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C R O C U S vernus.
Spring Crocus.
T H I A N D_R IA Monogyma.
G en. C har. Cor. in 6 divifions, regular. Stigmas
convoluted.
Spec. C har. S h e a th o f on e leaf, radical. T u b e o f
th e co ro lla v e ry lo n g . S t igm a in th re e fhort
w e d g e - fh a p ed lobes , en c lo fed w ith in th e flow e r.
Sy n . C ro c u s ve rn u s . Mart. Fl. Ruß. t. 59 .
C . fativus ß. Linn. Sp. PL e0m Hudf. FI. An.
13 . With. Bot. Arr. 3 8.
C . ve rn a lis eaeruleus. Deering Nottingb. 60.
rr±
H 1 S wild fpecimen of the Spring, or Garden, Crocus was
gathered by Mrs. ^ Sherbrooke of Arnold near Nottingham,
March 15th laft, in the fame meadows where Dr. Deering
obferved it 60 or 70 years ago, and which are ftill rendered
quite purple by thefe flowers every fpring ; fo that this fpecies
at leaft appears to have a better right to be reckoned an En-
glifh plant than many others univerfally acknowledged, as the
Rev. Mr. Wood, F. L. S. to whom we are indebted for the
communication, remarks. Profeffor Martyn mentions having
feen it at Batterfea, near the mill, in confiderable quantity,
above 40 years ago. 7
It differs from the Saffron Crocus in having broader leaves,
with flatter or lefs revolute edges ; yet that difference is not
fo conftant as the great one of the ftigmas, which in the plant
before us are comparatively very little divided, the fegments
wedge-fhaped, much and unequally notched, erea(not hanging
out of the flower), of a paler colour, and quite deftitute of
the fmell and cordial qualities of Saffron__Their times of
flowering are alfo widely different, this being one of the earlieft
fpring plants, as every body knows by the numerous purple,
yellow, and white varieties'growing in every garden ; the other
is quite an autumnal flower, and thefe differences are permanent
under every mode of culture hitherto tried.