56b. CROCUS BILIOTTIL 



Section: Involucrati; parallelo-fibrosi (Herbert): Odontostigma; vernal (Baker J, 



Crocus Biliottii, new species, G. Maw, Synops. Genus Crocus in Gard. Chron., new ser., vol. xvi, p. lect- 

 in The Garden, vol. xxi, num. 532, p. 67; and Hist. Crocus in journ. Linn. Soc, Bot., vol. xix, p.' 

 572; Boiss., Fl. Orient., vol. v, part i, p. 99. 



Cormus \-\ poll. (0.0084—0.013 metr.) latus. Tunica membranacea, basi in fibris angustis fissa; tunica 

 basalis fibris brevibus planis radiatis confecta, sine annulis. Vaginas quam spatha breviores. Folia 

 in cormo tria, circiter x ~ poll. (0.0021 metr.) lata, glabra, canaliculis lateralibus costatis, ad' faucem 

 in florationem extensa. Spatha basalis ovarium multo superans, et ferme spatha vera aequalis. 

 Spatha vera monophylla. Perianthium: segmenta 1 poll. (0.025 metr.) longa, \ poll. (0.013 metr.) 

 lata, splendide purpurea macula obscuriore apud faucem. Antherse flavaa, filamenta duplicate's 

 et quam stigmata parum breviores. Stylus supra bases antherarum fissus in stigmatibus sub-inteo-ris 

 aurantiacis fimbriatulis. 



Corm from a third of an inch to half an inch (0.0084-0.013 metre) broad, and half an inch (0.013 

 metre) high. Tunic membranous, splitting up into narrow fibroid divisions at the base; the Cap 

 produced upwards into a fibro-membranous tuft about a third of an inch (0.0084 metre) high. 

 Basal Tunic (without annuli) of short radiating fibres. 



Sheathing Leaves three or four, from half an inch to three inches (0.01 5— 0.07s metre) in length falling 

 short of the proper spathe. ° 



Proper Leaves about three, reaching to the level of the proper spathe at the flowering-time and pro- 

 duced at maturity to a length of ten inches (0.250 metre), one-eighth of an inch (0.0032 metre) 

 broad, glabrous; the keel one-fifth the width of the blade; the lateral channels wide and open 

 containing two or three prominent ridges. 



Proper Spa/he diphyllous or occasionally monophyllous, from an inch and a half to two inches (0.038— 

 0.050 metre) long, sometimes springing from the scape between the ovary and the corm. 



Perianth: Tube about three inches (0.075 metre) long from the ovary to the throat. Throat glabrous 

 Segments about an inch (0.025 metre) long, and a third of an inch (0.0084 metre) broad, rich 

 purple with a darker blotch at the base; the outer and inner segments similarly coloured. 



Stamens about five-eighths of an inch (0.016 metre) high; the Anthers orange, about twice the length 

 of the white or pale cream-coloured Filament. Pollen Grain ^ of an inch (0.00007 metre) in 

 diameter, orange, sculptured with sinuous channels. 



