Crocus speciosus M.Bieb. Bieberstein's Crocus

Crocus speciosus M.Bieb. - Bieberstein's Crocus

Scientific Description:

Corm tunic membranous or coriaceous, splitting into rings at base, sometimes with parallel fibres. Leaves 3−4, hysteranthous, 4−5 mm broad. Prophyll absent. Bracteole present. Throat of perianth white or pale yellow, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; segments 2.5−6 × 0.8−2.2 cm, subacute to bluntly acuminate. Filaments 4−11 mm, glabrous or minutely papillose, white or pale yellow; anthers 1−2.2 cm, yellow. Style usually divided into many slender branches, but sometimes c. 6.

Flowering time: (September−) October−November.

Habitat: Woods, meadows, 800−2350 m.

 

subsp. speciosus

 

Throat of perianth white; Corm tunic usually coriaceous, ± entire, splitting at base into distinct rings; style divided into many branches; perianth segments (3−)3.7−6 cm; tube 5−20 cm.

 

Reference:
Mathew B (1984). Crocus speciosus Bieb., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 436.

Public Description:

Crocus speciosus subsp. speciosus, known as “Bieberstein's crocus”, is native to northern and central Turkey, the Caucasus, northern Iran and Crimea. The specific epithet “speciosus” means "showy", which is attributed to the lilac color of this plant. However, the leaves are not visible in the autumn when they bloom, and the flowers are not seen in the spring when the leaves and the fruits are seen. It is a bulbous perennial herb that can reach up to 15 cm in length. It blooms between September and November. It grows widely in forests and meadows. Cultural varieties are used as ornamental plants.

 

References:

Anonymous (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocus_speciosus/, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.

Yüzbaşıoğlu S İ (2012). Crocus L. In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 530–534.