Tas. 8055. 
COLCHICUM CROCIFLORUM., 
Turkestan. 
Lintaces. Tribe CoLtcHIcEs. 
Cotcatcum, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 821; Baker in 
Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xvii. p. 423. 
Colchicum crociflorum, Regel in Acta Hort. Petrop. vol. vii. p. 385, nec 
Sims, nee Schott et Kotschy; Gartenfl. 1881, p. 33, t. 1035, figg. 1 et 2, 
a C. luteo, Baker, foliis hysteranthiis et perianthii colore differt. 
Cormus ovoideo-oblongus, 2 poll. longus, 10 lin. diam, siccitate calcarius, 
tunicis castaneis. Folia linearia, obtusa, minute denticulata. Flores 
2-4 fasciculatim dispositi. Perianthii tubus 3-4 poll. longus, cylindricus, 
apice leviter dilatatus, albus; lobi oblongi, obtusi, 1 poll. longi, 3-4 lin. 
lati, albi, extus late purpureo-striati. Filamenta brevia, ad sinum 
anthers affixa; anthera erects, lineares, basi sagittatez, lute. Styli 3, 
quam stamina paullo longiores.—Synsiphon crociflorus, Regel in Acta 
Hort. Petrop. vol. vi. p. 491; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. iii. p. 821. 
Regel originally described this plant as generically 
distinct from Colchicum, on the ground that the styles 
were united. On the receipt of better material Regel 
found this not to be the case, and reduced his genus 
Synsiphon to Colchicum. The present species, however, is 
the most distinct in the genus. Owing to the great 
superficial resemblance of Colchicum to Crocus, it is not 
surprising that three species of the former have been 
named crociflorum. Of these, one described by Sims 
(B. M. t. 2673) is a form of C. autumnale, Linn., 
another described by Schott & Kotschy, is reduced to 
C. montanum, Linn., while the present plant, although the 
last described, is the one for which the name crociflorum 
must be retained. 
Most species of Colchicum have the perianth either 
uniformly coloured or chequered outside, but in this case 
the pure white ground of each lobe is relieved by the 
broad central band of pink, which gradually becomes dark 
purple. 
The plant figured flowered in the Alpine House at Kew 
in January, 1905, and was raised from corms imported 
He Kokan by Mr. C. G. Van Tubergen, jun., of Haar- 
em. 
JanvaRy 1st, 1906. 
