L38 



On the Cultivation of Crocuses. 



extus tinctura flavedinis, et purpureo elegantissime plu- 

 moso striata?. Filamenta antheraque erectae, luteae. Stylus 

 percroceus. Stigmata erosa, etiam percrocea, antheras vix 

 superantia. 



Obs. 1. When the sun shines strong upon the flowers of this 

 species, they exhale a. very slight, and not unpleasant 

 odour : but all other Crocuses, fragrans alone excepted, 

 possess an unpleasant scent. 



Obs. 2. In describing the leaves of Crocuses as being erect, or 

 not ; or as being longer, or shorter than the flowers ; it is 

 merely meant that they are so, at the time their earliest 

 flowers are in perfection. Afterwards they become much 

 elongated and recurved. 



Indeed the flowers of all bulbs, whether vernal or au- 

 tumnal; and whether accompanied by leaves or not ; may 

 be fairly considered as preceding not succeeding, that is, 

 following, the leaves ; as is usually understood. 



This is more especially manifest in the naked flowering 

 kinds, such as Colchicums ; whose flowers are annually pro- 

 duced, not very long after the periodical quiescence of the 

 bulbs ; by the earliest efforts of the new vegetation. 



** Autumnales, floribus autumnalibus. 

 Audiflo- 11. Crocus, (The naked-flowered) floribus ante folia. 

 rus. Crocus nudiflorus. Eng. Bot. tab. 491 

 Habitat in Anglia, juxta Nottingham. 

 Floret Octobri. 



Serotinus. 12. Crocus, (The late autumnal) foliosus tempore florendi, 

 stigmatibus erectis. 

 Crocus serotinus. Salisb. Farad. Lond. tab. 30. 



