OKIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



XXXII.— -^4 History of the Species of Crocus. By the Hon. 

 and Very Rev. Win. Herbert, F.H.S., Dean of Manchester. 



[The manuscript of this paper had been prepared for the press 

 by the lamented author, and nearly finished a day or two be- 

 fore his death. Having been placed at the disposal of the 

 Society by Dr. Herbert's executors, it is now published with 

 no other changes than such as were required to adapt it to 

 the pages of this Journal. These changes, chiefly consisting 

 of a translation into English of some Latin paragraphs, and 

 of a few trifling alterations in the sequence of paragraphs, 

 have been made by Professor Lindley, whom Dr. Herbert had 

 advised his family to consult in the event of his death.*] 



Five species only of Crocus are generally cultivated in the Dutch 

 gardens and sold at the retail shops in England, viz. the 

 autumn Saffron Crocus, sativus, which is a very shy flowerer ; 

 the vernal C. vernus and versicolor, of both which (especially 

 vernus) a great many seminal varieties have been raised ; C. 

 lagenseflorus luteus, of which the origin is not known, and some- 

 times lagenaeflorus "aureus ; and lastly, C. annulatus, var. biflorus, 

 commonly called the Scotch Crocus, of which the native place is 

 also unknown, though it was probably brought into cultivation 

 first in some Scotch garden. The fine autumnal C. Pyrenaeus 

 (nudiflorus of Smith) and speciosus, the Spanish C. serotinus, 

 and the vernal C. lagenseflorus lacteus or candidus are found 

 sparingly at a few nursery- gardens near London, such as 

 Osborne's, Pamplin's, and Young's at Epsom. The rest of this 

 beautiful genus, which embellishes spring, autumn, and even 

 the depth of winter, are scarcely known, except through late 

 representations in the Botanical Register and Botanical Maga- 

 zine ; and few of them have yet been brought into cultiva- 

 tion. Having taken gre^t pains, not without some expense, in 

 seeking and collecting them, I have been able to describe above 

 forty natural species, besides a great number of natural local 

 varieties, some of which are even considered by other botanists 

 to be species distinct from their nearest kindred. 



* The following are the exact words of the Dean, as inscribed upon the 

 first leaf of his MSS. : — " Crocorum Synopsis, nearly prepared for the press, 

 and to be printed, if I die before it is sent to press, with or without plates 

 from my drawings, as may be found expedient. Consult Dr. Lindley." 



VOL. II. S 



