By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 



157 



middle one narrow, without featherings, the outer ones broader, 

 and neatly feathered towards the outer edges of the petals ; 

 the inner petals are ovate, and pure white ; the bottoms of 

 the petals within are yellow. The stigmas are pale orange, 

 longer than the anthers, which are yellow. The roots re- 

 semble those of C. argenteus. A figure of C. pusillus has 

 been published in Sweet's British Flower Garden, tab. 106 ; 

 from bulbs also derived from Professor Tenore. It will be 

 observed on reference to this figure, that the above descrip- 

 tions of the markings of the petals do not agree with the 

 representation given. 



10. Crocus versicolor. Party-coloured Crocus. 



This was first brought into notice as a species by Mr. 

 Bellenden Ker (then Mr. Gawler,) in the Botanical Ma- 

 gazine,* in 1808 ; I have attached his name to the variety 

 there figured, which was of course his type, and have there- 

 fore placed it at the head of my arrangement. Mr. Ha worth 

 subsequently, in the Transactions -f of the Horticultural 

 Society, called the species Crocus fragrans. The scent 

 of all the species is very pleasant, but I think it more resem- 

 bles that of the Cowslip than of the Violet, with which 

 it has been compared by Mr. Ker. The blossoms of this 

 species have occasionally, though very seldom, eight petals, 

 and four stamina ; but that anomaly is not confined to any 

 particular variety. 



The specific name of versicolor was adopted from Par- 

 kinson, who, in common with the Botanical writers who 

 preceded him, applied the term to designate the stripings at 



* Botanical Magazine, tab. 1110. 

 f Horticultural Transactions, Vol. 1 page 136. 

 VOL. VII. 3 O 



