 |
A tiny growing species with a small natural range in south-eastern France. I have it in a pot in the greenhouse
and I can't see it ever being vigorous enough to try outside. The flowers in spring nod on the end of longish pedicels and open rather wider and into flatter flowers than other species. Writing in 'The Plantsman' in 1992, Jack Elliott says: "Native to southeast France, where it is very rare or extinct. This is a very easy plant for the alpine house, but is probably too tender for any but the warmest gardens. Grown in pots of gritty compost it increases well, flowers freely and sets seed abundantly. It seems to do better if the bulbs are not dried out completely during the summer resting period, and it may remain evergreen with this treatment." Plants of the World online says: "The native range of this species is SE. France (from Nice east). It is a bulbous geophyte and grows primarily in the subtropical biome." iNaturalist says: "Acis nicaeensis was first described in 1867 by Honoré Ardoino, as Leucojum nicaeensis. The specific epithet nicaeensis refers to Nice, in south-east France, while the Mentone in the common name Mentone snowflake is the Italian name for nearby Menton. In 2004, it was transferred to Acis, along with other species of Leucojum, on the basis of a molecular phylogenetic study. Acis nicaeensis is native to the Maritime Alps and neighbouring coast of south-eastern France (including Monaco), where it is found on rocky hillsides. |
|
| 1st May 2010 | ||
