CILIOSUM

First described in the Kew Bulletin, December 1914, page 379. A very attractive and distinct species that is found in quite a number of diverse forms.  The distribution is mainly Bulgaria but is also found in what was called Yugoslavia. Not a difficult species to grow although it does benefit from protection against winter damp.

S. ciliosum from Ali Botusch. A form with rather shorter-haired rosettes than the type; develops a nice red shade in summer. Bulgaria.

S. ciliosum var. cilosum. This type plant has rosettes 3,5 to 5 cm in diameter, flattened-globose, usually wholly or half closed with outer leaves tinged red. Leaves are oblong-oblanceolate, acute, strongly incurved, pubescent. Due to the very long marginal cilia, the leaves take on a grey appearance. Flower-stems are about 10 cm high, quite stout and clad with imbricate leaves. Flowers large, about 23 mm in diameter, petals are pale yellow; filaments whitish. Offsets multiply freely on strong, hairy stolons.

S. ciliosum var. borisii (Degen & Urumov).

Globular rosettes that are densely-haired, this giving a very attractive, white-icy-appearance. The flower-stem and inflorescence are almost identical to the type. Original habitat is Pancerevo near Sofia.

S. ciliosum var. galicicum (A.C. Smith).

A variety, well distinguished from the type by its smaller, more compact rosettes, not more than 2,5 cm in diameter, having incurled leaves with relatively short hairs and cilia. The leaves are coloured a deep plum. Stolons; very long and slender, up to 9 cm. Flower-stems are about 8 cm high and slender. Inflorescence is compact and much smaller than in the type. Holotype: Mount Mali Hat, part of the Galicica mountain range, between Lakes Orchid and Presba in south-west Macedonia. Collected by Dr. L. Seligman in the 1930’s.

 Permission to use this book for publication on ICNet is much appreciated.