Crocuses in the garden herald spring. In many gardens it is a real pleasure to see all the different types of crocuses. From beautiful white large crocuses to bright yellow or bright purple. Crocuses that have been planted in the ground and emerge every spring. A lawn full of yellow crocuses or a border completely purple with all the crocuses. The flower buds slowly emerge between the autumn leaves of the fall. The chalice-shaped flowers open when the sun is shining or when there is a lot of light and tell ?? that winter is coming to an end. The popular crocuses in the garden are bought from the grower or garden store. Preferably plant a new type of crocus every year in the autumn. The origin of the crocus in the Netherlands starts in the 16th century.
- The history of the farmer’s crocus
- The differences between the farmer’s crocus and the variegated crocus
- Description farmer’s crocus
- Propagation by butterflies
- Facts
The history of the farmer’s crocus
The common crocus (Crocus tommasinianus) is a plant of the iris family (Iridaceae). The plant is a stinsen plant. Stinsenplants are wild spring flowers that originally did not occur in the Netherlands. Stinsen plants were brought from outside the Netherlands and planted a long time ago. The plants were able to survive and gradually become naturalized over many years, thereby covering large areas. It is mainly bulb, tuber and root crops that were planted on estates, around castles and farmyards. In Friesland, the farmer’s crocus can be found in various meadows where they ended up digging the mounds. The farmer’s crocus originates in the Balkans and grows wild in northwestern Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro. Around 1850 the farmer’s crocus was introduced in the Netherlands. The farmer’s crocus can easily be confused with other crocus varieties.
The differences between the farmer’s crocus and the variegated crocus
The crocuses that can often be admired in gardens and parks give color to the beginning of spring and herald spring. Most crocuses originate from the Mediterranean. The many new varieties and species originate from the wild crocuses. The newest varieties are the crocuses with bright colors and large petals. Sometimes difficult to distinguish from the farmer’s crocus. The variegated crocus (also a stinsen plant and wild variety) most resembles the farmer’s crocus.
Difference in crocuses
All crocuses look alike, but there is a difference between the different crocuses. How can the farmer’s crocus and the colorful crocus be separated? Some differences are:
| Characteristic | Farmer’s crocus (Crocus tommasinianus) | Variegated crocus (Crocus vernus) |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Purple with white stripes or white with purple stripes | Plain light purple, lilac to lavender blue |
| Tube (at the fusion of the petals) | Colored tube | Plain gray-white tube |
| Flowering time | February March | February-April |
| Flower leaves | Pretty pointed top | Petals ovate or elongated ovate top |
| Blade width | 2 to 4 millimeters | 4 to 9 millimeters |
A striking feature of the flowering crocus is that the petals open in a star shape in sunny weather. The variegated crocus has petals that are more rounded. Both stinsen plants are closely related and can interbreed. Creating a new species in the Iridaceae family: Crocus vernus x tommasinianus (variegated crocus x barnyard crocus)
Description farmer’s crocus
The farm crocus (as a stinsenplant) flowers at the end of winter, becoming early spring. A bit depending on the temperature and snow, usually around February-March. Leaves come out of a tuber in the ground that are so ?? n be 2 to 4 mm wide. Some long, narrow and gutter-shaped leaves with a white line in the center. From an upright greyish flower stem emerges an ambiguous calyx-like flower (a flower with both male and female genitalia). The 6 elongated to elliptical flower petals are light purple, lilac to lavender on the outside and on the inside of the calyx flower the blue crocus is lighter colored. At the place where the petals merge into 6 separate petals (the throat), the light flower stalk is sometimes slightly darker. The petals usually have a fairly pointed to blunt top. The flowers have one sheath at the base of the gray-white flower spike that includes leaves and flower spike. Not to be confused with membranous bract of the flower.
Propagation by butterflies
The farmer’s crocus multiplies largely by division of the tuber, but also by seed. The three stamens are in one wreath and have 3 yellow, long and pointed anthers. The long straight style fans out in 3 upwardly widened and orange-colored stamps. The stigmas continue to grow above the stamens. The lower ovary (the sepals, petals and stamens are implanted at the top of the ovary) secrete honey at the top. Because the flower cap tube is narrow, only butterflies with their roller tongues can reach it. When the stigmas are above the stamens, the butterflies cross-pollinate.
Self-pollination
Since the first butterflies are temperature dependent, spontaneous self-pollination can also take place. By the end of flowering, the anthers turn outward. The perianth tube, with the anthers, elongates and so they can reach the stigma and bring about self-pollination. The underlying ovary, initially still underground, also emerges above the ground after flowering and the capsule contains a monocot seed (in the seed there is only one germinal lobe that passes on the food to the seedling). Ants and the wind take care of the seed dispersal.
Facts
- In rainy weather and when it gets dark, the flowers close.
- The flower of the Crocus sativus (saffron crocus) has three blood-red stigmas and three yellow stamens. The stamps of this crocus are picked and dried and the precious saffron (a spice) is extracted from it.
- The scientific name Crocus comes from the Latin croceus, which means saffron.
- When the spring break comes, the crocuses bloom!
