170 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
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II. CROCUS. Linn. — Flowers large and showy, purple, yellow, or white, funnel-shaped with a 
remarkably long perianth-tube, 4-5 inches long, which looks like a stalk, the seedcase remaining 
underground till after flowering, solitary, almost stalkless on the root and rolled in a membranous 
sheath (spathe). Perianth of 6 equal lobes which are bell-shaped (campanulate) and are united 
at the base into a very long straight tube, looking like a stalk ; stamens 3, inserted on the base of 
the outer perianth-lobes ; carpels 3, united into a seedcase which adheres to the perianth-tube 
and remains underground till after flowering, a remarkably long slender style, and 3 dilated 
stigmas which are cut or fringed or rolled in ; fruit a capsule buried in the leaves, opening by 
3 valves to free the round seeds. Herbs with a bulbous root enveloped in a fibrous covering, 
and all the leaves from the root, narrow, strap-shaped (linear), and often rolled back (revolute), 
parallel-veined, grass-like. 
(1) ^Spring Crocus. (Crocus officindlis.) — Flowers in the spring with the leaves ; stigmas 
jagged. 
(2) * Autumn Crocus. (Crdcus nudiflorus.) — Flowers in the autumn after the leaves ; stigmas 
fringed. 
1 . ^Spring Crocus. (Crocus officindlis. Huds.) — As just described. The flowers are 
purple or white, the perianth-tube is 3-6 inches long, the anthers are bright yellow, and the stigmas 
orange, dilated at the top and jagged but not fringed ; all the leaves are from the root, narrow, 
with rolled-back margins, and white under sides, and are enclosed at the base in a tubular sheath 
of 2 or 3 thin membranous parts. ( Crocus vernus. All.) [ Plate 55. 
Not a native, very rare. Naturalised in meadows at Nottingham, Mendham in Suffolk, and 
Hornsey in Middlesex. March. Perennial. 
2. *Autumn Crocus. (Crdcus nudiflorus. Sm.)— A similar species with rather larger 
flowers opening in the autumn after the leaves are faded, rather paler and mauver than those of the 
Spring Crocus, and with the orange stigmas deeply cut into a fringe. 
Not a native, very rare. Naturalised in meadows at Nottingham, Derby, and AVarrington 
September. Perennial. 
III. ROMULEA. Maratti. — A genus very similar to the last, the principal difference being in the 
short perianth-tube. The flowers are often lilac or purple and are wrapt in a 2-lobed sheath 
(spathe). The perianth is of 6 lobes, united at the base into a tube which does not extend beyond 
the seedcase ; stamens 3, erect, inserted in the throat of the perianth-tube ; carpels 3, united into 
a short oval seedcase which adheres to the perianth-tube, a long thread-like style, and 3 narrow 
inrolled stigmas which are deeply lobed ; capsule oval, opening by 3 valves. Small herbs with 
a bulbous root, which is enveloped in a smooth shining brown covering, and narrow grass-like 
parallel-veined leaves chiefly from the root. 
Romulea Colum'naB. Seb. and Maur. — The only British species. As just described. 
A very small plant with pale bluish-lilac flowers striped with darker purple, yellowish in the centre, 
and greenish outside, the perianth-lobes only f inch long, 1, rarely 2 or 3 flowers on a short stalk 
1-2 inches high, with long narrow grass-like leaves considerably overtopping the flowers. 
( Trichonema Colutnnce. Reich.) 
Very rare. Sandy links and pastures, chiefly near the sea ; at the Warren at Dawlish and in the 
Channel Isles. March — May. Perennial. 
IV. SISYRIN'CHIUM. Linn. — Flowers rather small, brightly coloured, in terminal clusters 
enclosed in 2-lobed sheaths (spathes). Perianth of 6 equal lobes, united into a short tube at the 
