2 S+ THE GENUS CROCUS. 



Proper Spatkt diphyllous, exceeding the sheathing leaves, from an inch and a half to two inches (0.038 



— 0.050 metre) in length, the outer spathe tubular, the inner ligulate. 

 Perianth: Tube two inches in length (0.050 metre) from the ovary to the throat. Throat glabrous. Segments 



about an inch (0.025 metre) long, and from one-quarter to one-third of an inch (0.0063—0.0084 



metre) broad, orange, the outer surface of the outer segments occasionally feathered with bronze 



markings. 

 Stamens from half an inch to three-quarters of an inch (0.013— 0.019 metre) high; the yellow or orange 



Anthers shorter than the papillose orange Filament. Pollen Grain smaller than in any other species, 



yi^ of an inch (0.00003 metre) in diameter, pale yellow. 

 Pistil about three-quarters of an inch (0.019 metre) in height from the throat, exceeding the stamens; 



the Style dividing at the level of the base of the anthers, and produced into a spreading bunch 



of orange or scarlet capillary stigmata. 

 Scape about two inches (0.050 metre) in height at the flowering-time. 

 Capsule and Seed unknown. 



Crocus vitellinus is a common species in northern Palestine, Syria, and the 

 Cilician Taurus, ranging between 33!° and 37° north latitude, and between 35!° and 

 37 east longitude. It has been recorded from the following localities: near Saida, 

 rocks near Jamalu; near Beyrout; the Lebanon; a deir el Kamar (Jisv el Kamar); 

 Nebo Yunas, south Syria; calcareous pastures near Aleppo, and near Skanderun 

 (Iskanderun, Alexandretta). It was gathered in the Taurus by Aucher-Eloy in 1837, 

 and also by Mrs. Danford, on the Giour Dagh, Taurus. C. vitellinus flowers from 

 the end of November into February, and varies with self-coloured orange flowers, 

 (the form prevalent about Beyrout,) and flowers with the outside of the outer seg- 

 ments marked with bronze featherings, (the variety found at Aleppo and in the 

 Taurus). The Beyrout plant has flowers occasionally feathered with bronze. The 

 bronzed feathering of Crocus syriacus, (Boiss. and Gaill.) and of C. graveolens (Boiss.), 

 is the only character that seems to separate them from C. vitellinus; and as nearly 

 all the orange flowered Crocuses vary with bronze markings, I am unable to 

 acknowledge the specific distinction on the mere ground of flower-colouring. 



C. vitellinus flowers freely in cultivation; but is best grown to advantage under 

 the shelter of a cold frame. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE L. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state, February 28th, actual size. 



Fig. 2. With matured leaves, July 21st. 



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



Figs. 4 & 5. Stamens and Pistil, magnified two-fold. 



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



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



Fig. 8. Conn tunic, magnified two-fold: a, cap; b, main tunic. 



