S. I. Ali & Brian Mathew

Crocus sativus Credit: B. Mathew

Perennial herb, corm enclosed in many membranous, coriaceous or fibrous tunics, along with cormlets formed in the axils of scales, peduncle and ovary subterranean. Cataphylls up to 5, membranous, enclosing the aerial shoot. Leaves appearing with flowers or after them; basal flat or with a canal on the upper surface with whitish median stripe; lower surface with a flattish keel having two grooves on either side. Scape absent. Inflorescence 1-many flowered. Flower pedicellate; pedicel short, subterranean, subtended sometimes by a membranous, sheathing prophyll. Bract membranous; brancteoles absent, or reduced or membranous. Perianth 3+3, gamophyllous, tube long and narrow, lobes 6, in 2 whorls, equal or subequal or inner whorl smaller. Stamens 3, inserted at the throat, anthers shorter than filaments, linear, erect. Style with 3-many branches. Ovary subterranean. Capsule maturing just above the ground due to elongation of the pedicel. Seeds many.

A genus with c. 80 species, mainly Mediterranean in distribution extending to Central Asia, China, Middle East to Pakistan. Represented in Pakistan and Kashmir by 1 indigenous and one cultivated species.

Lower Taxa

• Crocus korolkowii Regel ex Maw
• Crocus sativus Linnaeus