Crocus alatavicus explained

Crocus alatavicus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial native to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Xinjiang.[1]

Description

Crocus alatavicus is a herbaceous perennial geophyte growing from a corm. The medium-sized corm has a tunic with parallel fibers. The narrow leaves number 8 to 20 and are short during flowering. The white flowers have gray to black-violet spotting on the outside surfaces. The flower throats are yellow and so are the anthers. The stigma is yellow to orange.[2]

Crocus alatavicus is found growing in the mountains among stones and in scrub, often in association with Colchicum luteum; flowering occurs in February to May depending on the altitude.[3]

Plants are easy to grow in a bulb frame if the soil remains dry during summer.[3] It is winter hardy to USDA zone 4.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Crocus alatavicus Regel & Semen. Plants of the World Online Kew Science. 2022-01-10. Plants of the World Online. en.
  2. Book: Jelitto, Leo. Hardy herbaceous perennials. 1990. Timber Press. Wilhelm Schacht, Michael E. Epp, John Philip Baumgardt, Alfred Fessler. 0-88192-159-9. Portland, Or.. 168. 20012412 .
  3. Book: Phillips, Roger. The Random House book of bulbs. 1989. Random House. Martyn Rix, Brian Mathew. 0-679-72756-6. New York. 19922564. 19.