CROCUS GAILLARDOTII. 213 



from Damascus. Having had both C. hyemalis and C. Gaillardotii in cultivation, I 

 think there is no question that the latter is entitled to separate specific rank. 



The finely reticulated conn tunic of C. Gaillardotii differs notably from that of 

 C. hyemalis, which consists of a delicate membrane without intermixture of fibres. 

 The leaves of C. hyemalis are more than twice the width of those of C. Gaillardotii, 

 and the flowers more than twice the size. The flowers of C. Gaillardotii are either 

 externally suffused with lilac, or pure white. 



Crocus Gaillardotii is an abundant plant in northern Palestine and Syria, between 

 Sol and 36^ degrees north latitude, and 35^ and 37 degrees east longitude. It 

 has been recorded from Djebel Nahor (Gebel Nahas), one hour N.W. of Aleppo; 

 Djebjennine and Scanderun (Iskanderun) or Alexandretta, Syria; near Sahara, 

 Anti-Libanus; between Damascus and Dimar; on the plateau separating Dimes 

 (Dimas) from Barrada (Barada); Maarra, Maraba, mountains above Beyrout; above 

 Saida (Sidon), and the Valley of Ouadi el Hariri. Flowering in January. It is so 

 common in the neighbourhood of Damascus that the corms are sold as food in the 

 markets, together with the corms of C. edulis (the blue form of C. cancellatus), under 

 the name of Hursinein, at a price equivalent to about twopence-halfpenny an im- 

 perial pint. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE XL. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state. January, actual size. 



Fig. 2. With matured leaves, May, actual size. 



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



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



Fig. 5. Pistil magnified six-fold. 



Fig. 6. Section of leaf, magnified twelve-fold. 



Fig. 7. Corm tunics magnified two-fold: a, cap: /,. mam tunic; c, basal tunic. 



