CROCUS BIFLORUS. 



Nauplia in the Morea, and from the Balkans. A small striped variety, and var 

 rmbigenus and its albino Pestalozza, occur at Maslack between Constantinople and 

 Therapia; and the same small varieties occur on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus- 

 on the hill of Chamlijah, above Scutari; near Bolu; and on the slightly elevated 

 plain of Erenkioi (Eren Keni) sloping towards the Sea of Marmora. Herbert's type 

 specimens of his variety nubigenus were obtained from the summit of Mount Garo-arus 

 in the Troad, and Mr. Elwes gathered it also on the Ak Dagh in Lycia at an 

 altitude of four thousand feet. Mrs. Danford gathered an annulate species' in the 

 Cihcian Taurus, which appears to be a variety of C. Infloms. 



South Podolia, on the authority of Trautvetter, appears to be the limit of the 

 northern range of this species. It also occurs in the neighbourhood of Odessa, and 

 a large striped variety has been found at Simpheropol in the Crimea. 



The blue or lilac form, var. Adami, both self-coloured and feathered with purple 

 is not unfrequent in Circassia as far east as the Caspian; and has been recorded 

 from Tiflis; Elizabethpol; Duschet (Dushet); mountains about Lake Gokcha (Gotcha) 

 or Sevang; also from the Talish mountains at the Chumma Pass at an elevation of 

 six thousand feet. 



The same form has been found on the mountains of north-west Persia, which 

 appears to be the south-eastern limit of the genus, where perhaps two other species, 

 C. cancellatus and C. spcciosus, also occur. 



The annulate species have so little to distinguish them except their flower- 

 colouring, that it is not easy to decide to which species their white forms or albinos 

 belong; I have specimens of a white annulate Crocus, collected by Dr. Dinger 

 near Adrianople, which may be either an albino of C. chrysantkus or of C. biflorus ■ 

 but I think it is a form of C. chrysantkus, which species is also found there. 



From their hardy habit and the freedom with which they flower, the larger 

 varieties of Crocus biflorus are especially suitable for open air garden culture, and 

 they are readily multiplied from seed. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE LIX. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state of type form from Florence, March 10th, actual size 



Fig. 14. Flowering-state of var. estriatus from Florence, March 10th, actual size. 



Fig. 2. With matured leaves and capsule, June 2nd, actual size 



Fig. 3. Outer surface of outer segment of "Cloth of Silver," or' Scotch Crocus, actual size 



Fig. 4. Outer surface of inner segment of "Cloth of Silver," or Scotch Crocus, 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. '.). Stigmata, magnified six-fold. 



Fig. 10. Basal tunic of Corm, magnified two-fold. 



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



Fig. 12. Capsule, actual size. 



Fig. 13. Seed, magnified six-fold. 



