Description
A delightful and very lovely member of the Pseudomuscari section (with bell-shaped flowers that flare open at the mouth rather than being pinched). It has 6-9 very narrow (1-2 mm only) leaves and flowers of such a pale blue that they appear to be white. These are made from purple-tinged buds and the contrast is lovely.
The whole plant is slender and graceful though it is best grown in good light to prevent excessive elongation of the flower stems.
Discovered by the late Jim Archibald in 1985 in sandy soils, under Pines near Adana, Turkey and subsequently named after Ron McBeath, assistant curator at the botanic gardens in Edinburgh. It was described by Kit Tan in Herbertia 1988. The original site is now reportedly lost to grazing but the plant has been re-found nearby, though it is still rare and is so far only known from this general locality. These are seed-raised plants, the seed from parents themselves raised in cultivation. It presents no problems in a well-drained soil in good light. It needs a dry summer rest, either in a pot, bulb frame or by lifting and dry storage.
