CROCUS ANCFRENS1S. 207 



Few botanists would now associate it with C. reticulatus, and although it approaches 

 C. susianus nearer than any other Crocus, it cannot be placed with that species. 

 The following characters readily distinguish it: — the blunt obovate segments are 

 invariably self-coloured; the stigmata, which in C. siisia/ttis diverge near the level 

 of the throat, in C. ancyrensis separate much higher up; and the leaves, which are 

 ciliated in C. stisianus, are glabrous in this species. C. ancyrensis appears to be 

 abundant throughout a large district in central Asia Minor. I am indebted to the 

 late Mr. Gavan Gatheral, H.B.M. Vice-Consul at Angora, for a liberal supply of 

 the corms. The Rev. A. W. Hubbard, of the American Mission at Sivas, has on 

 several occasions sent me roots from that district, where he tells me the corms are 

 collected for food. Mrs. Danford collected it on the Ackyr Dagh, near Marash, 

 on February 28th, 1879, ar >d again in March, 1879, on Mount Argreus, near 

 Kaisarieh. There are also specimens in the Herbarium at the Jardin des Plantes, 

 Paris, collected by Monsieur P. E. Botta in Asia Minor, prh de la neige, but no 

 locality is given. 



It ranges in latitude from 37° 30' to 40 north, and in longitude from 32" 45' 

 to 37° east; probably even beyond these limits. I am not certain whether it extends 

 into Western Bithynia; not having observed it in any of the localities I have 

 visited in that district. Baker refers to a specimen in the Kew collection, gathered 

 by Lady Liston near Constantinople, which may be this species. 



It flowers freely with me at Benthall but I have not yet succeeded in obtaining 

 seed. It is an attractive species, but is seen to best advantage under the protection 

 of a cold frame. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE XXXVIII. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state, February 7th, actual size. 



Fig. 2. With matured leaves, April 28th, actual size. 



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



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



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



Fig. 6. Stigmata, magnified six-fold. 



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



Fig. 8. Corm tunics, magnified two-fold: a, cap; i, main tunic; <■ and tl, basal tunics. 



