86 THE GENUS CROCUS. 



Crocus Kotschyanus, K. Koch in Index Sem. Hort. Berol. 1853; Walp. Ann. Bot. vol. vi, p. 5 1 ; Anns. 



Sc. Nat. Ser. iv, vol. i, p. 351; Tchihatcheff, Asie Min. part iii, Bot., vol. ii, p. 523; Baker, Syst. 



Iridac. in Journ. Linn. Soc, Bot., vol. xvi, p. 83; and List of Crocuses in Journ. R. Hort. Soc. Lond. 



new ser., vol. iv, 1877. 

 Not C.karduchorum of Kotschy, PI. Cilic. Exsic, No. 469; which is another species. 



Cormus oblatus, altitudine pro latitudine minori quam in ulla alia specie; tunica membranacea fibrosa ten- 

 uissima. Vagina; spatham superantes. Folia glabra, carina paullo angustior quam lamina. Spatha 

 diphylla in vaginis celata. Perianthium: faux barbata, aurantiaca; segmenta roseo-lilacina, intus 

 lineis 5-7 splendide purpureis, et ad basim maculis duabus aurantiacis semicirculatis signata. Antheras 

 albte, filamenta flava bis superantibus; pollen lacteum. Stylus parum infra apices antherarum fissus; 

 stio-mata breviter ramosa, fimbriata, flava, obscuriora quam antheras quas superant. Semina obscure 



lactea, glabra. 



Conn oblate, the height in proportion to the width less than in any other species, from an inch (0.025 

 metre) to an inch and a quarter (0.032 metre) broad, and half an inch (0.013 metre) to five-eighths 

 of an inch (0.016 metre) high. Tunic of very thin fibro-membrane; the Cap produced at the summit 

 into very short points. 



Sheathing Leaves exceeding proper spathe, from five to seven in number, and from half an inch (0.013 

 metre) to three inches (0.075 metre) in length, the innermost slightly foliaceous at their extremity. 



Proper Leaves dormant within the sheathing leaves at the flowering-time in September, and produced 

 in the spring to about a foot (0.300 metre) in length, glabrous, from one-eighth to three-sixteenths 

 of an inch (0.0032—0.050 metre) broad, one-third the width of the blade with a depressed 

 central white band; the keel two-thirds the width of the blade, from which it is separated by wide 

 and open lateral channels with a glaucous surface. 



Basal Spathe ligulate, membranous, about an inch and a quarter (0.032 metre) in length. Proper Spathe 

 diphyllous, membranous, about an inch and a half (0.038 metre) in length, a little shorter than and 

 hidden by the sheathing leaves, the outer spathe tubular, the inner spathe ligulate. 



Perianth: Tube from two and a half to three inches (0.063—0.075 metre) in length from the ovary to 

 the throat, pale buff. Throat bearded, bright yellow. Segments about an inch and a half (0.038 

 metre) long, and from half an inch (0.013 metre) to seven-twelfths of an inch (0.015 metre) broad, 

 rosy-lilac, veined internally with from five to seven clear purple lines, and bearing on the inner 

 surface of their base two bright semicircular orange spots. 



Stamens falling short of pistil, nearly seven-eighths of an inch (0.022 metre) high. Anthers about five- 

 eighths of an inch (0.016 metre) long, white, and about twice the length of the orange Filament. 

 Pollen Grains ^ of an inch (0.0006 metre) in diameter, papillose, pale cream-coloured. 



Pistil about an inch and a quarter (0.032 metre) in height from the throat, the Style dividing at, or a 

 little below, the level of the summit of the anthers, and produced into erect, shortly branching 

 pale orange stigmata. 



Scape at the flowering-time, in September, from an inch (0.025 metre) to an inch and a half (0.038 

 metre) in height, and produced to a height of five or six inches (0.125— 0.150 metre) at the maturity 

 of the capsule. 



Capsule from five-eighths to three-quarters of an inch (0.016— 0.019 metre) long, pale cream-coloured. 



Seed nearly spherical, about one-tenth of an inch (0.0025 metre) in diameter, glabrous, of a uniform 

 pale cream-colour; the chalaza, raphe, and caruncle not prominent. 



