THE CROCUSES. 141 



Nudifloms : an autumn-flowering purple species 

 opening when bare of leaves. There is no more showy 

 Crocus than this, and it is a free grower. 



Pulchellus : a charming autumn bloomer with 

 lavender-coloured flowers. 



Sativus : this is not one of the most beautiful of 

 Crocuses, but it is bright, and has an economic interest, 

 inasmuch as it is the flower from which the saffron 

 of commerce is obtained. The saffron is got from the 

 orange style. It likes warm, sandy soil. Where it is 

 not suited by soil it is a shy bloomer. There are 

 several forms of it, of which Elwesii and Pallasii 

 may be quoted as giving different colours from and 

 flowering more freely than the type. 



Sieberi : an exquisite little spring bloomer, with 

 lilac flowers. It is one of the first to bloom, and one 

 of the prettiest. It Hkes a warm spot and sandy 

 soil. 



Speciosus : this is a brilliant autumn bloomer, with 

 purpHsh lilac flowers. It is generally one of the 

 first to flower. There is a good form of it called 

 Aitchisoni. 



Vernus : a spring bloomer, ranging in colour from 

 white to purple. It is the parent of some of the Dutch 

 Crocuses, and is represented by many forms. 



Versicolor : a spring bloomer, white striped with 

 purple ; often grown under the name of Cloth of 

 Silver, although biflorus is also known by that name. 

 There are several forms of versicolor. 



This list of species may seem rather long, but in 

 reality it is only short. Another dozen could easily 



