Crocus speciosus, with common name Bieberstein's crocus,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. The plant is native to northern and central Turkey, the Caucasus, northern Iran, Crimea[2] and Bulgaria.[3]
| Crocus speciosus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flower showing the divided styles | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Iridaceae |
| Genus: | Crocus |
| Species: | C. speciosus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Crocus speciosus | |
Crocus speciosus is a cormous perennial growing to 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) tall. The lilac flowers with paler coloured throats and dark veins appear in autumn (fall). The orange styles are much-divided.
The specific epithet speciosus means "showy".[4]
It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. As it increases rapidly, it is suitable for naturalisation in grass.[5] The species,[6] and the white-flowered cultivar 'Albus',[7] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Subspecies
editAs listed by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families:[2]
- Crocus speciosus subsp. ilgazensis B.Mathew - Turkey
- Crocus speciosus subsp. speciosus - Turkey, Iran, Caucasus, Crimea
- Crocus speciosus subsp. xantholaimos B.Mathew - Sinop Province in Turkey
References
edit- ^ "Crocus speciosus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
- ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ Apostolova-Kuzova, E.; Stoyanov, K.; Raycheva, T.; Naimov, S. (2023). "Crocus speciosus (Iridaceae)-A New Species for the Bulgarian Flora". Plants. 12 (4): 932. doi:10.3390/plants12040932. PMC 9965344. PMID 36840280.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Crocus speciosus". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Crocus speciosus 'Albus'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
Media related to Crocus speciosus at Wikimedia Commons
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