![]() ![]() The pedicel is sometimes subtended (below pedicel) by a membranous, sheathing prophyll (leaf-like structure). The flowers are pedicellate (attached to the peduncle by a short subterranean pedicel stalk). The number of peduncles ( flower stems) vary from one to several and remain underground, emerging only at the fruiting stage, bearing flowers that are solitary or several, so that a true scape is absent. The bases of the cataphylls form the corm tunic, and their number varies from 3 to 6, and enclose the true leaves (euphylls), bracts, bracteoles and flowering stalk. ![]() The leaf bases are surrounded by up to 5 membranous sheaths called cataphylls, a specialised leaf. The leaf-like bracts are membranous, while the smaller bracteoles are either membranous or absent. The leaves are from 5 to 30 millimetres ( 3⁄ 16 to 1 + 3⁄ 16 in) wide and 10 to 118 centimetres (4 to 46 in) long. The pale central stripe is caused by parenchymatous cells which lack chloroplasts and may contain air spaces. The keel may be square or rectangular, but is lacking in C. The leaves have a distinctive shape in cross-section, being boat-shaped with two lateral arms with margins recurved inwardly towards the central riged keel, forming the sides of the "boat". These are adaxially (upper surface facing axis) flat or channelled with pale median stripes, while the opposite (abaxial) surface is strongly keeled, with two grooves on either side. Plants produce several basal linear bifacial green leaves that arise from the corms. The roots appear randomly from the lower part of the corm, but in a few species, from a basal ridge. The corms produce fibrous roots, and contractile roots which adjust the corms depth in the soil, which maybe pulled as deep as 20 centimetres (8 in) into the soil. The corms are symmetrical and globose or oblate (round in shape with flatted tops and bottoms), and are covered with tunic leaves that are fibrous, membranous or coriaceous (leathery). Ĭrocus is an acaulescent (lacking a visible lower stem above ground) diminutive seasonal cormous (growing from corms) herbaceous perennial geophytic genus. The flowers have 3 stamens and a gynoecium of 3 united carpels and an inferior ovary, 3 locules and axile placentation with fruit that is a loculicidal capsule. ![]() They arrived in Europe from Turkey in the 16th century and became valued as an ornamental flowering plant.Ĭrocus sativus, with ovary sectioned GeneralĬrocus display the general characteristics of family Iridaceae, which include basal cauline (arising from the aerial stem) leaves that sheath the stem base, hermaphrodite flowers that are relatively large and showy, the perianth petaloid with 2 whorls of 3 tepals each and septal nectaries. Crocuses may be propagated from seed or from daughter cormels formed on the corm, that eventually produce mature plants. 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. Iran is the center of saffron production. It is valued as a spice and dyestuff, and is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Saffron is obtained from the dried stigma of Crocus sativus, an autumn-blooming species. The crocus has been known throughout recorded history, mainly as the source of saffron. The flowers close at night and in overcast weather conditions. Many are cultivated for their flowers, appearing in autumn, winter, or spring. 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. ![]() Crocus ( / ˈ k r oʊ k ə s/ plural: crocuses or croci) is a genus of seasonal flowering plants in the family Iridaceae (iris family) comprising about 100 species of perennials growing from corms. ![]()
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