482 Account and Description of Spring Crocuses, §c. 



longer than the flowers in the blooming season. The flowers 

 fusiform tapering at the bottom, and widening upwards; 

 the tube slender, dark purple at top, running into dark pur- 

 ple narrow spots on the petals ; the outer petals are lance- 

 olate, long and pointed, pale lilac, palest round the spot ; 

 the inner petals very pale, and slightly feathered. The stigmas 

 slender, orange, and above the anthers. 



23. C. vermis Neapolitanus prcecox. Produces flowers 

 abundantly and very early. It has not much merit otherwise. 

 The leaves are narrow, grow long and spreading. The flowers 

 are sharp pointed and thin in texture ; the top of the tube 

 and base of the petals lilac, the spot not defined ; the petals 

 lanceolate, flat, pale lilac, somewhat stained and blotched ; 

 the inner petals paler and less stained. Stigmas small, yellow, 

 and above the anthers. 



24. C. vermis lilacinus prcecox. Flowers freely and very 

 early. It is the earliest variety of C. vernus in flower. The 

 leaves are not abundant, they grow upright and become long. 

 The blossoms are long and fusiform ; the top of the tube 

 purple ; the petals pale lilac, lanceolate, the inner rather wider 

 than the outer, narrow, upright, and flat ; the base of the 

 petals with long narrow purple spots ; the petals strongly 

 striped with darker purple markings ; the inner petals paler. 

 The stigmas straw coloured, small and much above the 

 anthers. 



Section II. 



Variegated Vernal Crocuses, having blossoms, the 

 bottoms of the petals of which are distinctly spotted with 



