V05-02 is a cross of: [(Petite Buerre x N. cyclamineus) x (N. assoanus x N. fernandesii)]. This has been a productive cross that has given progeny with a wide range of form which I find quite interesting. The cross is of a (Div. 1 x Div. 6) times a hybrid from two nicely formed Miniature Div. 7 species. The progeny exhibit attributes from each of the three Divisions. Some look like twin small yellow trumpets on a stem. Some have twin flowers with the swept back look of N. cyclamineus and some look like small Div. 7’s but with 3/4 length, tubular coronas. All are clearly Miniature. Flower diameter of the flower pictured is 34mm. The corona length is 14mm and the perianth segments are 17mm in length. Height is just a shade over 5″ tall (132mm).
Most have curious foliage. The leaves push through slightly flattened. Initially, they look like very small, narrowish, Miniature trumpet leaves to me. As they lengthen, they appear to thicken and actually round out as in the Div. 7. parents. The year of maiden flowering, they were all single flowers per stem. Must admit I looked at them with a jaundiced eye, disappointment, some chagrin, and a yawn. However, by this season, all had twin flowers and there are two, three bangers! All appear to be growing and increasing quite strongly. Seemingly with true hybrid vigor. No more chagrin or yawns.
Many have a pleasant, sweet fragrance while a few are virtually scentless. I have this same style of cross coming with Miniature white Div. 1 & Div. 6 in place of the yellows. Having seen the yield from this cross, now I’d really like to breed a Miniature white Div. 7 hybrid to use as the other parent. There may be the potential for these to have great appeal. Will send photos of the really good examples as they flower.
Steve
Steve,
Your ‘N. assoanus x N. fernandesii’ is obviously fertile. Ben Zonneveld has proposed, because of the great difference in the nuclear DNA content, to separate N. assoanus from the Jonquilla Section, to which belongs N. fernandesii, and give it to a new section called Section Junquifolii. Crosses of diploid species from different sections normally should be infertile. Therefore my question: Have you only one clone of N. assoanus x N. fernandesii which is fertile or are there more fertile clones of this type?
Theo