A HISTORY OF THE SPECIES OF CEOCUS, 



261 



in the kingdom of Naples, and on the calcareous hills near 

 Fundi. 



This very fragrant Crocus is nearly allied to C Imperatonius, 

 and forms a link between the reticulate and parallel-fibred species, 

 and, in fact, should occupy an intermediate position. It is chiefly 

 distinguished from C. Imperatonius by the reticulation of the 

 upper part of its outer foliaceous bulb-coat, its scent, its more 

 simple stigmas, and the invariable absence of the bract, which 

 is tubular in the latter. 



Sp. 10. C. insularis. Gav, B. F. lo, 221. Bot. Mag. 

 3871, p. 2. Bot. Eeg."l843, f. 21. 



C. c. tun. vaginacea. interiore fibris confertis parallelis superne reticulate con- 

 fluentibus infra demum liberis, foliacea exteriore laeviore paullum infra 

 vel supra medium c. affixa, spatha plerumque uniflora, ebracteata. tubo 

 longitudine variabili, limbo f — l^unc. vel infra lilacino sepalis extus 

 plus minus vel lutescentibus vel pallide stramineis plus minus plumeo- 

 3-(rariiis 5- vel 1- vel e-) striatis fauce lsevi pallidiore nunquam luted}, 

 filamentis albis lsevibus infra faucem insertis, antheris aureis stylum 

 coccineum subaequantibus, stigmatibus simplicibus fimbriato-truncatis 

 vel pluries incisis, germine striato superne purpureo. seminibus badiis 

 raphe et chalaza pallidis, foliis angustis lsevibus suberectis, canaliculis 

 enervibus vel uninervibus. Flore verno. Yariat Jibris plus minus 

 reticulate confluentibus, prcesertim florum magnitudbie sepalorum striis et 

 colore exteriore, stigniatibusque fere integris vel pluries incisis suberectis 

 vel reflexo-patulis, et seminum aspectu et magnitudine. 



The following are varieties of this plant : — 



1. Major : C. Corsicus, Vanucci, Tabl. Top. Bast., 1S38 ; limbo sesquiun- 

 ciali. 



2. Medius ; limbo circiter unciali, limbo interdum valde elongato. 



3. 3Iinimus: C. minimus; Decaud. limbo f unc. Vidi etiam specimen 

 magis pusillum limbo vix semunciali prope Ajaccio lectum. 



•1. Geminijlorus ; tubo fortiori, involucro geminilioro, spatha interdum 

 sed raro lorate bracteata. 



Found on the hills of Corsica, especially in the X.E. of the 

 island, growing upon talcose schist. It also occurs in Sardinia 

 and Capraria. 



It is nearly akin to C. suaveolens of Italy ; but although so 

 variable in the size and colouring of the flower, and especially of 

 the sepals, or three outer segments, that two can scarcely be 

 found exactly similar, and the seed of almost every variety has 

 some difference of size, sljape, and aspect, it has never either the 

 fragrance or the orange marks in the throat which are invariable 

 in that species. It bears seed freely, but each root produces 

 usually only one flower and only one shoot, and it therefore 

 rarely produces an orTset. This plant, and the two preceding 

 species, are pleasing plants, when forced early in the spring and 

 placed upon the table, for the flowers once expanded in the room 



