Description
(syn Crocus speciosus ilgazensis)
This was originally described by Brian Mathew as a subspecies of C. speciosus, however it has now been raised to specific level by Janis Ruksans. It is both the smallest and the earliest flowering of the complex of species centred around C. speciosus. It may be distinguished by the short, less-branched style (usually branched into 6 only) and the shorter floral tube.
The flowers are made early in the season, as early as the first week in September, and onwards, here and they are lilac-blue. The inner petals appear a little paler than the outer set of three as the violet veining is more widely spaced lower down the petals. Both inners and outers are varyingly veined with deeper purple, more so on the exterior of the out three. Inside the flower there is a short style which is usually six branched, sometimes with additional fine divisions towards the tips. The corm tunic is membranous, splitting into parallel fibres
A native of alpine turf, stony slopes and patches between trees, over limestone, on Ilgaz Dag, N. Turkey at around 1,600-1,750m. Here it experiences cold, snow-covered winters and warm, drier summers. In cultivation it is easy and does not need any special treatments other than a well-drained, fertile, loam-based compost and not too severe a summer rest.
Stock originally from Janis Rukšāns.
Introduced to our lists September 2017.
