l6 THE GENUS CROCUS. 



dissolved, concurrently with the dehiscence at the dorsal sutures, the lines corres- 

 ponding with the midribs of the leaves; the valves and central dissepiment (each 

 valve representing two half carpels) being suddenly bent back, as in Plate B, fig. 4' 



In the development from the ovary to the capsule, we have first the union of 

 the margins of the carpellary leaves, and then a separation along their central or 

 dorsal suture; resulting in each valve of the capsule being formed of the halves of 

 two adjacent carpels. 



The ovary of the autumnal species remains underground, protected by the 

 spathes and sheathing leaves, till the latter part of April, when the scape rapidly 

 elongates with the growing capsule, bringing it to the surface. The capsule of the 

 vernal species comes to the surface immediately after flowering, at the same time 

 as that of the autumnal. In some species the capsule never rises above the ground 

 surface, but in others the scape is produced to a height of several inches. The 

 capsule presents few distinctive specific characters, and varies very much both in 

 size and proportions within each species. In the majority of species it is oblong, 

 about twice the height of its width. In Crocus gargaricus, (Plate XXXIX, fig. 2,) 

 it is exceptionally short, scarcely higher than its width. 



Seed. Just at the time of maturity, on the dehiscence of the capsule, the 

 seeds present many well-marked specific characters; but these are for the most 

 part lost as the raphe, chalaza, and caruncle wither, and the dead ripe seed parts 

 with its distinctive colouring. The raphe, chalaza, and caruncle are in many cases, 

 e.g., in C. nevadensis and C. corsicus, distinctly lighter in colour than the general body 

 of the seed; but more generally the seed and its superficial appendages are of a 

 uniform colour throughout. The two most general forms are a buff, glabrous seed, 

 and a papillose, red seed. In C. vitellinus and the allied species, the seed is oblong 

 in form, and bright crimson in colour, with a glabrous, shining surface. In C. 

 sativus and its allies the seed is nearly spherical, and of a madder-brown colour. 

 In C. aureus the seed is crimson, and covered with minute hairs. In C. gargaricus 

 the nearly spherical seed is bright orange. Buff seeds finally ripen to fawn-colour; 

 and the red seeds pass through several changes of colour, commencing with bright 

 rose, changing to red, and lastly, at maturity, to rich reddish chocolate. (Plate 



XXV, fig. 11,/, g.) 



Germination. A description of the life-history of a crocus would be incomplete 

 without some reference to the process of germination in its various stages ; this is 



represented in Plate C. 



The ripening of the seed, and dehiscence of the capsule takes place in June 

 or July. The seed lies dormant for several months, and germination takes place 

 at about the flowering time. The autumn-flowering species germinate from September 

 to November; the vernal species not till the early spring months. A large pro- 



