Crocus speciosus M. Bieb. Iridaceae

Local Names

Azerbaijan: Gözəl zəfərаn; English: Saffron.

Botany and Ecology

Perennial, 10–40 mm high. Underground stem rather large, globose or depressed-globose, bearing adventitious smaller stems at base; tunics membranous, thinner than in other Crocusspecies, separating into rings; basal tunic membranous, consisting of 1 or 2 rings. Leaves 2–4, appearing after flowers and greatly increasing in size by following season and then up to 40 cm long, 6–8 mm broad, the blade revolute, the margins and midrib ciliate. Flowers lilac with paler coloured throats and dark veins; throat of perianth white, naked; perianth segments acuminate, lilac, the 3 longitudinal purple stripes reticulately branched; outer segments purple-based outside; style cleft to the level of anther tips; stigmas lobate, orange, greatly exceeding the anthers, sometimes recurved. Fruit a capsule, emerging from below ground or low on the plant on a stalk, green to tan or light brown, splitting open to expose the seeds. In...