CROCUS CHRfSANTHUS. 305 



a pate sulphur-coloured variety also occurs. Between all these varieties which grow 

 intermixed, a series of intermediate gradations occur; and it is impossible to a^void 

 the conclusion that they are all forms of the same species, though I know of no 

 other instance of an orange species, varying with lilac flowers. It is possible that 

 the lilac and tinted forms may be hybrids between C. chrysanthus and C. aertus, 

 which grow intermixed on Mount Olympus; but in the entire absence of any other 

 known garden or wild hybrids I hesitate to arrive at this conclusion. 



Crocus chrysanthus ranges in altitude from near the sea level up to a height of 

 four thousand or five thousand feet; and is a native of Western Asia Minor, the north 

 of Greece, and European Turkey, extending as far north as the Dobrudscha, be- 

 tween latitude 3 8° and 45 north, and longitude 22\° and 30 east. In Asia Minor it 

 occurs abundantly on Mount Olympus, above Broussa, at altitudes of between three 

 thousand to four thousand feet: between Broussa and Gemlik, I found it at an 

 altitude of between three hundred to four hundred feet. It was found by Mr. 

 Elwes on the Boz Dagh, east of Smyrna; and I have gathered it abundantly at 

 altitudes of from two thousand five hundred to three thousand five hundred feet on 

 the Yamanlar Dagh, the Taktali Dagh, and the Nymph Dagh, mountains in the 

 neighbourhood of Smyrna. Chaubard found it on the Island of Taso (Thasos) 

 in the Greek Archipelago. In Greece, it occurs on Mount Parnassus, and in 

 pine Forests near the region of snow at Leucocastron above Livadi*. In 

 European Turkey it occurs near Adrianople; between Philippopolis and Carlova; 

 and^ above the village of Carlova on the Despoto Dagh. Its most northern recorded 

 habitat is the neighbourhood of Babadagh in the Dobrudscha. 



Crocus chrysanthus is a hardy and free-flowering species in cultivation, pro- 

 ducing its flowers as early as February in the open border. In its native habitats 

 its flowering-time varies from January to April, according to its range of altitude. 



REFERENCES TO PLATE LXI1 



Fig. 1. a, b. Flowering-state, March 6th, actual size. 



Fig. 1. c. Outer surface of outer segment of var. fusco-tinctus, actual size 



Fig. 1. d. Variety alhidus, actual size. 



Fig. 1. e, f. Variety ccerukcens, actual size. 



Fig. 2. With matured leaves and capsules, May 28th, actual size. 



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



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



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



Fig. (.;. Stigmata, magnified six-fold. 



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



Fig. 8. Conn tunics, magnified two-fold: i, main tunic; j, basal tunic 



Fig, 9. /. /. ,u. Seeds, magnified six-fold. 



••' ? Mount Lcvidi in the Morea. 



2 R 



