ABSTRACT
The genus Crocus is made up of some 75 to 80 species of tunicated cormous herbs with grass-like linear leaves which are keeled; flowers are lilac to deep purple, white, bicolored, or yellow. The various species can be found in central and southern Europe and North Africa to Afghanistan, but commonly in the Mediterranean region. Warburg states that the largest number of species are found in the Balkans and in Asia Minor. Some species flower weeks or indeed months before the foliage appears. Corms can be covered with a reticulated, membranous, or paralleled fibrous tunic; the species are frequently distinguished by a characteristic tunic covering the corm. The peduncle and ovary are below soil level; the perianth tube is long and slender with six segments of equal heights. N.Sh Azizbekova et al. report that with the C. sativus, development of the new daughter corm’s meristem commences immediately after flowering in November.
