40 
CROCUS speciosus. 
Showy Autumn Crocus. 
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. IRIDACER. 
CROCUS. Botanical Register, vol. 17. fol. 1416. 
C. speciosus ; foliis hysteránthiis, vagina radicali subbiflorá, perianthii ventricosi 
obovati laciniis omnibus penicillatis, stylo erecto antheris longiore, stigma- 
tibus linearibus multifidis, cormi tunicis lentis levibus. 
C. speciosus. Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2752. Host. Fl. austr.1.43. Baumgart. 
enum. Transylv. 1. 60. 
This beautiful autumn Crocus is one of those neglected 
flowers which ought to abound in every select garden. 
It blossoms in October, is quite hardy, and can scarcely be 
said to require cultivation. It was communicated for this 
work from the nursery of Messrs. Osborn and Co. of Fulham, 
who have it for sale. 
According to Mr. Wilson it is naturalized in a meadow 
near Warrington, where it flowers in September; and in 
the opinion of this Botanist it is only distinguishable from 
C. nudiflorus by its long style. 
In English Botany it is referred to the C. speciosus of 
Bieberstein, upon the authority of Sir Wm. Hooker. If this 
is correctly done, the species will inhabit the woods of the 
Crimea, under trees, and the grassy hills of the Eastern 
Caucasus; and I do not perceive any thing in the short 
account given by Bieberstein at variance with this plant. 
But as 1 find the opinion of Mr. Herbert, who has studied 
the genus with care, opposed to this conclusion, I forbear to 
quote any synonyms beyond those concerning which there 
is no doubt. 
