The Daphnis Hybrids

The F2-crosses

The F2-crosses are very interesting plants. Nassos Daphnis used for them well known F1-crosses like 'Coronal', 'Thunderbolt' (both from Prof. Saunders) and 'Gauguin'. The only F3-cross is a cross of the F2A and F2B from Prof. Saunders.

'Calypso'

'Calypso' blooms single, creamy-yellow with red outlines. F2-seedling from 'Coronal' (F1). Color like 'Coronal', form open and petals much stronger and much heavier. The red on the edges of each petal is very unusual and breath-taking. Good substance, stamens, pollen, no seeds, fragrant, reliable, one bud per stem. Good stem strength, grows 120 cm - 150 cm and blooms at the end of May. Vigorous and dark green foliage. Calypso was a sea nymph in Greek mythology. Photo: Nassos Daphnis

Then Odysseus of many wiles answered her, and said: "Hard were it, O queen, to tell to the end the tale of my woes, since full many have the heavenly gods given me. But this will I tell thee, of which thou dost ask and enquire. There is an isle, Ogygia, which lies far off in the sea. Therein dwells the fair-tressed daughter of Atlas, guileful Calypso, a dread goddess, and with her no one either of gods, or mortals hath aught to do; but me in my wretchedness did fate bring to her hearth alone, for Zeus had smitten my swift ship with his bright thunderbolt, and had shattered it in the midst of the wine-dark sea. There all the rest of my trusty comrades perished, but I clasped in my arms the keel of my curved ship and was borne drifting for nine days, and on the thenth black night the gods brought me to the isle, Ogygia, where the fair-tressed Calypso dwells, a dread goddess. She took me to her home with kindly welcome, and gave me food, and said that she would make me immortal and ageless all my days; but she could never persuade the heart in my breast. Homer, Odyssey 7, 240 - 260

Parents	'Coronal' (Lutea hybrid F1) x 'Coronal' (Lutea hybrid F1)
Number of seedling	D-366
Crossing	F2
Year of crossing	1964
Germination	1965
First Blooming	1974
Registration	1995
First grafted	1995
Will be on the market in	2000

'Daedalus'

'Daedalus' blooms in a very dark red burgundy color, semi-double. Petals like heavy silk with good substance and glowing quality. Dark center with bright yellow anthers. The flower has stamens and pollen, no seeds, fragrant. Good stem strength, height 120 cm - 150 cm. Blooms in late May. Very vigorous, dark green foliage, reliable. One bud per stem. Daedalus was the father of Icarus. Photo: Nassos Daphnis

Daedalus, an architect famous for his skill, constructed the maze, confusing the usual marks of direction, and leading the eye of the beholder astray by devious paths winding in different directions. Just as the playful waters of the Maeander in Phrygia flow this way and that, without any consistency, as the river, turning to meet itself, sees its own advancing waves, flowing now towards its source and now towards the open sea, always changing its direction, so Daedalus constructed countless wandering paths and was himself scarcely able to find his way back to the entrance, so confusing was the maze. Ovid, Metamorphosis 8, 159 - 168

Parents	'Thunderbolt' (Lutea hybrid F1) x 'Thunderbolt' (Lutea hybrid F1)
Number of seedling	D-315
Crossing	F2
Year of crossing	1964
Germination	1965
First Blooming	1974
Registration	1995
First grafted	1995
Will be on the market in	2000

'Dionysos'

'Dionysos' blooms single with a bright red, color like 'Gauguin' but much brighter, with veins running from the center to the edge of each petal. It has the crystal clear color of a good red wine. It is reliable, one bud per stem, has pollen, stamens, good substance, no seeds, fragrant, the amount of bloom varies. Good stem strength, 90 cm - 150 cm in height, dark foliage and blooms end of May. Dionysos was the Greek god of wine. Photo: Nassos Daphnis

But when the goddesses had brought Dionysos up, a god oft hymned, then began he to wander continually through the woody coombes, thickly wreathed with ivy and laurel. And the Nymphs followed in his train with him for their leader; and the boundless forest was filled with their outcry. Homerian Hymnos 26, 7 - 10

Parents	'Gauguin' (Lutea hybrid F1) x 'Gauguin' (Lutea hybrid F1)
Number of seedling	D-365
Crossing	F2
Year of crossing	1966
Germination	1967
First Blooming	1976
Registration	1995
First grafted	1995
Will be on the market in	2000

'Sappho'

'Sappho' blooms light purple to red and has single flowers. The mystery and the presence of this flower of which one could write a beautiful poem is unique. I am sure that Sappho could. Good substance, stamens, pollen, no seeds, fragrant. Reliable, one bud per stem. Good stem strength, grows 90 - 150 cm and blooms late May. Good vigor, light green foliage. Sappho was a Greek poetess. Photo: Nassos Daphnis

Some say a host of cavalry, others of infantry, and others of ships, is the most beautiful thing on the black earth, but I say it is whatsoever a person loves. Sappho, Fragment 16 L - P

Parents	F2A (from Prof. Saunders x F2B (from Prof. Saunders)
Number of seedling	D-218
Crossing	F3
Year of crossing	1955
Germination	1956
First Blooming	1965
Registration	1995
First grafted	1995
Will be on the market in	2000