Galanthus elwesii var. elwesii

From: Davis (1999). Permission has been granted by the author.

G. elwesii var. elwesii
G. elwesii Hook. f. subsp. akmanii N. Zeybek.
G. elwesii Hook. f. subsp. baytopii (N. Zeybek) N. Zeybek & E. Sauer.
G. elwesii Hook. f. subsp. melihae N. Zeybek.
G. elwesii Hook. f. subsp. tuebitaki N. Zeybek.
G. elwesii Hook. f. subsp. wagenitzii N. Zeybek.
G. elwesii Hook. f. var. maximus (Velen.) Beck.
G. elwesii Hook. f. var. whittallii Moon.
G. gracilis Celak. subsp. baytopii N. Zeybek.
G. graecus Boiss., not of gardens.
G. maximus Velen..
G. melihae (N. Zeybek) E. Sauer & N. Zeybek.

INNER PERIANTH segments each with two green marks, one apical and one basal, or one large ± X-shaped green mark that usually covers almost all the segment.

Flowers between February and May in nature; January and March in cultivation.


Notes: Galanthus gracilis is the only species likely to be confused with G. elwesii var. elwesii. It is similar to G. elwesii var. elwesii because it can have the same type of marks on the inner perianth segments, and the leaves have the same range of glaucous coloration. However, these two species can be easily distinguished because the leaves of G. gracilis are applanate in vernation whereas those of G. elwesii are supervolute. Furthermore, the leaves of G. gracilis are nearly always twisted on the vertical axis (like a corkscrew), whereas G. elwesii only occasionally has leaves twisted in this way. In G. gracilis the apex of the inner perianth segment is usually curled back (‘flared’), whereas in G. elwesii it is more or less straight. Galanthus elwesii is usually a large plant with broad leaves and large flowers, whereas G. gracilis is normally a slender plant with narrow leaves and smallish flowers. However, some individuals of G. gracilis are large plants with broad leaves and large flowers, and, as one might predict, G. elwesii can be a small plant with rather narrow leaves and small flowers.