CROCUS SIEBERI

Family and Genus:- See- IRIDACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

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

Sieberi (L) For the botanist Franz Wilhelm Sieber (1785-1844).

General description:- Bulbous plant.

Corm:-

1) Corm ovoid to subglobose, 8-15 mm in diam., tunics fibrous, the fibres finely

reticulated, scarcely extending into a neck.

Leaves:-

1) 4-7, well developed at anthesis, usually equalling the flowers, 2-4 mm wide,

bright green with a fairly broad and distinct white median stripe.

Flowers:-

1) 1-3, tube, whitish or suffused brownish-purple; inside of the perianth segments

white with a yellow base and glabrous throat, exterior of the outer segments

variously striped or suffused purple.

2) Bract and bracteole, subequal, well-exserted from the cataphylls, membranous,

white often stained greenish.

3) Perianth-tube, 3-10 cm, white to purple, yellowish at the apex; segments 1·5-4·5

x 0·7-1·8 cm, oblanceolate or obovate.

4) Anthers, yellow.

5) Style, yellow to orange-red, shorter than to exceeding the stamens, obscurely

divided into 3 branches, each much-expanded and fimbriate or lobed.

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) Corm, outer tunics reticulated, forming a delicate mesh.

2) Leaves, 4-7, 2-4 mm wide.

3) Perianth, segments broadly elliptical white inside, exterior of outer segments

striped or suffused purple.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Calcareous open woodland, among Berberis bushes, stony ground

beneath cliffs, open slopes, flat clayey areas. (1100-)1500-2100

Distribution:- Cretan endemic of Lefka Ori, Psiloritis and the Dikti massifs and

Kedros.

Flowering time:- Mar-May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton