has strong, pure white flowers in small clusters, borne from January onwards. The outermost three floral segments are line and dtriped on the exterior with fine to heavy lines of purple or deep, dark brown-purple, verging on black in rare individuals. Some forms have dense stippling as well or in place of the stripes. In the centre of the flower sits a bright, orange-red style and (usually) black anthers which yield yellow pollen when they ripen, though now and again yellow-anthered plants are found.
Readily grown under alpine glass in a loam-based compost where it increases well, vegetatively, however it is reputed to be promiscuous unless careful hand pollination is enacted.
