Crocus baytopiorum is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial native to Turkey.
Crocus baytopiorum is a spring flowering herbaceous perennial geophyte growing from a corm. The 13 cm wide corm is a flatted egg shape. The tunic around the corm has thick fibers and is coarsely netted. A spathe (sheath that covers the flower before it opens) subtends the inflorescence. The pale blue flowers are distinctive. The arillate seeds are red with a pointed end.[1]
Crocus baytopiorum is native to limestone screes, rocky gullies, in open pine and juniper woodland. Flowering occurs in February.[2]
The species was named in honor of Professors Turhan & Asuman Baytop from Istanbul,[1] who discovered it in 1973 and it was described by the Kew botanist Brian Mathew.[3]