Crocus - Revision history

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2009-08-11T16:08:45Z

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Raffi at 06:32, 28 March 2007

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Crocus''
| image = CrocusLongiflorus.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Crocus longiflorus''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Iridaceae]]
| genus = '''''Crocus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}

{{for|the Alamannic leader|Chrocus}}
{{for|the CROCUS nuclear reactor|École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne}}

[[Image:Eiger.jpg|thumb|left|Wild crocus growing in the foothills of the [[Eiger]] in the [[Alps|European Alps]].]]

'''''Crocus''''' (plural: crocus, crocuses or croci) is a [[genus]] of [[perennial]] [[flower]]ing [[plant]]s, native to a large area from coastal and subalpine areas of central and southern [[Europe]] (including the islands of the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]]), [[North Africa]] and the [[Middle East]], across [[Central Asia]] to western [[China]].

The genus ''Crocus'' is placed botanically in the iris family ([[Iridaceae]]). The plants grow from [[corm]]s and are mainly [[Hardiness (plants)|hardy]] perennials, and are found a wide range of [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]]s, including woodland, scrub and meadows.

There are about eighty species of crocus (of which approximately 30 are cultivated). Their cup-shaped, solitary, salverform flowers taper off into a narrow tube. Their color varies enormously, although lilac, mauve, yellow and white are predominant. The grass-like, ensiform [[leaf]] shows generally a white central stripe along the leaf axis. The leaf margin is entire. All crocuses typically have three stamens.

The name of the genus is derived from the Latin adjective ''crocatus'', meaning saffron yellow. The spice [[saffron]] is obtained from the [[Carpel|stigma]]s of ''Crocus sativus'', an autumn/fall-blooming [[species]].

==Misuses of the name crocus==
Though some true crocus bloom with the fall (autumn) rains, after summer's heat and drought, the name '''autumn crocus''' is often misused{{Fact|date=March 2007}} as a common name for [[Colchicum]], which is in the lily family ([[Liliaceae]]), and which has six stamens; it is also (confusingly and incorrectly) known as '''meadow saffron'''. The so-called [[Pasque flower|'''prairie crocus''']] (formerly ''Anemone patens'', now ''Pulsatilla patens'' or ''P. ludoviciana'') belongs to the buttercup family ([[Ranunculaceae]]).

==True autumn crocuses==
<gallery>
image:CrocusVernusPickwick.jpg|''Crocus vernus'' 'Pickwick', a Dutch hybrid
image:CrocusEABowles.jpg|''Crocus'' 'E.A. Bowles', <br /> a Chrysanthus hybrid
Image:Frühlingsblumen Krokus.jpg|Crocus [[cultivars]]
</gallery>

Most true '''autumn crocus''' flower in September to November in the northern hemisphere. Some flower before their leaves appear. Autumn/fall flowering species include: ''Crocus banaticus'' (syn. ''C. iridiflorus''), ''C.cancellatus'', ''C. goulimyi'', ''C. hadriaticus'', ''C. kotschyanus'' (syn. ''C. zonatus''), ''C. laevigatus'', ''C. medius'', ''C. niveus'', ''C. nudiflorus'', ''C. ochroleucus'', ''C. pulchellus'', ''C. sativus'' (saffron crocus), ''C. serotinus'', ''C. speciosus'', ''C. tournefortii''. ''Crocus laevigatus'' has a long flowering-period which starts in late autumn or early winter and may continue into February.
<br style="clear:both;">

==In cultivation==

As one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, the large [[hybrid]]ized and selected "Dutch crocus" are popular with gardeners. However, in areas where snow and frost occasionally occur in the early spring it is not uncommon for early-flowering crocuses to suddenly wither and die from a unseasonable frost or snowfall.

Most crocus species and hybrids should be planted in a sunny position, in gritty, well-drained soil, although a few prefer shadier sites in moist soil. Some are suitable for naturalising in grass. The corms should be planted about 3–4 cm deep; in heavy soils a quantity of sharp grit should be dug in to improve drainage.

Some crocuses, especially ''C. tommasini
anus'' and its selected forms and hybrids (such as 'Whitewell Purple' and 'Ruby Giant') seed prolifically and are ideal for naturalising. They can, however, become [[weed]]s in [[rock garden]]s, where they will often appear in the middle of choice, mat-forming alpine plants and can be difficult to remove.

==History==
<gallery>
Image:Saffron gatherers detail Thera Santorini.gif|Saffron gatherers appear in [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] [[fresco]]s on the island of [[Santorini]] in the [[Aegean Sea]]. See [[History of saffron]]
Image:AmbrosiusBosschaertbouquet.jpg|''Composed Bouquet of Spring Flowers'', by [[Ambrosius Bosschaert]], c. 1620 ([[Louvre Museum]])
</gallery>

The first crocus seen in the [[Netherlands]], where ''Crocus'' species are not native, were corms brought back from the Holy Roman Emperor's ambassador to the Sublime Porte, A. Ghislain de Busbeq, in the 1560s. A few corms were forwarded to [[Charles de L'Ecluse|Carolus Clusius]] at the [[botanical garden]] in [[Leiden]]. By 1620, the approximate date of Ambrosius Bosschaert's painting (''illustration, left''), new garden varieties had been developed, such as the cream-colored crocus feathered with bronze at the base of the bouquet, similar to varieties still in the market. Bosschaert, working from a preparatory drawing to paint his composed piece, which spans the whole of Spring, exaggerated the crocus so that it passes for a tulip, but its narrow, grasslike leaves give it away.

== Species ==
[[Image:Crocus-angustifolius.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cloth of gold]] (''Crocus angustifolius'') <br /> from Curtis's Botanical Magazine 1803]]

The [[Taxonomy|taxonomic]] characteristics are based mainly on the presence or absence of a prophyll (a basal spathe) and the aspect of the [[Carpel|style]] and the corm tunic.

1 Subgenus Crocus

:A. Section Crocus

::Series Kotschyani
::* ''[[Crocus autranii]]''
::* ''[[Crocus gilanicus]]'' (discovered in 1973 and named after [[Gilan]] province in Iran where it was first found)
::* ''[[Crocus karduchorum]]''
::* ''[[Crocus kotschyanus]]'' - Kotschy's crocus
::* ''[[Crocus ochroleucus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus scharojanii]]''
::* ''[[Crocus vallicola]]''

::Series Longiflori
[[Image:Crocus serotinus clusii flower.jpg|thumb|right|''Crocus serotinus'' subsp. ''clusii'']]
::* ''[[Crocus goulimyi]]''
::* ''[[Crocus longiflorus]]'' - Italian crocus
::* ''[[Crocus medius]]''
::* ''[[Crocus niveus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus serotinus]]'' - late crocus

::Series Scardici
::* ''[[Crocus pelistericus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus scardicus]]''

::Series Verni
[[Image:Crocus vernus 1.jpg|thumb|right|''Crocus vernus'' subsp. ''vernus'']]
[[Image:Crocus verns albiflorus.jpg|thumb|right|''Crocus vernus'' subsp. ''albiflorus'']]
::* ''[[Crocus baytopiorum]]''
::* ''[[Crocus etruscus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus kosaninii]]''
::* ''[[Crocus tommasinianus]]'' - early crocus
::* ''[[Crocus vernus]]'' - spring crocus, Dutch crocus

::Series Versicolores
::* ''[[Crocus cambessedesii]]''
::* ''[[Crocus corsicus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus imperati]]''
::* ''[[Crocus malyi]]''
::* ''[[Crocus minimus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus versicolor]]'' - cloth-of-silver crocus

::Series Crocus
::* ''[[Crocus asumaniae]]''
::* ''[[Crocus cartwrightianus]]''
:::*''[[Crocus sativus]]'' - saffron crocus (a [[infertility|sterile]] [[triploid]] [[mutant]])
::* ''[[Crocus hadriaticus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus mathewii]]''
::* ''[[Crocus moabiticus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus oreocreticus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus pallasii]]''
::* ''[[Crocus thomasii]]''

:B. Section Nudiscapus

::Series Aleppici
::* ''[[Crocus aleppicus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus boulosii]]''
::* ''[[Crocus veneris]]''
::* ''[[Crocus saris]]''
::Series Biflori
::* ''[[Crocus adanensis]]''
::* ''[[Crocus aerius]]''
::* ''[[Crocus almehensis]]''
::* ''[[Crocus biflorus]]'' - silvery crocus, Scotch crocus
::* ''[[Crocus caspius]]''
::* ''[[Crocus chrysanthus]]'' - golden crocus
::* ''[[Crocus cyprius]]''
::* ''[[Crocus danfordiae]]''
::* ''[[Crocus hartmannianus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus kerndorffiorum]]''
::* ''[[Crocus leichtlinii]]''
::* ''[[Crocus paschei]]''
::* ''[[Crocus
pestalozzae]]''
::* ''[[Crocus wattiorum]]''

::Series Carpetani
::* ''[[Crocus carpetanus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus nevadensis]]''

::Series Flavi
::* ''[[Crocus antalyensis]]''
::* ''[[Crocus candidus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus flavus]]'' - yellow crocus
::* ''[[Crocus graveolens]]''
::* ''[[Crocus hyemalis]]''
::* ''[[Crocus olivieri]]''
::* ''[[Crocus vitellinus]]''

::Series Intertexti
::* ''[[Crocus fleischeri]]''

::Series Laevigatae
::* ''[[Crocus boryi]]''
::* ''[[Crocus laevigatus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus tournefortii]]''

::Series Orientales
::* ''[[Crocus alatavicus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus korolkowii]]'' - celandine crocus
::* ''[[Crocus michelsonii]]''

::Series Reticulati
::* ''[[Crocus abantensis]]''
::* ''[[Crocus ancyrensis]]'' - Ankara crocus
::* ''[[Crocus angustifolius]]'' - cloth-of-gold crocus
::* ''[[Crocus cancellatus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus cvijicii]]''
::* ''[[Crocus dalmaticus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus gargaricus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus hermoneus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus reticulatus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus robertianus]]''
::* ''[[Crocus rujanensis]]''
::* ''[[Crocus sieberi]]'' - Cretan crocus
::* ''[[Crocus sieheanus]]''

::Series Speciosi
::* ''[[Crocus speciosus]]'' - Bieberstein's crocus, large purple crocus
::* ''[[Crocus pulchellus]]'' - hairy crocus

2. Subgenus Crociris
:* ''[[Crocus banaticus]]''

== References ==
*Brian Mathew, Christopher Grey-Wilson, ''Bulbs'', (ill. Marjorie Blamey), Collins, 1981
*Brian Mathew, ''Crocus'': A Revision of the Genus ''Crocus'', Timber Press, 1983. ISBN 0-917304-23-3
*Brian Mathew, ''Flowering Bulbs for the garden'', Collingridge/Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1987. ISBN 0-600-35175-0

{{commons|Crocus|Crocus}}

[[Category:Flowers]]
[[Category:Iridaceae]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:08, 11 August 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{Inc\|
		+	Crocus (Greek name of saffron). Iridaceae. Low spring-flowering and autumn-flowering garden bulbs; showy, and well known.
		+
		+	Stemless plants (the grass-like Lvs. rising from the ground or corm), with solid bulbs or corms: fls. showy, in many colors, funnel-shaped and erect, with a very long tube and 6 nearly or quite equal segms.; stamens 3, attached in the throat of the perianth and shorter than the segms.; style 3-cleft, the branches entire or forked or much fimbriated; ovary 3-loculed: seeds many, nearly globular: fr. an oblong 3-valved caps.— Probably 75 species, many of them variable, in the Medit. region and extending into S. W. Asia. The fls. open in sunshine. They come in fall or spring, but the best-known species are spring-flowering, which are amongst the earliest and brightest of spring bloom. Crocuses force easily (see Bulb). A half-dozen corms may be planted in a 4-in. pot for this purpose. Crocuses are scarcely known in the American trade under their species names. Inasmuch as the flowers of the common crocus close when taken out of the sun, they are not popular as window-garden or house subjects. Crocuses have been much hybridized and varied. There are many color-forms. The common crocuses of the trade have descended from C. vernus chiefly, but C. susianus, C. moesiacus, C. stellaris, C. biflorus and C. sativus are frequent. The Dutch bulb- growers cult, many species, and these are offered for sale in their American lists; the species are therefore included in the following synopsis. In this account, the treatment by Baker is followed (Handbook of the Irideae).
		+
		+	Botanically, the genus divides itself into three groups on the characters of the style-branches: the branches entire, once-forked or fimbriated at the apex, or cut into several capillary divisions. Horticulturally, the species fall into two groups,—the spring-flowering and the autumn-flowering. These groups are not so definitely separated as it would seem, however. Some of the species bloom in winter in regions in which the ground does not freeze hard; others begin to bloom in July or August; some may continue to bloom till winter closes in. Yet these two flowering periods mark very important differences in the utilization of the plants and the primary division in the following treatment is made on this basis. The colors are now much varied by cultivation and hybridizing, but they are well marked in the specific types as a rule. They run largely in yellow, white and purple.
		+	The covering or tunic of the bulbs may be uniformly membranaceous, or it may be composed of strongly reticulated or parallel fibers. Fig. 1113. The flowers appear usually just in advance of the grass-like foliage- leaves. The floral leaves are small and more or less dry or scarious and arise directly from the corm and may be seen as a spathe-like structure inside the leaf-tuft; this is usually known as the basal spathe. The real spathe subtends the bloom, and it is always one-flowered; this floral spathe may be one-leaved or two-leaved.
		+	Culture.—Many forms of crocus are well known, where they are justly valued as among the showiest and brightest of winter and spring flowers. They thrive in any ordinary soil. About two-thirds of the species are classed as vernal and the remainder as autumnal flowering; but the various members of the tribe would furnish nearly continuous bloom from August to May were the season open. While there are numerous species interesting to a botanist or a collector, practically the best for general cultivation are Crocus Imperati, C.susianus (Cloth of Gold crocus) and the Dutch hybrids, mostly of C.moesiacus. These bloom in about the order named. The rosy flowers of C. Imperati may be expected with the earliest snowdrops. The named species, having shorter flower-tubes than the Dutch hybrids, are not so liable to injury by the severe weather of the early year. The autumnal species are not satisfactory garden plants, the flowers mostly appearing before the leaves, and being easily injured. C. speciosus and C. satvus are probably the most satisfactory. The latter species has been cultivated from time immemorial, the stamens having a medicinal reputation, and being a source of color (saffron). The cultivation of this species is a small industry in France, Spain and Italy.—The corms of crocuses should be planted about 3 or 4 inches deep, in a well-worked and perfectly drained soil which is free from clay or the decaying humus of manure. They should be set only 2 or 3 inches apart if mass effects are desired. They may be planted in September or October for bloom in the spring or the following autumn; or the autumn kinds may be planted early in spring. The corms should be carefully examined and all bruised and imperfect ones rejected, as they are very susceptible to attacks of fungi, which, gaining a footing on decrepit corms, will spread to others.—The careful gardener will examine all exotic small bulbs annually, or at least biennally, until they show by the perfection of their new bulbs that they have become naturalized, or are suited to their new environment. In this case they may be allowed to remain until crowding requires their division. This examination should take place after the leaves are matured and dried up. Inasmuch as new corms form on top of the old ones, the plants tend to get out of the ground; it is well therefore to replant the strongest ones every two or three years. Increase may be had from new corms which are produced more or less freely in different species on top or on the sides of old corms. —Seeds are often produced freely, but are likely to be overlooked, as they are formed at the surface of the soil. These germinate readily and most freely at the growing time of the plant. They should preferably be germinated in seed-pans, which should be exposed to freezing before the natural germinating time. Seedlings usually flower the third season.—The dutch hybrid crocus is often useful for naturalizing in the lawn, although the grass may run out the plants in a few years, if the bulbs are not replaced by strong ones; they will not last more than a year or two if the foliage is mown off, but if the foliage is allowed to remain until ripe and if the lawn is fertile, the plants may remain in fair condition three or four years or more. (J. N. Gerard.)
		+
		+	}}
	{{Taxobox		{{Taxobox
	\| color = lightgreen		\| color = lightgreen

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 | genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
 | subdivision_ranks = Species
-| subdivision =
+| subdivision = See text.
 }}
 [[Image:Eiger.jpg|thumb|left|Wild crocus growing in the foothills of the [[Eiger]] in the [[Alps|European Alps]].]]
@@ Line 26: / Line 22: @@
 The genus ''Crocus'' is placed botanically in the iris family ([[Iridaceae]]). The plants grow from [[corm]]s and are mainly [[Hardiness (plants)|hardy]] perennials, and are found a wide range of [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]]s, including woodland, scrub and meadows.
-There are about eighty species of crocus (of which approximately 30 are cultivated). Their cup-shaped, solitary, salverform flowers taper off into a narrow tube.  Their color varies enormously, although lilac, mauve, yellow and white are predominant. The grass-like, ensiform [[leaf]] shows generally a white central stripe along the leaf axis. The leaf margin is entire. All crocuses typically have three stamens.
+There are about eighty species of crocus, of which approximately 30 are commonly cultivated. Their flowers are cup-shaped, solitary, salverform, tapering off into a narrow tube; they vary enormously in colour, though lilac, mauve, yellow and white are predominant. The grass-like, ensiform [[leaf]] generally shows a white central stripe along the leaf axis. The leaf margin is entire. All crocuses typically have three stamens.
 The name of the genus is derived from the Latin adjective ''crocatus'', meaning saffron yellow. The spice [[saffron]] is obtained from the [[Carpel|stigma]]s of ''Crocus sativus'', an autumn/fall-blooming [[species]].
 ==True autumn crocuses==
 <gallery>
 image:CrocusVernusPickwick.jpg|''Crocus vernus'' 'Pickwick', a Dutch hybrid
-image:CrocusEABowles.jpg|''Crocus'' 'E.A. Bowles',  <br /> a Chrysanthus hybrid
+image:CrocusEABowles.jpg|''Crocus'' 'E.A. Bowles', a Chrysanthus hybrid
 Image:Frühlingsblumen Krokus.jpg|Crocus [[cultivars]]
 </gallery>
@@ Line 44: / Line 37: @@
 ==In cultivation==
+As one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, the large selected [[hybrid]] Dutch crocus are popular with gardeners. However, in areas where snow and frost occasionally occur in the early spring it is not uncommon for early-flowering crocuses to suddenly wither and die from a unseasonable frost or snowfall.
 Most crocus species and hybrids should be planted in a sunny position, in gritty, well-drained soil, although a few prefer shadier sites in moist soil. Some are suitable for naturalising in grass. The corms should be planted about 3–4&nbsp;cm deep; in heavy soils a quantity of sharp grit should be dug in to improve drainage.
-Some crocuses, especially ''C. tommasini
+Some crocuses, especially ''C. tommasinianus'' and its selected forms and hybrids (such as 'Whitewell Purple' and 'Ruby Giant') seed prolifically and are ideal for naturalising. They can, however, become [[weed]]s in [[rock garden]]s, where they will often appear in the middle of choice, mat-forming alpine plants and can be difficult to remove.
 ==History==
@@ Line 97: / Line 88: @@
 ::* ''[[Crocus kosaninii]]''
 ::* ''[[Crocus tommasinianus]]'' - early crocus
-::* ''[[Crocus vernus]]'' - spring crocus, Dutch crocus
+::* ''[[Crocus vernus]]'' - spring crocus
 ::Series Versicolores
@@ Line 119: / Line 110: @@
 :B. Section Nudiscapus
 ::Series Aleppici
 ::* ''[[Crocus aleppicus]]''
@@ Line 125: / Line 115: @@
 ::* ''[[Crocus veneris]]''
 ::* ''[[Crocus saris]]''
 ::Series Biflori
 ::* ''[[Crocus adanensis]]''
 ::* ''[[Crocus aerius]]''
 ::* ''[[Crocus almehensis]]''
-::* ''[[Crocus biflorus]]'' - silvery crocus, Scotch crocus
+::* ''[[Crocus biflorus]]'' - silvery crocus
 ::* ''[[Crocus caspius]]''
 ::* ''[[Crocus chrysanthus]]'' - golden crocus
@@ Line 138: / Line 129: @@
 ::* ''[[Crocus leichtlinii]]''
 ::* ''[[Crocus paschei]]''
-::* ''[[Crocus
+::* ''[[Crocus pestalozzae]]''
 ::* ''[[Crocus wattiorum]]''
@@ Line 180: / Line 170: @@
 ::* ''[[Crocus robertianus]]''
 ::* ''[[Crocus rujanensis]]''
-::* ''[[Crocus sieberi]]'' - Cretan crocus
+::* ''[[Crocus sieberi]]'' - Sieber's crocus
 ::* ''[[Crocus sieheanus]]''
 ::Series Speciosi
-::* ''[[Crocus speciosus]]'' - Bieberstein's crocus, large purple crocus
+::* ''[[Crocus speciosus]]'' - Bieberstein's crocus
 ::* ''[[Crocus pulchellus]]'' - hairy crocus
 . Subgenus Crociris
 :* ''[[Crocus banaticus]]''
 == References ==