22. CROCUS ETRUSCUS. 



Section: Involucrati ; reticulati {Herbert): Holostigma; vernal {Baker). 



Crocus elruscus, Parlatore, Fl. Ital., vol. iii, p. 228; Baker in Gard. Chron., new ser., 1876, p. 622-3; 

 Syst. Iridac. in Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot., vol. xvi, p. 82: and in Bot. Mag. May, 1878, tab. 6362; 

 G. Maw in The Garden, No. 228, p. 301, and vol. xxi, No. 532, p. 67; in Gard. Chron., new ser., 

 1878, p. 114; and 1879, p. 235; Synops. Genus Crocus in Gard. Chron., new ser., vol. xvi, p. 367; 

 and Hist. Crocus in journ. Linn. Soc, Bot., vol. xix, p. 372. 



C. reliculalus, var. 3, etruscus, Baker, List Crocus, in Journ. R. Hort. Soc. Lond., new ser., vol. iv, 1877. 



Cormus subsphasricus, paullo latior quam altior, \ — f poll. (0.013 — 0-019 metr.) latus; tunicas fibri 

 validi reticulati; tunica basalis discoidea, fibris radiatis acutis. Vaginas quam spatha breviores. 

 Folia glabra, fauci ad florationem asquantia, ft — J poll. (0.0050 — 0.0063 metr.) lata, carinas 

 angustas marginibus ciliatis. Scapi 1 — plures in spatha basali inclusi. Spatha vera monophylla. 

 Perianthium: faux paullo barbata, flava; segmenta \\ poll. (0.038 metr.) longa, \ poll. (0.013 metr.) 

 lata, Iilacina; exteriora extus lactea varie purpureo-signata, rarius concolora. Antheras aurantiacas, 

 quam filamenta glabra aurantiaca circiter duplo longiora. Stylus ad apices antherarum fissus. Stig- 

 mata brevia patentia aurantiaca, subintegra, antheras superantia. Semina globosa, cervina. 



Corm from half an inch (0013 metre) to three-quarters of an inch (0.019 metre) broad, a little broader 

 than high. Tunic of strong reticulated fibre; the Basal Tunic of strong, occasionally branched 

 fibres, radiating from a coriaceous disc. 



Sheathing Leaves three or four, from half an inch (0.013 metre) to three inches (0.075 metre) in length, 

 falling short of the proper spathe, and enclosing one or two scapes. 



Proper Leaves glabrous, three or four, appearing with the flowers, reaching to the level of the throat 

 at the flowering-time, and produced at the maturity of the capsule to a length of eight or nine 

 inches (0.200 — 0.225 metre) one-quarter of an inch (0.0063 metre) broad, surface of blade deeply 

 concave, with reflexed margins; the keel about one-fifth the width of the blade, deeply concave. 



Basal Spathe two inches (0.050 metre) in length enclosing one or two scapes. Proper Spathe mono- 

 phyllous, from two and a half to three inches (0.063 — °-°7S metre) in length, exceeding the 

 sheathing leaves, and reaching to within an inch (0.025 metre) of the throat. 



Perianth: Tube about three, or three and a half inches (0.075 — 0.088 metre) in length from the ovary to 

 the throat. Throat slightly bearded, pale yellow. 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 three- 

 quarters of an inch (0.019 metre) broad, pale bluish lilac; the outer surface of the outer segments 

 cream-colour and variously feathered and striped with purple. 



