Crocus speciosus explained

Crocus speciosus, with common name Bieberstein's crocus, 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^[1] and Bulgaria.^[2]

Crocus speciosus is a cormous perennial growing to 10cm-15cmcm (00inches-06inchescm) 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".^[3]

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. As it increases rapidly, it is suitable for naturalisation in grass.^[4] The species,^[5] and the white-flowered cultivar 'Albus',^[6] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Subspecies

As listed by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families:^[1]

• 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

Notes and References

1. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=327734 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
2. Crocus speciosus (Iridaceae)-A New Species for the Bulgarian Flora. Plants. 2023 . 36840280 . Apostolova-Kuzova . E. . Stoyanov . K. . Raycheva . T. . Naimov . S. . 12 . 4 . 932 . 10.3390/plants12040932 . 9965344 . free .
3. Book: Harrison, Lorraine. RHS Latin for gardeners. 2012. Mitchell Beazley. United Kingdom. 9781845337315. 224.
4. Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1405332965. 1136.
5. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Crocus speciosus. 15 April 2020.
6. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Crocus speciosus 'Albus'. 15 April 2020.