` MR. G. MAW ON THE LIFE-HISTORY OF A CROCUS. 861 
patterns of stigmata, nearly all of which are special to each 
species. İn Crocus sativus and its allies the stigmata are bright 
scarlet and entire. İn the great majority of species they are 
orange, more or less divided. İn C. vitellinus and several allied 
species they are developed as a bunch of capillary divisions; in 
C. aureus as a condensed mass of nearly sessile stigmata, forming 
the termination of the style. 
The most remarkable departure from the ordinary type, as 
regards colour, is in C. zridiflorus, in which the finely divided 
stigmata are rich purple. In two vernal Spanish species, C. car- 
petanus and C. nevadensis, the almost sessile stigmata are of a 
pale semitransparent whitish grey, tending to lavender. The 
colour of the stigmata is not so constant as that of the anthers. 
In C. vernus, and several other species which have orange stig- 
mata, they vary to cream-colour, and in C. aureus, the stigmata 
of which are normally pale buff, to rich orange. The stigmata of 
C. chrysanthus are very variable both in size and colour, ranging 
from pale buff to bright orange-scarlet. 
The height of the stigmata is tolerably constant within each 
species; but in this respect individual species greatly differ, the 
stigmata much exceeding, equalling, or falling short of the summit 
of the anthers. 
Whilst I view the character of the stigmata as of little use for 
natural grouping, it is invaluable for specifie determination. In 
quite half of the species the stigmata are so special in their cha- 
racter, that they may be relied on alone for the determination of 
species. 
Capsule.—' The capsule or seed-pod presents few distinctive 
specifie characters; and in both size and proportion, in the same 
Species, is very variable. Perhaps the only exception is in the 
case of C. gargaricus, the capsules of which are almost as broad as 
high; but beyond this I do not know of any case in which they 
present good and stable distinctive chara®ters. 
The ovary of the autumnal species remains underground till 
the latter part of April, when the scape rapidly elongates with 
the growing capsule, bringing it to the surface. The capsules of 
the vernal species appear above ground at the same time as the 
autumnal, 
The seed is matured in June and July, the valves of the cap- 
sules being suddenly reflexed as the seed ripens. The seeds, just 
at the time of maturity, present many well-marked specific cha- 
