40 



CROCUS speciosus. 

 Showy Autumn Crocus. 



TRIANDRIA MOJiOGYl^IA. 



Nat. ord. iRiDACEiE. 



CROCUS. Botanical Register, vol. M.fol. 1416. 



C. speciosus; foliis hysteranthiis, vagina radicali subbiflora, perianthii ventricosi 

 obovatl laciniis omnibus penicillatis, stylo erecto antheris longiore, stigma- 

 tibus linearibus multifidis, cormi tunicis lentis Isevibus. 



C. speciosus. Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2752. Host. Fl. austr. I. 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 I 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. 



