90 THE GENUS CROCUS. 



Basal Spathe about three-quarters of an inch (o.oig metro) long, tubular, open for about half its height. 

 Proper Spathe monophyllous, about three-quarters of an inch (0.019 metre) in length, of about the 

 height of the sheathing leaves. 



Perianth: Tube from two to three inches ^0.050 — 0.075 metre) in length from the ovary to the throat. 

 Segments from one inch (0.025 metre) to an inch and a quarter (0.032 metre) in length, five-twelfths 

 of an inch (0.01 1 metre) broad, vinous lilac in colour. 



Stamens about seven-eighths of an inch ^0.022 metre) in height, shorter than the pistil. Anthers pale 

 vellow, about seven-twelfths of an inch (0.015 metre) long. Filament white, about half the length 

 of the anthers. 



Pistil exceeding anthers; the Style dividing a little below the summit of the anthers, and produced into 

 a spreading mass of cream-coloured capillary stigmata. 



Scape at the flowering-time about half an inch (0.013 metre) in height. 



Capsule and Seed unknown. 



Crocus karduchorum is only known from the herbarium specimens collected by 

 Theodore Kotschy, who discovered it in flower on the 27th. of September, 1859, 

 on a mountainous ridge between Miikiis (Mukush?) and Sherwan, in Kurdistan, 

 south of Lake Van, latitude 38° north, and longitude about 42° east, at an altitude 

 of 6000 feet. 



It has been erroneously identified with Gay's Crocus zonatus, from which it 

 differs in all its more important characters. It has no near ally, and is remarkable 

 for retaining the leaves of the preceding season's growth up to the autumnal 

 flowering time; C. Scharojani is the only other species in which two years sets of 

 leaves exist contemporaneously. C. karduchorum is also one of the few species in 

 which the sheathing leaves reach to the level of the proper spathe. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE V. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state, September 27th, from specimens in the herbarium of the University of Vienna, actual size. 



Fig. 2. Diagrammatic dissection of scape, ovary, and spathes, actual size. 



Fig. 3. Stamens and Pistil, magnified two-fold. 



Fig. 4. Stigmata, magnified six-fold. 



Fig. 5. Corm tunics, magnified two-fold: a, cap; //. fragment of main tunic. 



