32 CRO'CUS SATI'VUS EXAMINED. 



Veroni'ca. This sort of calyx, which is really a 

 Bractea, is very different from those I have already 

 described to you : it is called a Spatha or Sheath, 

 and is composed of one leaf rising from the stem : 

 you see it is formed of a thin skinny substance, not 

 green, like the cups of most other flowers, but 

 whitish, tinged with brown. " The blossom is of 

 * one petal. Tube of the blossom very long : 

 " border with six divisions, standing upright;" 

 not open and spreading, like that of Veroni'ca. 

 " Segments egg-shaped, pointed, and all of the 

 *' same size. Stamens three ; filaments shaped like 

 " an awl, shorter than the blossom ; anthers like 

 " the head of an arrow. The germen, which is 

 " placed below the blossom and concealed in the 

 " sheath, is roundish ; the style thread-shaped ; 

 " and the summits, three in number, are notched, 

 " like the teeth of a saw, and a little twisted." 



This is the generic character of Cro'cus. Our 

 species is the ver'nus, or Spring Crocus; which 

 is distinguished by the summits being of a pale 

 colour, not very long, and standing up straight 

 within the flowers. 



There are two other native species, sati'vus and 

 nudiflo'rus: but the last is very rare. In the 

 Cro'cus sati'vus, or Saffron, the tube of the blossom 

 is very long; and the summit of the pistil is divided 

 into three long strap- shaped segments, which are 

 of a full orange colour, and hang out of the 



