7. CROCUS ASTURICUS. 



Section: Involucrati; parallelo-fibrosi f Herbert): Schizostigma; autumnal (Baker). 



Crocus asturicus, Herbert, Hist. Crocus sp. 8. p. 10, from Journ. Hort. Soc. Lond., vol. ii, p. 255; and in 



Bot. Mag. sub tab. 3998; G. Maw in Gard. Chron. 1879, p. 234; Synops. Genus Crocus in Gard. 



Chron. new series, vol. xvi, p. 234; Hist. Crocus in Journ. Linn. Soc, Bot., vol. xix, p. 372; and 



in The Garden, vol. xxi, No. 532, p. 66. 

 Crocus nudiflorus, var. asturicus, Baker, Rev. Sp. Crocus in Gard. Chron. 1873, p. 1633; List of Crocuses 



in Journ. R. Hort. Soc, Lond., new ser., vol. iv, 1877; and Syst. Iridac. in Journ. Linn. Soc, Bot., 



vol. xvi, p. 85. 



Cormus circiter f poll. (0.019 metr.) latus atque brevior; tunica fibris parallelis cum membrana intermixes 

 composita. Vaginae quam spathae breviores. Spatha monophylla, apice foliacea. Folia glabra 

 cum floribus vix visa, in vere ad 9 poll (0.225 metr.), longa sunt. Perianthium: faux barbata; 

 segmenta purpurea vel alba ad basin lineis obscurioribus signata. Anthers splendide flavas rarius 

 brunnese, stigmatibus subaequantes. Filamenta alba. Stylus ad apices antherarum fissus. Stigmata 

 brevia aurantiaca ramulosa congesta. Semina fusco-ochrea. 



Corm from two-thirds of an inch (0.017 metre) to seven-eighths of an inch (0.022 metre) broad, and 

 from half an inch (0.013 metre) to two-thirds of an inch (0.017 metre) high. Tunic of flat 

 parallel fibre intermixed with membrane; the Cap produced into a few short points. The Basal 

 Tunic of short radiating fibres. 



Sheathing Leaves four or five, from half an inch (0.013 metre) to two and a half inches (0.063 metre) 

 in length, shorter than the proper spathe, membranous, enclosing one or more scapes. 



Proper Leaves four or five, a little longer than the sheathing leaves at the flowering-time, and produced 

 in the spring to about a foot (0.300 metre) in length, three-sixteenths of an inch (0.005 metre) 

 broad, glabrous, the keel about half the width of the blade, the lateral channels broad and open, 

 with a glaucous surface. 



Basal Spathe about an inch and a half (0.038 metre) in height, tubular. Proper Spathe monophyllous, 

 three inches (0.075 metre) in height, exceeding the sheathing leaves, foliaceous at the extremity. 



Perianth: Tube from four to five inches (0.100 — 0.125 metre) long from the ovary to the throat. Throat 

 bearded, violet. Segments from an inch and a half (0.038 metre) to an inch and three-quarters 

 (0.044 metre) in length, and from half an inch (0.013 metre) to five-eighths of an inch (0.016 

 metre) broad, violet or purple, with a few darker lines towards the base, very variable in colour, 

 rarely white. 



Stamens about seven-eighths of an inch (0.022 metre) high, a little shorter than the pistil. Anthers 

 half an inch (0.013 metre) in length, a little longer than the white or pale yellow Filament, orange 

 in colour, occasionally chocolate. Pollen Grains -^-^ of an inch (0.00007 metre) in diameter, 

 papillose, bright orange. 



Pistil somewhat exceeding stamens, from an inch (0.025 metre) to an inch and a quarter (0.032 metre) 

 high, the Style dividing a little below the summit of the anthers, and produced into a compact 

 mass of branching orange stigmata. 



Scape barely an inch (0.025 metre) high at the flowering-time, produced to a height of from five to six 

 inches (0.125 — 0.150 metre) at the maturity of the capsule. 



Capsule about an inch (0.025 metre) in length, by a third of an inch (0.0084 metre) broad. 



O 



