9 8 



THE GENUS CROCUS. 



Seed J- of an inch (0.0038 metre) high, and T \ of an inch (0.0025 metre) broad, dark buff or dun- 

 colour, with prominent caruncle, and slightly projecting raphe and chalaza. 



Crocus asturicus is a common species in the north of Spain, ranging between 

 2° and 7° west longitude, and 40 to 43^° north latitude, from the sea-level to 

 altitudes of from four to five thousand feet. It is extremely abundant in the 

 Asturias, and the Sierra de Guadarrama; flowering in September, October, and 

 into November. I have gathered it on several occasions in the neighbourhood of 

 Gijon, Oveado, near Ferronias, and on the south side of the Puerto de Pajares 

 in the Asturias, also on the mountains above the Escurial, and in other parts 

 of the Sierra de Guadarrama. It also occurs in the neighbourhood of Santander, 

 and probably throughout the north Spanish provinces. Monsieur Boissier's herba- 

 rium contains a Crocus in fruit, collected by E. Borgeau in the neighbourhood of 

 Aranjuez (lat. 40 N.), which appears to be identical with the Asturian plant. 



C. astitricus is essentially variable in its colouring, the flowers ranging from 

 pale lavender to deep purple, and are occasionally pure white, or white with a 

 purple throat; the segments are generally darker towards the base, and veined 

 with a few dark purple lines, without having any distinct feathered markings. 

 C. asturicus, though in general aspect resembling C. nudiflorus, is readily distin- 

 guished by its bearded throat, and the partial development of the leaves at the 

 flowering-time, when they appear just above the sheathing leaves. It is nearly 

 allied to the south Spanish C. serotinus, and C. Salzmanni; but its earlier flowering- 

 time, and very short development of proper-leaves at the flowering-time, readily 

 distinguishes it from these species, in which the leaves appear before the flowers, 

 and reach nearly to the level of the flowers at the flowering-time. Many of the 

 records of habitats of C. nudiflorus in central and northern Spain refer to this 



plant. 



It is a species of easy culture, and produces seed freely; but is not quite so 

 decorative as a garden plant, nor so readily multiplied as C. nudiflorus. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE VII. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state, October 4th, actual size. 



Fig 2 With matured leaves and capsule, July 4th, actual size. 



Fig.' 3. Diagrammatic dissection of scape, ovary, and spathes, and flower of white variety, actual size. 



Fig. 4. 6. and 7. Outer surface of segments, actual size. 



Fig. 5. Inner surface of segment, actual size. 



Fig. 8. a, and b, Stamens and Pistil, magnified two-fold. 



Fig. 9. Stigmata, magnified six-fold. 



Fig. 10. Pollen Grain, magnified one hundred and fifty-fold. 



Fig. 11. c, and d, Leaf sections, magnified six-fold. 



Fig. 12. Corm tunics, magnified two-fold: e, main tunic;/, basal tunic. 



Fig. 13. g, and h, Seed, magnified six-fold. 



