CROCUS CREWEL 



In the Herbarium at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, there is a specimen col- 

 lected by Orphanides on Mount Hymettus near Athens; and Monsieur Boissier's 

 Herbarium contains one from Mount Elmalu in Lycia. I received, in 1883, some 

 Crocus corms collected by Mr. C. C. Lacaita on April the 12th, from a' table- 

 land at a height of three thousand feet between Ajanni (Hajios Joannis) and Mount 

 Malevo (ancient Parnon) in Laconia, which have since flowered with me, and ap- 

 pear undistinguishable from the Syra plant. These localities range between 36* 

 and 3 8° north latitude, and from 22 to 30 east longitude, at about the centre of 

 the area of distribution of Croats biflorus. 



I do not think that the chocolate colouring of the anthers should be too strongly 

 relied on as a specific distinctive character. Since the discovery and description 

 of C. Crewei, a somewhat similar variation has been observed in C. hyemalis, the 

 anthers of which are not unfrequently of a chocolate colour; and I have also noticed 

 a tendency in this direction in the anthers of C. asturicus, C. chrysanthus, and C. 

 biflorus. 



Crocus Crewei flowers in January and February. It is not nearly so robust 

 in habit as C. biflorus. 



KEFEBENCES TO PLATE LX. 



Fig. 1. Flowering-state, February 24th, actual size, flowered at Benthall from corms collected in the 



Island of Syra, by Mr. Elwes. 

 Fig. 2. With matured leaves, April 16th, actual size. 



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

 Fig. i. Outer surface of inner segment, magnified two-fold. 

 Fig. 5. Outer surface of outer segment, magnified two-fold. 

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

 Fig. 7. Pollen Grain, magnified one hundred and fifty-fold. 

 Fig. 8. Section of leaf, magnified six-fold. 

 Fig. <). Conn tunics, magnified two-fold: a, cap; b, main tunic; c, basal tunic. 



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