CROCUS OREOCRETICUS

Family and Genus:- See- IRIDACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Crocus (Gr) Thread, (reference to the stigmas of Crocus sativus).

Oreocreticus (Gr) From the mountains of Crete.

General description:- Bulbous plants; corms small, spherical or ovoid, enclosed

in tunics of varied texture and shape.

Stem:-

1) Very short, below ground.

Leaves:-

1) Several (5-11), usually short or lacking at anthesis, narrow (1-1.5 mm wide),

greyish-green with white median stripe.

Flowers:-

1) Pale to deep lilac-purple, strongly darker veined on the outside, often stained

darker towards the base, occasionally pure white.

2) Perianth, throat glabrous, tube long and slender; segments narrow, with a

silvery sheen on the outside.

2) Tepals, oval, broadest above the middle, 14-32 mm long.

3) Stamens, with yellow anthers and whitish or purplish stalks.

4) Style, divided above base of the anthers into a somewhat short, slender,

suberect branches.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, cylindrical or ellipsoid, maturing at or above ground level by elongation

of pedicel.

2) Seeds numerous, usually globose or ellipsoid, brownish or reddish, with a

strophiole.

Key features:-

1) Leaves short or lacking at anthesis.

2) Throat of perianth glabrous.

3) Style divided above base of the anthers.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Meadow-like patches in scrub, open woodland and thorncushion

communities. (700-)1200-1900 m.

Distribution:- Endemic E. & C.Crete, common through the central Psiloritis and

Dikti mountains.

Flowering time:- Mid-Oct to early Dec.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Rare according to IUCN 1997.

Protection status (for threatened species): Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981.