Description
A small species, 10-15cm tall with deep green, flat leaves which recurve during and after flowering and thus present a very distinct appearance. G.rizehensis most closely resembles G. lagodechianus and both species are characterised by applanate vernation, and have similar narrow, green leaves though in G. rizehensis they tend to be frequently paler, often with a pale central stripe.
The dainty flowers are carried on a hanging pedicel, which is longer than the spathe, in January and February. Our stock is characterised by very abruptly bent pedicels.
First found by E. K. Balls and W. Balfour Gourlay in 1933 above Trebizond in N.E. Turkey and named for the town and Province of Rize on the Black Sea Coast. The species has since been found in western Georgia, southern Russia and at other locations in north-eastern Turkey.
Our stock is not the usual garden form (which has very small bulbs) but is raised from material traceable to a locality within Ordu Merkezi, further to the west than Rize, in Turkey. This has slightly larger bulbs and it seems a little more robust under garden conditions with us. The marking on the inner petals can be quite faint at times, especially in older flowers.
Galanthus rizehensis Ordu
for UK sales ONLY NOT available for export