454 Account and Descrijrtion of Spring Crocuses, $c. 



possible even with the assistance of the description, to ascer- 

 tain which variety is intended to be represented. 



2. C. biflorus Parkinsonii. (See Plate XL jig. 4.) Scotch 

 Crocus with white leaf-sheaths, is the variety mentioned 

 in the Botanical Magazine, fol. 845, as known to Mr. Salis- 

 bury, it comes the earliest into flower of the three varieties, 

 and blossoms more freely than the first. This, as I have 

 noticed above, is the M Ordinary striped Crocus" of Parkin- 

 son and Miller. The leaf sheaths are white. The leaves 

 are narrower than those of the preceding, and are rather 

 more numerous. The petals are white, but not so pure as in 

 the preceding, they having sometimes a slight lilac tinge ; the 

 three outer are much more cream-coloured, and have only 

 three purple stripes, of which the middle one is but slightly, 

 whilst the two outer are very much, feathered on their outer 

 side, the spots at the base of the inner petals are narrower, 

 extending higher in the middle part of the petal, and are 

 more uniformly feathered, the stigmas are more elevated, 

 more divided, and of a deeper colour. It produces seeds 

 freely. 



3. C. biflorus stigmatosus. Scotch Crocus, with elongated 

 stigmas. This is similar to the first variety with the follow- 

 ing differences. It flowers more freely and earlier. The 

 leaves are at first longer, more diffuse, and they are the 

 broadest of the three varieties. The petals are larger, 

 subject to be somewhat deformed and then appear emargi- 

 nate ; the stripes on the backs of the outer petals are not like 

 those on either of the others, they are five, the two outer 

 being rather undefined, and more feathered. The stigmas are 

 visible at the top of the flower before it expands, and are 



