Crocus is a genus of seasonal flowering plants in the family Iridaceae comprising about 100 species of perennials growing from corms. They are low growing plants, whose flower stems remain underground, that bear relatively large white, yellow, orange or purple flowers and then become dormant after flowering. Many are cultivated for their flowers, appearing in autumn, winter, or spring. The flowers close at night and in overcast weather conditions. The crocus has been known throughout recorded history, mainly as the source of saffron. Saffron is obtained from the dried stigma of Crocus sativus, an autumn-blooming species. It is valued as a spice and dyestuff, and is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Iran is the center of saffron production. Crocuses are native to woodland, scrub, and meadows from sea level to alpine tundra from the Mediterranean, through North Africa, central and southern Europe, the islands of the Aegean, the Middle East and across Central Asia to Xinjiang in western China. Crocuses may be propagated from seed or from daughter cormels formed on the corm, that eventually produce mature plants. They arrived in Europe from Turkey in the 16th century and became valued as an ornamental flowering plant.
Crocus flavus, known as yellow crocus, Dutch yellow crocus or snow crocus, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It grows wild on the slopes of Greece, former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania and northwestern Turkey, with fragrant bright orange-yellow flowers. It is a small crocus (5–6 cm, despite the names of some cultivars, compared to the giant Dutch crocuses. Its cultivars are used as ornamental plants.
Crocus sieberi, Sieber's crocus, also referred to as the Cretan crocus or snow crocus, is a plant of the genus Crocus in the family Iridaceae. A small, early blooming crocus, it easily naturalises, and is marked by a brilliant orange which is mostly confined to the stamens and style, fading through the bottom third of the tepal. It grows wild generally in the Balkans and Greece, especially in the island Crete. There are four subtypes: sieberi (Crete), atticus, nivalis and sublimis. Its cultivars are used as ornamental plants. Height: 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm).
Crocus tommasinianus, the woodland crocus, early crocus, or Tommasini's crocus, is a flower named after the botanist Muzio G. Spirito de Tommasini (1794-1879). It is native to Bulgaria, Hungary, Albania, and the former Yugoslavia. It is often referred to as the early or snow crocus, but these terms are shared with several other species, although C. tommasinianus is amongst the first to bloom. Multiple plants are often called tommies in the horticultural trade.
Crocus biflorus, the silvery crocus or scotch crocus, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae, native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, including Italy, the Balkans, Ukraine, Turkey, Caucasus, Iraq, and Iran. It is a cormous perennial growing to 6 cm (2.4 in) tall and wide. It is a highly variable species, with flowers in shades of pale mauve or white, often with darker stripes on the outer tepals. The flowers appear early in spring.
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.
- Crocus speciosus subsp. ilgazensisB.Mathew - Turkey
- Crocus speciosus subsp. speciosus - Turkey, Iran, Caucasus, Crimea
- Crocus speciosus subsp. xantholaimosB.Mathew - Sinop Province in Turkey
Crocus graveolens is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is native to Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey.
Crocus minimus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae, found in South Corsica, Sardinia and Capraia.
Crocus olivieri is a species of Crocus from Balkans, Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria to Greece and Turkey.
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 scardicus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial native to eastern Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia.
Crocus fleischeri is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial with a native range from the eastern Aegean Islands to western and south western Turkey.
Crocus candidus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial native to Turkey.
Crocus korolkowii is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial with a native range from central Asia to northern Pakistan.
Crocus alatavicus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial native to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Xinjiang.
Crocus hermoneus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial native to Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.
Crocus cyprius is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial native to Cyprus where it is found in the Troödos Mountains.
Crocus hartmannianus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial native to Cyprus.
Crocus demirizianus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. It is a cormous perennial native to north western Turkey.
