Northeast Gardening: Garden Photo's 09 ...... #35, 1 by nutsfordaylily

nutsfordaylily wrote:
TET SILOAM VIRGINIA HENSON

Tet denotes the fact that it's a tetraploid, having double the amount of chromosomes as a diploid (which has 22). SILOAM VIRGINIA HENSON was originally a diploid (dip), and someone decided to convert it to a tetraploid, so they could use it's genetics in tet breeding. I don't know exactly how it's done, but I know it's done using colchicum, which is derived from the fall blooming crocus or colchicum (which is not a crocus at all, only looks like one).