Crocus ochroleucus

Crocus ochroleucus is species of flowering plant in the Iridaceae family.[2] It is a cream-colored crocus native to Lebanon, Palestine and Syria.[3]

Crocus ochroleucus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
Order:
Asparagales
Family:
Iridaceae
Genus:
Crocus
Section:
Crocus
Series:
Kotschyani
Species:
C. ochroleucus
Binomial name
Crocus ochroleucus

Description

Perennial. Tubercle small, proliferous, surrounded with membranous brown tunics. Leaves 4-6, appearing together with flowers, strongly canaliculate, 1.5–2 mm wide. Basal spathe often surrounding numerous scapes. Floral spathe diphyllous, partly enclosing a long tube. Perianth 2–3 cm ; tepals elliptical-ovate, cream-white, yellow and bearded at base. Anthers whitish, longer than filament. Stigmas orange.

Flowering

October–December.

Habitat

Rocky places, light soils.

Distribution

Lower and middle mountains, South, Hermon.

Geographic area

The cream-white color of this crocus is at origin of specific name ochroleucus, which is derived from the Greek ôchros , yellow, and leukos, white. The Latin name Crocus, and the Greek name krokos which gave it birth, were used by ancients to designate the peculiar species with violet flowers: Crocus sativus, whose large stigmas, highly fragrant and of a beautiful orange yellow tint, produce the famous saffron used in coloration of certain food and liquors. The cream-colored Crocus, known in Lebanon as hirsanneen, grows abundantly after autumn first rainfalls. Its tubercles are sometimes eaten. Crocus has 3 stamens. This characteristic, among others, allows to differentiate it from meadow saffron which belongs to the Lily Family and has 6 stamens[4]

References
  1. Fragman-Sapir, O., Semaan, M. & Lansdown, R.V. (2017). "Crocus ochroleucus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T13160779A18609832. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T13160779A18609832.en. Retrieved September 18, 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Crocus ochroleucus Boiss. & Gaill". World Flora Online. The World Flora Online Consortium. n.d. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  3. "Crocus ochroleucus Boiss. & Gaill". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  4. Mustapha Nehmeh, Wild Flowers Of Lebanon, National Council For Scientific Research,1978,pages 151, 152.

Sources
  • Georges Tohme & Henriette Tohme, Illustrated Flora of Lebanon, National Council For Scientific Research, Second Edition 2014.

[Category:Flora of Palestine (region)]]

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