108 THE CROCUS. 



flowers are yellow inside, with dark lines on the outer part 

 of the petals : they expand early in spring, after the Scotch 

 crocus, and before the larger-flowered varieties. It is a 

 native of Southern Europe. 



G. luteus. — This is the well-known large yellow crocus, 

 so effective from its brilliant color on sunny days in spring. 

 It is a native of the Levant, but has been in cultivation 

 since 1620. 



In England, this species, as indeed all yellow crocus, is 

 attacked by sparrows, who, in a pure spirit of mischief, tear 

 the flowers to pieces, and spoil the beauty of the bed. In 

 this country, however, we experience little trouble from 

 this cause. There are many other species, among which 

 we may mention C. minimus, reticulatus, lagenceflorus, 

 sulphureus, suavolens, ImperaU,, and the autumn-flowering 

 species, sativus, or saffron crocus, producing the saffi'on of 

 commerce, which is the stigma of the flower ; G. serotinus, 

 speciosus, and autumnalis, which differ from the spring- 

 blooming species in the season of flowering, and require the 

 same g-eneral culture. 



