Description
(Crocus biflorus melantherus)
This is the endemic Greek plant that was once (wrongly) thought to be C. crewei but it may be found under that name in older literature, including Flora Europaea. In fact C. crewei (Turkish) and C. melantherus (Greek) are two different species.
Crocus melantherus differs from most other species of the other species in the biflorus alliance, in having autumnal flowers (usually). These are white, marked with small, deeply purple-coloured, almost black, stripes on the outside. There is a buff or yellow infusion on the outside of the outer three petals and this varies in intensity, from so faint as to almost not be there, to a good pale yellow overwash.
The anthers are black before they ripen and shed their orange-yellow pollen, after which the black persists as a thin stripe on the now yellow anthers. They sit in a yellow-tinged throat, all in all a very ‘different’ but very attractive plant. The whole is gently honey-scented when warm.
One note about this one, if planted late in the season, and it will flower in winter or spring. Thus you will find it in both our Autumn and Spring Crocus listings!
