AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



Croons continued. 



In the open. The individual flowers do not last long, but 



there is a succession which extends the season over a 



considerable period. The stronger-growing sorts succeed 



well in water if treated like Hyacinths. 



C. alatavlcns (Alatavian). JL white, small, with a yellow glabrous 

 throat, and without a basal spathe ; outer surface of the three outer 

 segments obscurely feathered and freckled with purple. February. 

 I. 1ft. long at maturity, Ain. broad, slightly ciliated at margins 

 of keel and blade. Ala Tau Mountains, 18ft. There is a white- 

 flowered variety, in which the outsides of the outer segments are 

 coated with pale buff. 



C. aurens (golden).* JL bright orange. Spring. I. linear ; sheaths 

 wide. Conn, coat membranous, with vertical, narrow, fibroid 

 divisions. South-east Europe. This " was one of the first species 

 introduced to cultivation, and is the parent of oar yellow garden, 

 or ' Dutch Yellow,' Crocus, and a number of old horticultural 

 varieties lacUut, tulphureut, sulphitreiu pallidut, rulpkureut 

 ttriatut, <fcc. the history of which is unknown ; they are not 

 known to occur in a wild state, and all are sterile. SY>S. 

 C. lagenaeflorut, C. nwetiaeut, ic. 



C. Mflorns (two-flowered).* JL, segments of perianth varying from 

 white to a pale lavender ; outer surface of the outer segments 

 distinctly feathered with purple markings ; yellow within. Spring. 

 1. short, erect, narrow, with distinct white midrib. This species 

 has a wider range than any other (extending from Tuscany into 

 Georgia), and none exhibits greater variation in the size and 

 colouring of the flowers. (B. M. 845.) C. Adami (B. M. 3868), 

 C. ettriatut, C. minimtu (B. M. 2991), C. nubigenut, and C. Wtldeni 

 (B. M. 6211), among many others, are forms of this species. 



Crocus 



ntinued. 



ones and the end of the middle one are feathered with short 

 lines of the same colour." Very early spring. L preceding the 

 flowers, linear, thick, recurved, with a distinct white line in the 

 middle, sheathed for 2in. or Sin. at base. A. Sin. to 6in. Italy. 

 (B. B. 1993.) 



FIG. 548. CROCUS IRIDIFLORUS. 



C. Irldlflorn* (Iris-flovrered).* JL, perianth throat unbearded ; 

 outer segments clear, rich purple, much larger than the inner 

 ones, which are pale lilac ; anthers orange, shorter than the 

 n^jP-*- ; filaments lilac ; stigmata purple, multifid. September 

 and October. L, proper ones glabrous, |in. wide, wider than in 

 any other strains ; sheathing leaves falling short of proper spathe; 

 proper spathe monophyllous, foliaceous. Conn small, oblate ; 

 tunic nbro-membranous, tending to a reticulated structure. 

 Banat and Transylvania. Srx. C. byzantinut. See Fig. 548. 

 (B. M. 614L) 



C. lagenflorus (bottle-flowered). A synonym of C. avreiu, 



C. nwesiaous (Maesian). A synonym of C. aureut. 



C. multifidns (much-cut). A sjroonym of C. nudijtonu. 



Fio. 547. CROCUS BORTT. 



C Boryl (Beryls).* JL creamy- white ; throat orange-yellow ; 

 " purple lines. 



''market exten(aUrwith~duTf purple "lines. ' Late 

 autu^^Tna^wTL^hTroduced l. littJ before the flowers. 

 A. Sin. to 4in. Greek Isles. See Fig. 547. (B. B. 1847, 16.) 

 C. Ijyzantinns (Byzantine). A synonym of C. iridijlorut. 

 C. Cartwrightianns (CartwrighfsX A miniature form of 



C. sativus. SYN. C. grams. 



C. chryaantfcujB (golden-flowered). JL rich orange-yellow; 

 rian&segments obovate. Very early spring. South-eastern 

 n^Sr there are four varieties of this species: oflndu., 



There are four varietes, of t 

 ccervUscen*,fit#-tinctus, and J -\ueo4ineatut. 



C. flmbrlatus (fimbriated). A synonym of C. nudiflarvt. 



C. fragrans (fragrant). A synonym of C. twmeotor. 



C. grsecns (Greek). A synonym of C. Carttmghtiantu. 



C. Imperati (Imperato's).* JL of a lilac-pnrple on the MfM^C^ 

 scented- "external divisions l}m. long and }in. broad, mare< 

 wftt^re* lo^tudinal dark purple lines, of which the two outer 



FIG. 549. CROCUS KODIFLORCS. 



X nudiflorns (naked-flowered).' JL pale brightpnrple or violet ; 

 tube Sin to lOin. long, and segments 14m. to 2m. long ; throat 

 not hairy. Autumn. L abouT iin. broad, appearing in spring. 

 The conns produce long stolon-like shoots, which form inde- 

 pendent conns at the death of the parent South-west Europe ; 

 naturalised in meadows about Nottingham and elsewhere in 



C. vnUtiJidut, and C. pyrenau*. 



naturalised in meadows 



England. STNS. a Jtmbriatut, 



SeVFig.549. (Sy. En. B. 1500.) 

 C. Orplianldls (Orphanides^. A synonym of C. Toum^/brtu. 

 C. pnlcheUM (beautiful). JL pale bluish-pearl colour, with 



darker veins, large ; throat orange-yellow. Autumn. I Am. 



broad, smooth, with a prominent narrow keeL A. 4m. to Sin. 



Shores of the Bosphorus, Ac. (B. B. 30, 3.) 

 C. pyrenaons (Pyrenean). A synonym of C. nudijtorvt. 

 C. rettculJitna (netted). JL varying from white to deep lilac, the 



outer face of the outer segments feathered with purple ; throat 



