Description
(P. bilgeri)
It is perhaps premature for another species to be split off from P. scilloides, though Puschkinia bilgineri appears to be distinct. Having said this some of the populations are so variable as to encompass the entire range of the flower morphology already known in this genus. Nemrut Dagi is a clonal plant, selected originally from larger populations, for its very distinct appearance. This stock originates from Nemrut Dagi just West of Lake Van (this Nemrut Dagi is a volcano, not to be confused with the ancient archaeological site of Nemrut Dag between Malatya & Diyarbakir) where it was found by Dr. A. Seisums. The original discovery was made by Hasan Yildirim who described the species in 2014 (link to original paper)
The taxonomy of the genus will no doubt be resolved with more complete studies but in the meantime, this particular clone appears to be very distinct from the existing species yet it is still attributable to P.bilgineri.
The distinctions of this are (1) its dwarf habit; (2) the foliage, which is broad and pressed to ground; (3) a dense and rather conical raceme; (4) fairly narrow petals ;(5) individual flowers which open to bell-shaped (in contrast to widely bell-shaped or even starry in ordinary Puschkinia). In the wild, at the type locality P. bilgineri, is said to have a umbel-shaped inflorescence, in the garden however plants from the type locality have rather conical spikes, just like our clone.
P.bilgineri was originally reported to have blackish seeds whilst our clone produces straw-colour-seed. However there is some doubt as to the validity of the original seed colour description.
Although some remain sceptical about the current segregation of Puschkinia into yet further species, it does seem that this particular clone corresponds to a form of P. bilgineri, and even within that species, it is a very different clone; at the very least deserving a cultivar name. This is a very distinctive plant and most certainly a lovely bulb for the enthusiast, an extreme among Puschkinia.
First offered in our lists in March 2018 and this was a first time listing anywhere.
