CROCUS VERNUS. , S3 



cultivation much larger. Tunic finely reticulated; the Basal Tunic of unbranched radiating fibres, 

 covering the lower half of the corm. 



Sheathing Leaves about four, shorter than the proper spathe, from half an inch (0.013 metre) to three 

 inches (0.075 metre) in length. 



Proper Leaves three or four, appearing with and reaching to the level of the flowers at the flowering- 

 time; produced at the maturity of the capsule to a length of twelve or fourteen inches (0.300—0.350 

 metre), one-third of an inch (0.0084 metre) wide, glabrous, the keel concave, one-fifth the width 

 of the blade, the lateral channels broad and open. 



Basal Spathe about two inches (0.050 metre) long. Proper Spathe monophyllous, three inches (0.075 

 metre) long, reaching to within an inch (0.025 metre) of the throat, foliaceous at the extremity. 



Perianth: Tube about three and a half inches (0.088 metre) in length from the ovary to the throat. 

 Throat bearded, white internally. Segments from half an inch (0.013 metre) to two inches (0.050 

 metre) in length and from one-third of an inch (0.0084 metre) to two-thirds of an inch (0.016 

 metre) broad, very various in colour and markings, self-coloured ranging from pure white to deep 

 purple and variously feathered and striped, the markings of the inner surface differing from those 

 on the outer surface of the segments. 



Stamens about an inch (0.025 metre), high in the type form a little shorter than the pistil, but 

 occasionally much exceeding the pistil. Anthers orange, three-quarters of an inch (0.019 metre) 

 long, and about three times the length of the white, glabrous Filament. Pollen Grains papillose, 

 orange, 3-i-o of an inch (0.00007 metre) in diameter. 



Pistil from three-eighths of an inch (0.010 metre) to an inch and a quarter (0.032 metre) high, slightly 

 exceeding, or falling short of the stamens; the Style dividing below the level of the summit of the 

 anthers and produced into a compact mass of fringed stigmata, which are generally orange, occa- 

 sionally pale cream-colour. 



Scape from an inch (0.025 metre) to an inch and a half (0.038 metre) in length at the flowering-time, 

 produced to a length of three or four inches (0.075—0.100 metre) at the maturity of the capsule. 

 Capsule from three-quarters of an inch (0.019 metre) to an inch (0.025 metre) in height. 



Seed nearly spherical, from one-tenth to one-eighth of an inch (0.0025—0.0032 metre) in diameter, of 

 a dull fawn-colour; the chalaza, raphe and caruncle of the same colour as the body of the seed. 



The geographical distribution of Crocus venues presents some peculiar features. 

 With the exception of C. biflorus and C. sativus, it has a wider range of longitude 

 than any other species, extending from the Central Pyrenees, at the longitude of 

 Greenwich, as far east as the Carpathians, longitude 23 east. Its wide ranging in 

 longitude is accompanied by a range in latitude greater than in any other species, 

 viz: from Sicily, latitude 37 30' north, to the Carpathians, latitude 49 north. Its 

 wide range of latitude is, however, confined to the eastern end of the area of dis- 

 tribution ; and the district it occupies appears when mapped out as a wedge-shaped 

 space, increasing in width to its eastern limits. 



Gavarnie in the Pyrenees, on the longitude of Greenwich, is the most western 

 point from which it has been recorded; it occurs also on the Spanish side of the 

 Pyrenees in Catalonia, and at Castenaise and The Val d' Arras in Aragon; it also 

 extends for two and a half degrees along the Central and Eastern Pyrenees in the 

 following localities :— the Cirque de Gavarnie; Heas; Capadur, in the Tourmalet; 



x 



