Crocus corsicus

Crocus corsicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Iridaceae
Subfamily:	Crocoideae
Genus:	Crocus
Species:	C. corsicus
Binomial name
Crocus corsicus Mill.

Crocus corsicus is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae, endemic to the Island of Corsica.^[1] It is a cormous perennial growing to 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in) tall. The fragrant slender flowers, one or two per plant, are bright lilac pink on the inside, pale pink with dark purple feathering on the outside of the tepals. The flowers appear in spring.^[2][3][4]

Crocus minimus also grows on Corsica and looks very similar, however, it can be distinguished quickly by the colour of the stigma, which in the case of C. corsicus is reddish-orange, rather than yellow.^[5]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[6]

References

1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
2. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
3. Ruksans, J. (2010). Crocuses. A complete guide to the genus: 1-216. Timber Press, Portland, London
4. Tutin, T.G. & al. (eds.) (1980). Flora Europaea 5: 1-452. Cambridge University Press.
5. J. Gamisans and J-F Marzocchi (1996). La Flore Endémique de la Corse. Edisud.
6. "Crocus corsicus". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 22 July 2013.