l6o THE GENUS CROCUS. 



Stamens one inch (0.025 metre) high, shorter than the pistil. Anthers orange, about twice the length 



of the white or cream-coloured, glabrous Filament. Pollen Grains t l of an inch (0.00008 metre) 



in diameter, papillose, orange. 

 Pistil exceeding the stamens, an inch and a quarter (0.032 metre) to an inch and a half (0.038 metre) 



hio-h, the Style dividing at a little below the level of the summit of the anthers, and produced 



into 'a spreading mass of bright scarlet capillary stigmata. 

 Scape three-quarters of an inch (0.019 metre) high at the flowering-time, produced to a length of four 



or five inches (o. 100— 0.125 metre) at the maturity of the capsule. 

 Capsule about an inch (0.025 metre) high and one-third of an inch (0.0084 metre) broad, bearing at 



its apex an awn-like prolongation of the remains of the proper spathe and tube. 

 Seed ovoid, one-tenth of an inch (0.0025 metre) broad and three-twentieths of an inch (0.0038 metre) 



high, rich orange-buff, with prominent raphe and caruncle of the same colour as the body of the 



seed. 



Croats medius is limited to a narrow belt of the Riviera, extending from lon- 

 gitude 7° 30' east, in the neighbourhood of Mentone, to longitude io° o' east, in the 

 neighbourhood of Spezzia; ranging in latitude from 43 45' north, to 44° 27' north. 

 It is for the most part found on the spurs of the mountains up to an elevation of 

 about three thousand feet and nowhere occurs at any great distance from the coast. 

 In the neighbourhood of Mentone it has been found in the holly wood on the north- 

 east side of the ridge beyond the cemetery and chapel of St. Lazarus, Gorbio; 

 between Gorbio and Roccabruna; and in the holly forest above Roccabruna west 

 of Mentone; on the east side of Aggel; and on the lower and eastern slopes of 

 Mount Siricocca; also near Tenda, on Monte Bignone above St. Remo; near 

 Laigueglia, Doleedo, and Savona; and at Voltri, between Savona and Genoa. East 

 of Genoa it has been recorded from Bracco; Oldenico and Varese (Varose), north- 

 west of Spezzia; but I know of no record of its occurrence south of Spezzia. 



Crocus medius flowers in October and November, the leaves, as in several other 

 autumnal species, remaining dormant till the spring; they are exceptionally wide 

 and in the wild state but two, or at most three, to a corm are produced. The 

 finely divided, bright scarlet, spreading stigma is an object of remarkable beauty, 

 and readily distinguishes it from any other autumnal species. It is a plant of robust 

 habit, and easy of cultivation. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE XXVII. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state, October 15th, actual size. 



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



Fig. i. With matured leaves and capsule, July 19th, actual size. 



Fig. 3. Diagrammatic dissection of scape, ovary, and spathes, actual size. 



Fig. 4. Stamens and Pistil, magnified two-fold. 



Fig. 5. Pollen Grain, magnified one hundred and fifty-fold. 



Fig. 6. Stigma, magnified six-fold. 



Fig. 7. Section of leaf, magnified six-fold. 



Fig. 8. Corm tunics, magnified two-fold: b, cap; c, main tunic; d, basal tunic. 



Fig. 9. Seed, magnified six-fold. 



