Description
The flowers are a slightly pinkish-red, rather then the usual slightly orange-red of the gesneriana clan, with the outside of the flower shaded with a dusky pink on which slightly darker, pink veining and feathering can be seen. Inside, the black stain at the base of the petals takes the form of three, heart-shaped regions (base of the outer petals) and three diamond-shaped regions (base of the inner petals). The black regions are broad and overlap to make a ragged-edged circle. The butter-yellow edging does not surround the black, but makes a confluent ring around the black region. The anthers are black. The flowers are borne in tall stems above short, broad leaves which have only a very slightly waved edge.
Regarded by some authorities as simply another form of T. gesneriana, however this can be regarded as being just as distinct as any of the other accepted neo-tulips (or as being yet another surplus and spurious name in the genus). It depends a lot on opinion, as the botanical differences are slight between all of the neo-species. Regarded as critically endangered by one authority, but mapped in 9 localities (probably incorrectly) by another website.
Though not truly “wild”, the so-called “neo-Tulips” of France are probably ancient introductions of T. gesneriana dating as much as 500 years and are distinct from each other and unique. This one was first published by J. Prudhomme in 1994 {Le Monde des Plantes, intermédiaire des botanistes 89: 22. (1994.)} and it is said to be found in Mediterranean coastal France (west of Toulon) and in more mountainous regions in the Savoie, from where it was first described. It is named for Mont-André, in Savoie.
Raised from horticultural stock, traceable to a French botanical garden.
Introduced to our lists February 2022
