CROCUS SUSIANUS. 20 , 



its occurrence in Bithynia and about Constantinople; it has also been recorded from 

 the Caucasus. 



It is nearly allied to C. ancyrensis; but the latter species is invariably self- 

 coloured orange; the segments are never reflexed as in C. susiantis, a character 

 which suggested the name of revoluius to Haworth; and the two species occupy 

 distant and distinct geographical districts. 



C. susianus is one of the earliest vernal species, the flowers expanding in February. 

 It has long been familiar to cultivators under the name of The Cloth of Gold Crocus, 

 and was one of the first of the few species introduced at an early period to Dutch 

 and English gardens. 



In Gerard's Herbal, published in 1597, figs. 10 and 11 appear to represent 

 this species. In the first edition (161 1) of J. Th. de Bry's Florilegium Novum., as 

 well as the edition of 1641, the plate of Crocuses includes two orange species, one 

 o{ which appears to be C. susianus. Plate V, of Emanuel Sweert's Florilegium, 

 published in 16 12, also includes it; and many succeeding writers refer to it. Thus 

 we may conclude that it has been in cultivation nearly three hundred years, although 

 there is no record of the date of its original introduction. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE XXXVI. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state, February 26th, actual size. 



Fig. 2. Outer surface of inner segment, actual size. 



Fig. 3. Outer surface of outer segment, actual size. 



Fig. 4. Inner surface of segment, actual size. 



Fig. 5. With matured leaves and capsule, actual size. 



Fig. 6. Diagrammatic dissection of scape, ovary, and spathes, actual size. 



Fig. 7. Stamens and Pistil, magnified two-fold. 



Fig. 8. Pollen Grain, magnified one hundred and fifty-fold. 



Fig. 9. Stigmata, magnified six-fold. 



Fig. 10. Seed, magnified six-fold. 



Fig. 11. Section of leaf, magnified twelve-fold. 



Fig. 12. Corm tunics, magnified two-fold: a, main tunic; b, basal tunic. 



2 D 



