430 Account and Description of Spring Crocuses, fyc. 



The germen at the time of the flower being produced is 

 situated at a small distance from the bulb, with which it is 

 connected by the scape before mentioned, and it is surmounted 

 by an elongated slender tube, which encloses the style ; the 

 stamens are attached to the mouth of the tube, which is en- 

 larged towards the top. The mouth of the tube is hairy in 

 C. vermis ; it is smooth in the other species here described. 

 The tube is divided at its top into six segments or petals, 

 which are ranged in two series, one external and the other 

 internal, and each of these series has in all cases distinct and 

 peculiar markings, as well as often differences in colour from 

 the other series ; but all the three petals of each series accord 

 with each other. The relation, as to length, of styles and 

 stamens is very variable even in the same species, the latter 

 are either elevated above, equal to, or below the latter in their 

 positions in the flower. The filaments are smooth in some 

 species, pubescent in others. When the blossom has per- 

 formed its functions, the scape which supports the germen 

 gradually elongates, and ultimately raises it (after it has 

 attained its state of a membranous capsule containing the 

 ripe seeds) to the level, or above the surface, of the ground. 



As the circumstances above stated respecting the scapes, 

 sheaths and bracts of the flowers, as well as the pubescence 

 or smoothness of the filaments, are of essential importance in 

 distinguishing the species ; and as it is necessary that their 

 characters should be well understood to enable the Cultivator 

 to place any new variety he may obtain in its proper station, I 

 have added a synoptical table of the species, arranged accord- 

 ing to their characters in these and other points. 



