Difference between revisions of "Crocus"

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{{Taxobox
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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
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| color = lightgreen
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| name = ''LATINNAME''   <!--- replace LATINNAME with the actual latin name -->
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| name = ''Crocus''
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| common_names =    <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->
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| growth_habit = ?  <!--- tree, shrub, herbaceous, vine, etc -->
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| high = ?  <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
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| wide =    <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
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| origin = ?  <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
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| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
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| lifespan =    <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
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| exposure = ?  <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
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| water = ?  <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
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| features =    <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
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| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
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| bloom =    <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
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| usda_zones = ?  <!--- eg. 8-11 -->
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| sunset_zones =    <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
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| color = IndianRed
 
| image = CrocusLongiflorus.jpg
 
| image = CrocusLongiflorus.jpg
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| image_width = 250px
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| image_width = 240px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
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| image_caption = ''Crocus longiflorus''
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| image_caption = Crocus longiflorus
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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| regnum = Plantae
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| divisio = Magnoliophyta
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| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
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| classis = Liliopsida
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| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
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| ordo = Asparagales
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| familia = [[Iridaceae]]
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| familia = Iridaceae
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| genus = '''''Crocus'''''
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| genus = Crocus
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| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
 
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
 
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| subdivision =
 
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See text.
 
 
}}
 
}}
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{{Inc|
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Crocus (Greek name of saffron). Iridaceae. Low spring-flowering and autumn-flowering garden bulbs; showy, and well known.
  
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{{for|the Alamannic leader|Chrocus}}
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Stemless plants (the grass-like Lvs. rising from the ground or corm), with solid [[bulb]]s or [[corm]]s: 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).
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{{for|the CROCUS nuclear reactor|École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne}}
 
  
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[[Image:Eiger.jpg|thumb|left|Wild crocus growing in the foothills of the [[Eiger]] in the [[Alps|European Alps]].]]
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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.
  
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'''''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]].  
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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.
  
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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.
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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.
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{{SCH}}
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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.
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}}
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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]].
 
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==Misuses of the name crocus==
 
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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]]).
 
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==True autumn crocuses==
 
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<gallery>
 
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image:CrocusVernusPickwick.jpg|''Crocus vernus'' 'Pickwick', a Dutch hybrid
 
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image:CrocusEABowles.jpg|''Crocus'' 'E.A. Bowles',  <br /> a Chrysanthus hybrid
 
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Image:Frühlingsblumen Krokus.jpg|Crocus [[cultivars]]
 
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</gallery>
 
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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.
 
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<br style="clear:both;">
 
  
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==In cultivation==
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==Cultivation==
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{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
  
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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.
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===Propagation===
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{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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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.
 
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Some crocuses, especially ''C. tommasini
 
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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.
 
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==History==
 
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<gallery>
 
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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]]
 
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Image:AmbrosiusBosschaertbouquet.jpg|''Composed Bouquet of Spring Flowers'', by [[Ambrosius Bosschaert]], c. 1620 ([[Louvre Museum]])
 
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</gallery>
 
  
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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.
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===Pests and diseases===
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{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
  
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== Species ==
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==Species==
 
[[Image:Crocus-angustifolius.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cloth of gold]] (''Crocus angustifolius'') <br /> from Curtis's Botanical Magazine 1803]]
 
[[Image:Crocus-angustifolius.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cloth of gold]] (''Crocus angustifolius'') <br /> from Curtis's Botanical Magazine 1803]]
  
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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.
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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.{{wp}}
  
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1 Subgenus Crocus
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1 Subgenus Crocus{{wp}}
  
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:A. Section Crocus
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:A. Section Crocus{{wp}}
  
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::Series Kotschyani   
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::Series Kotschyani  {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus autranii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus autranii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus gilanicus]]'' (discovered in 1973 and named after [[Gilan]] province in Iran where it was first found)
 
::* ''[[Crocus gilanicus]]'' (discovered in 1973 and named after [[Gilan]] province in Iran where it was first found)
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::* ''[[Crocus vallicola]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus vallicola]]''
  
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::Series Longiflori
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::Series Longiflori{{wp}}
 
[[Image:Crocus serotinus clusii flower.jpg|thumb|right|''Crocus serotinus'' subsp. ''clusii'']]
 
[[Image:Crocus serotinus clusii flower.jpg|thumb|right|''Crocus serotinus'' subsp. ''clusii'']]
 
::* ''[[Crocus goulimyi]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus goulimyi]]''
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::* ''[[Crocus serotinus]]'' - late crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus serotinus]]'' - late crocus
  
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::Series Scardici   
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::Series Scardici  {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus pelistericus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus pelistericus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus scardicus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus scardicus]]''
  
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::Series Verni   
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::Series Verni  {{wp}}
 
[[Image:Crocus vernus 1.jpg|thumb|right|''Crocus vernus'' subsp. ''vernus'']]
 
[[Image:Crocus vernus 1.jpg|thumb|right|''Crocus vernus'' subsp. ''vernus'']]
 
[[Image:Crocus verns albiflorus.jpg|thumb|right|''Crocus vernus'' subsp. ''albiflorus'']]
 
[[Image:Crocus verns albiflorus.jpg|thumb|right|''Crocus vernus'' subsp. ''albiflorus'']]
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::* ''[[Crocus kosaninii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus kosaninii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus tommasinianus]]'' - early crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus tommasinianus]]'' - early crocus
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::* ''[[Crocus vernus]]'' - spring crocus, Dutch crocus
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::* ''[[Crocus vernus]]'' - spring crocus
  
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::Series Versicolores   
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::Series Versicolores  {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus cambessedesii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus cambessedesii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus corsicus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus corsicus]]''
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::* ''[[Crocus versicolor]]'' - cloth-of-silver crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus versicolor]]'' - cloth-of-silver crocus
  
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::Series Crocus  
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::Series Crocus {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus asumaniae]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus asumaniae]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus cartwrightianus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus cartwrightianus]]''
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::* ''[[Crocus thomasii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus thomasii]]''
  
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:B. Section Nudiscapus
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:B. Section Nudiscapus{{wp}}
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::Series Aleppici {{wp}}
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::Series Aleppici  
 
 
::* ''[[Crocus aleppicus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus aleppicus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus boulosii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus boulosii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus veneris]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus veneris]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus saris]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus saris]]''
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::Series Biflori   
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::Series Biflori  {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus adanensis]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus adanensis]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus aerius]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus aerius]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus almehensis]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus almehensis]]''
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::* ''[[Crocus biflorus]]'' - silvery crocus, Scotch crocus
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::* ''[[Crocus biflorus]]'' - silvery crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus caspius]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus caspius]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus chrysanthus]]'' - golden crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus chrysanthus]]'' - golden crocus
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::* ''[[Crocus leichtlinii]]''  
 
::* ''[[Crocus leichtlinii]]''  
 
::* ''[[Crocus paschei]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus paschei]]''
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::* ''[[Crocus  
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::* ''[[Crocus pestalozzae]]''
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pestalozzae]]''
 
 
::* ''[[Crocus wattiorum]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus wattiorum]]''
  
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::Series Carpetani   
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::Series Carpetani  {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus carpetanus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus carpetanus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus nevadensis]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus nevadensis]]''
  
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::Series Flavi  
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::Series Flavi {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus antalyensis]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus antalyensis]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus candidus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus candidus]]''
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::* ''[[Crocus vitellinus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus vitellinus]]''
  
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::Series Intertexti  
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::Series Intertexti {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus fleischeri]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus fleischeri]]''
  
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::Series Laevigatae  
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::Series Laevigatae {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus boryi]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus boryi]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus laevigatus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus laevigatus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus tournefortii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus tournefortii]]''
  
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::Series Orientales  
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::Series Orientales {{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus alatavicus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus alatavicus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus korolkowii]]'' - celandine crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus korolkowii]]'' - celandine crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus michelsonii]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus michelsonii]]''
  
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::Series Reticulati
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::Series Reticulati{{wp}}
 
::* ''[[Crocus abantensis]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus abantensis]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus ancyrensis]]'' - Ankara crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus ancyrensis]]'' - Ankara crocus
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::* ''[[Crocus robertianus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus robertianus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus rujanensis]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus rujanensis]]''
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::* ''[[Crocus sieberi]]'' - Cretan crocus
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::* ''[[Crocus sieberi]]'' - Sieber's crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus sieheanus]]''
 
::* ''[[Crocus sieheanus]]''
  
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::Series Speciosi  
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::Series Speciosi {{wp}}
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::* ''[[Crocus speciosus]]'' - Bieberstein's crocus, large purple crocus
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::* ''[[Crocus speciosus]]'' - Bieberstein's crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus pulchellus]]'' - hairy crocus
 
::* ''[[Crocus pulchellus]]'' - hairy crocus
  
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2. Subgenus Crociris  
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2. Subgenus Crociris {{wp}}
 
:* ''[[Crocus banaticus]]''
 
:* ''[[Crocus banaticus]]''
  
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== References ==
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==Gallery==
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*Brian Mathew, Christopher Grey-Wilson, ''Bulbs'', (ill. Marjorie Blamey), Collins, 1981
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
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*Brian Mathew, ''Crocus'': A Revision of the Genus ''Crocus'', Timber Press, 1983. ISBN 0-917304-23-3
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*Brian Mathew, ''Flowering Bulbs for the garden'', Collingridge/Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1987. ISBN 0-600-35175-0
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<gallery>
 +
Image:Eiger.jpg|Wild crocus growing in the foothills of the [[Eiger]] in the [[Alps|European Alps]].
 +
image:CrocusVernusPickwick.jpg|''Crocus vernus'' 'Pickwick', a Dutch hybrid
 +
image:CrocusEABowles.jpg|''Crocus'' 'E.A. Bowles', a Chrysanthus hybrid
 +
Image:Frühlingsblumen Krokus.jpg|Crocus [[cultivars]]
 +
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>
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
 +
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
 +
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
 +
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
 +
 
 +
==External links==
 +
*{{wplink}}
  
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{{commons|Crocus|Crocus}}
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Categorize]]
  
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[[Category:Flowers]]
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<!--  in order to add all the proper categories, go to http://www.plants.am/wiki/Plant_Categories and copy/paste the contents of the page here, and then follow the easy instructions!    -->
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[[Category:Iridaceae]]
 
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[[Category:Garden plants]]
 

Latest revision as of 22:52, 11 August 2009


Crocus longiflorus


Plant Characteristics
Origin: ✈ ?
Cultivation
Exposure: ☼ ?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water: ◍ ?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Scientific Names

Iridaceae >

Crocus >



Read about Crocus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

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. CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


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Species

Cloth of gold (Crocus angustifolius)
from Curtis's Botanical Magazine 1803

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

1 Subgenus Crocuswp

A. Section Crocuswp
Series Kotschyani wp
Series Longifloriwp
Crocus serotinus subsp. clusii
Series Scardici wp
Series Verni wp
Crocus vernus subsp. vernus
Crocus vernus subsp. albiflorus
Series Versicolores wp
Series Crocus wp
B. Section Nudiscapuswp
Series Aleppici wp
Series Biflori wp
Series Carpetani wp
Series Flavi wp
Series Intertexti wp
Series Laevigatae wp
Series Orientales wp
Series Reticulatiwp
Series Speciosi wp

2. Subgenus Crociris wp

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