Crocus etruscus

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Crocus etruscus

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Crocus
Species:
C. etruscus
Binomial name
Crocus etruscus

Crocus etruscus (Tuscan crocus) is a

perennial growing to 8 cm (3.1 in) tall. The lilac flowers with purple veining and prominent orange stigmas appear in early spring.[3]

Description

Crocus etruscus is a herbaceous perennial geophyte growing from a corm. The corm is globe shaped with a flat top, the tunic is coarsely netted and a secondary star-shaped tunic is produced around the basal plate (where the roots are generated). Flowers are lavender-blue with gray-blue outer surfaces that are marked with dark veining. The three-branched, orange-red stigma is generally taller than the anthers. Flowering occurs in late winter- early spring.[4] Plants are self-incompatible,[5] meaning that viable seeds are not produced when pollination occurs among flowers of the same corm. The anthers open up away from the center of the flower to release pollen.[5]

Habitat

It is found growing in sub-Mediterranean deciduous woods and stony fields; the species may be in bloom from February to April.[6] The specie is almost extinct in the wild.[4] It has a restricted natural range, being endemic to the southwestern part of Tuscany.[5]

In nature the plant has "near-threatened" status.[1] However, it also appears in cultivation. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7]

Cultivars

  • Crocus etruscus 'Zwanenburg' is a cultivar with flowers that are pale violet-gray. The flowers have lilac-blue and deep violet-blue striations, with pale yellow throats, and orange anthers.
  • Crocus etruscus 'Rosaline' is a cultivar with soft pink flowers.[4]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crocus etruscus.
  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T161939A5516365.en
    . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ Carta A, Pierini B, Alessandrini A, Frignani F, Peruzzi L (2010). "Contributo alla conoscenza della flora vascolare endemica di Toscana ed aree contermini. 1. Crocus etruscus Parl. (Iridaceae)". Inform. Bot. Ital. 42 (1): 47–52.
  3. ISBN 978-1405332965
    .
  4. ^
    OCLC 20012412
    .
  5. ^
    S2CID 87988779
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-679-72756-9
    .
  7. ^ "Crocus etruscus". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 22 July 2013.[permanent dead link]


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