9+ THE GENUS CROCUS. 



is C. asturicus; and the Sierra Nevada autumnal Crocus, to which Monsieur Boissier 

 has applied the name of granatensis, appears to be also a distinct species. 



Parkinson was the first to describe C. nudiflorus, in his Paradisus, in 1629, 

 under the name of pyrenmis-purpureus. Wilson's name of speciosus, in the supplement 

 to the English Botany, was probably the result of his having erroneously identified 

 the Nottingham plant with that from the Caucasus. 



Gerard, in his Phytologia Britannica, published in 1650, does not mention 

 C. nudiflorus as a British species; nor does Blackstone, a century later. 



Crocus nudiflorus is one of the earliest of the autumnal species. The new 

 growths commence in July, immediately after the maturity of the corm and the 

 dying away of the preceding vernal leaves, each producing a solitary flower whilst 

 the leaves are yet dormant. The flowers are developed with remarkable rapidity early 

 in September, and are fugacious, remaining in perfection only three or four days- 



Cultural directions are scarcely required for a plant having the vigour of 

 Crocus nudiflorus. It is one of the largest and most ornamental species of the 

 genus, and one which no garden should be without. In a warm open autumn its 

 clear purple flowers form a most attractive addition to the rockwork or herbaceous 

 border; but as the flowers are liable to be broken down and injured by rain, their 

 full beauty can best be preserved under the protection of a large bell-glass of 

 cold frame. In such a situation they form a mass of rich purple, the brilliancy 

 of which is enhanced by the contrast of the colour of the bright golden stamens 



and stigmata. 



Mr. D'Arcy G. Osborne found in the neighbourhood of Biarritz, in the autumn 

 of 1882, a few individuals of a pure white variety (Fig. 1, d), which Mr. Barr has 

 in cultivation, also a white variety with a purple throat and stripe. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE VI. 



Fig. 1. a, Flowering-state, September, actual size. 

 b, and c, stolon-like shoots one year old. 

 Fig. 1. d, White variety. 



Fig. 2. with matured leaves and capsule, June 14th, actual size. 

 Fig. 3. Stigmata, magnified six-fold. 

 Fig. 4. Stamens and Pistil, magnified two-fold. 

 Fig. 5. Pollen Grain, magnified one hundred and fifty-fold. 

 Fig. 6. Diagrammatic dissection of scape, ovary, and spathes, actual size. 

 Fig. 7. Seed, magnified six-fold. 

 Fig. 8. Section of leaf, magnified twelve-fold. 

 Fig. 9. Corm tunics, magnified two-fold : d, cap : e. main tunic ; /, basal tunic. 



