CROCUS MINIMUS. 131 



Up to the year 1878, C. minimus of De Candolle had been associated with 

 the mountain Crocus of Corsica; I then described the latter as a distinct species 

 under Vanucci's name of corsicus, which had been applied in common to both. 

 Some uncertainty necessarily exists in the published records of habitats, as to 

 which species is referred to. C. minimus seems to be generally distributed along 

 the west of Corsica, as at Calvi; on the coast west of Ajaccio; Portigliolo, on the 

 south side of the bay of Ajaccio; mountains near Ajaccio; at an elevation of from 

 twelve hundred to one thousand nine hundred feet above La Chapelle des Grecs, 

 north-west of Ajaccio; Col St. George, beyond Cauro, fifteen miles from Ajaccio; 

 les lies Sanguinaires, at the entrance of the Gulf of Ajaccio; Bonifacio; the island 

 of Caprera, in the Straits of Bonifacio; and in the following localities in Sardinia: 

 summit of Monte Limbardo (Limbara), fifteen hundred metres, April 15th.; San 

 Pietro; Monte Gennargentu; Decimo and Iglesias. It ranges between 39 20' and 

 42 35' north latitude, and 8° 25' to g° 20' east longitude. In Corsica it generally 

 occurs at low elevations, and seems to be limited in its range to an altitude of 

 about two thousand feet. In Sardinia it reaches higher elevations. The parallel 

 fibre of the corm tunic, the red seed, the pale stigmata over-topping the anthers, 

 and the much smaller and darker flower of C. minimus readily distinguish it from 

 C. corsicus. It commences to flower at low elevations at the end of January, and 

 continues flowering to March and April on the higher ground; in cultivation it 

 rarely flowers in the open air before April. The exceptionally rich colour of the 

 flowers makes it a pretty and attractive little plant. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE XIX. 



size. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state, March and April, actual 



Kg. 1. a, White variety from the Col St. George. 



Fig. 2. Ii, Outer surface of outer segment; c, inner surface of outer segment; d. outer surface 



of inner segment; e, outer surface of outer segment of an unfeathered variety. 



Fig- 3. With matured leaves and capsule, June 9th., actual size. 



Fig. 4. Diagrammatic dissection of scape, ovary, and spathes, actual size. 



Fig. 5. / and g, Stamens and Pistil, magnified two-fold. 



Fig. 6. Pollen Grain, magnified one hundred and fifty-fold. 

 Fig. 7. Stigmata, magnified six-fold. 



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



Fig. 9. Corm tunic, magnified two-fold: h, main tunic; ■!. base of corm. 



Fig. 10. Seed, magnified six-fold. 



