Crocus angustifolius

Crocus angustifolius, the cloth-of-gold crocus, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae, native to southern Ukraine and Armenia. It is a cormous perennial growing to 5 cm (2.0 in) tall and wide. The narrow grass-like leaves with silver central stripe appear in late winter or early spring. They are followed by bright yellow fragrant flowers with maroon blotches on the outer petals.[2]

Crocus angustifolius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Crocus
Species:
C. angustifolius
Binomial name
Crocus angustifolius
Weston
Synonyms[1]
  • Crocus revolutus Haw.
  • Crocus roegnerianus K.Koch
  • Crocus susianus Ker Gawl.

Description

Crocus angustifolius is a herbaceous perennial geophyte growing from a corm. The globose (round but bulging somewhat in the middle) shaped corm has a coarsely reticulated tunic. The flowers are narrow, opening to a funnelform or radiate shape. The golden yellow flowers have glossy red-brown mottling and streaks on the outer surfaces. The flowers bloom while the grass-like leaves are present.[3]

Habitat

Native to the Crimea where it is found growing on hillsides, in juniper woods, and in areas of scrub; flowering occurs from February to March.[4]

Cultivation

C. angustifolius is widely cultivated, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5] The cultivar 'Minor' has smaller, attractive darker flowers and blooms a little later than the species. The leaves are also more upright. It is winter hardy to USDA zone 5.[3]

References
  1. "Crocus angustifolius Weston | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  2. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  3. Jelitto, Leo (1990). Hardy herbaceous perennials. Wilhelm Schacht, Michael E. Epp, John Philip Baumgardt, Alfred Fessler. Portland, Or.: Timber Press. p. 168. ISBN 0-88192-159-9. OCLC 20012412.
  4. Phillips, Roger; Rix, Martyn (1989). The Random House Book of Bulbs. Random House. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-679-72756-9.
  5. "Crocus angustifolius". Plant Selector. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
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