Early Crocus - Crocus tommasinianus
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Species Description
Scattered and widespread throughout the UK. Habitat includes: Deciduous woodland, gardens, parks, allotments, churchyards, roadsides verges, tracks, amenity grassland etc. It frequently becomes naturalised, spreading both vegetatively and by seed. Growing Habit: Cormous Perennial. Height: Up to 15 cm. Flowers: January to February. Cultivated in Britain since 1847 and was first recorded in the wild in 1963. Native to South Jugoslavia, South Hungary and North West Bulgaria.
Stace 4:
Crocus tommasinianus Herb. - Early Crocus.
Differs from C. neapolitanus and C. vernus in slenderer flowers usually appearing earlier in year and with white throat; (2n=16). Neophyte-naturalised; grown in gardens, naturalised as for C. neapolitanus; scattered in Britain North to Moray, Isle of Man; South East Europe. Very readily self-sowing.
Key:
- Throat of corolla white to mauve or purple; spathe 1, papery; bract 1, white
- Mature leaves mostly 2-3mm wide; flowers mauve to pale purple with white perianth-tube; stigma branches >5mm