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MaltaWildPlants.com by Stephen Mifsud |
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Crocus longiflorus (Yellow-throated Crocus) |
Crocus longiflorus (IRIDACEAE.) Images for this profile are taken from the Maltese Islands at or after year 2000. |
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Nomenclature |
Species name : | Crocus longiflorus
Rafinesque | Authority : | Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, Turkey/France/Sicily, 1783-1840 | Synonyms : |
Basionym or principal synonyms: Crocus odorus Biv. Full list of synonyms:
[ PlantList ]
[ IPNI ]
[ Catalogue of Life ]
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Plant Family : | Iridaceae Juss. (Iris Family) | English name(s) : | Yellow-throated Crocus | Maltese name(s) : | Żagħfran selvaġġ skars | Status for Malta : | Subendemic. Found in Malta and neighbouring territories such as in south Sicily, Lampedusa, Pantelleria, etc. | Name Derivation : |
Crocus = Saffron (Latin);
longiflorus = Long flowered, referring to the long neck of the flower (Latin).
| Remarks : | - |
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Morphology and structure |
PLANT STRUCTURE: |
Character | Growth Form | Branching | Surface |
Description | No aerial stem, stalk or scape : Stalkless flowers and leaves grow directly from an underground true stem (bulb, rhizome, tuber, etc.). | No aerial stem, stalk or scape : Aerial stem or flowering scape is absent. | Hirsute : Covered with rough, coarse hairs. |
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LEAVES: |
Character | Arrangement | Attachment | Venation |
Description | No arrangement : Leaves grow randomly from bulbs, rhizomes or other underground stems at no particular arrangement. | Sessile from an underground stem : Growing directly from an underground stem (bulb, rhizome, tuber, etc.) without a stalk. | Single : One central main vein (midrib) along leaf axis. |
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Character | Leaf Shape | Leaf Margin | Remarks |
Description | Ensiform : Sword-shaped, long, flat and gradually tapering to a pointed tip. | Entire : Smooth margin without indentations, lobes or any projections. | |
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FLOWERS: |
Character | Colour | Basic Flower Type | No. of Petals | No. of Sepals |
Description | Lilac to violet | Salverform : A flower starting with a long, thin tube made usually but not always of fused petals that widens suddenly into a flat-faced flower with petals becoming separated. | 6 To be botanically precise, the flower has 3 sepals (outer whorl) and 3 petals (inner whorl) which are identical, and so they are collectively referred to as 6 tepals or perianth segments. | 0 |
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Character | Inflorescence | Description | Ovary | Stamens |
Description | Single and Terminal : Single, solitary flower at the apex of the stem or flower branch. | The flower consists of 6 distinct petals of lilac / violet colour which have dark purple veins more prominent at the outer side. The petals constrict and form a tube like structure (the neck) at the basal part. The tubular neck runs further down to the underground corm where the ovaries are located. There is a yellow ring at the constriction region (known as the throat). | Inferior : Ovary situated below the flower parts (the calyx, corolla, and androecium). In other words, these are attached above the ovary. | 3, Antipetalous : Ovary situated below the flower parts (the calyx, corolla, and androecium). In other words, these are attached above the ovary. |
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Character | Scent | Average Flower Size | Pollen Colour | Other Notes |
Description | YES Sweet and quite strong honey-like scent. | 30mm across (when flower is fully open). | Bright Yellow | - |
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SEEDS: |
Character | No. Per Fruit | Shape | Size | Colour |
Description | 16-24 | Spherical or Slightly ovoid | 2-3mm | Orange to reddish-brown (when fully ripe they have a reddish brown colour). |
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FRUIT AND OTHER BOTANICAL DATA: |
Character | Fruit Type | Colour of Fruit | Subterranean Parts | Other Notes |
Description | Dehiscent Loculicidal Capsule : A fruit capsule that splits open longitudinally into the cavity of the locule when the seeds are ripe. | Green Turns light brown when ripe. | Corm : A bulb-like stem, which, unlike a true bulb, is solid and has a bud on top from which the new stem grows and sends down roots from its base when the new growing. | - |
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Plant description and characters | |
Life Cycle: | Perennial. |
Growth Form: | GEOPHYTE (bearing underground bulbs, rhizomes, stolons, etc.) |
Habitat: | Grassy land in rocky places and garigue. |
Frequency: | Rare |
Localities in Malta: | Very Rare but locally frequent in one area at the South-South West of Malta (ie. Dingli Cliffs, Ghar il-Kbir, Girgenti). |
Plant Height: | 15cm. |
| Nov-Dec |
Protection in Malta: | Not Protected by Law (LN200/2011 or LN311/2006) |
Red List 1989: | This species has a threatened status and is listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands |
Poison: | Unlikely to be poisonous. |
This low (10cm approx) perennial grows from underground brown and fibrous corms. Around the start of Autumn, the vegetative corm start developing the reproductive flower. The flower grows directly from the corm with no real stalks or stems. The stalk-like structure is actually the long neck of the flower. The leaves also grow directly from the corm and strangely they develop fully just at or after blossoming of the flowers.
The leaves are simple and variably long (about 5-10cm), thin (2 to 3mm), have an entire outline and a characteristic central white stripe running longitudinally along the leaf axis. The shape of these leaves is sometimes described as ensiform, hence having the shape of sword-blade.
If the leaf is simple, the flower is not! It is highly coloured, sweet scented, and attractive. It is made up of 6 petals of a pale violet / lilac colour, but no sepals. At the outer side there is a pattern of pinnate dark-violet/purple veins which are less prominent at the inside part of the petal. The petals are mostly un-fused, but they constrict and then join at the 'base' of the flower to form a thin tube which goes further down under the soil to the corn. At along half way its length. the flower tube is protected by a whitish to pale green sheath which also supports the flower neck.
At the zone where the petals constrict to form a tube, hence at a region referred to as the throat, there is a yellow coloration, more prominent from inside of the flower, but still noticable from the exterior. At the throat region, 3 stamens are joined to the 3 petals (= the inner whorl of 6 corolla tepals). The stamens are erect, and have a rod-shaped anther which is bright yellow in colour. The female part is more contrasting, having a bright orange-red colour, prominent, and the style divides to three branches of stigma which have short lobed ends. The style goes down the flower neck until it reaches the ovary located under the soil.
The ovaries develop into the seed capsule (the fruit) which open up in March, when the seeds are ripe. The young fruit can be difficult to locate since it is found at or just above ground level. The fruit capsule is an ovate structure, about 1cm long and dull green. When ripe it splits longitudinally into 3 parts bearing the orange or reddish-brown seeds. The seeds are subspherical in shape and measure about 2mm.
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Information, uses and other details |
Sub-endemic species
This plant is found in few places around the central Mediterranean region and so it is nearly an endemic species to Malta, or what is referred to as sub-endemic. Apart from Malta it is only found in Egadi islands (West of Sicily), some parts of Sicily and South Italy mostly in Calabria, Murge, Basilic. a Serraneta, Pollino, Sila, Rosarno, Mongiana, Serra S, R nel Salern. (Monte di Stella, Monte Sacro), Bruno and also in Dalmazia. Reports that it was seen in Tunisia, were false. [WWW-42]
Propagation
Once the leaves have died down, the corms can be lifted and separated for replanting. Seeds may also be sown in pots of sandy soil in the fall and placed in a cold frame. The seedlings grow very slowly, however, and will not bloom for several years. [WWW-43]
Uses for Saffron
The spice saffron comes mainly from the stigma of a closely related Crocus, thus the C. sativus. This species is cultivated purposely to extract saffron. However a paper reports that C. longiflorus also have very similar characteristics of producing saffron like the C. sativus. The paper by Casoria et al, 1996 called a preliminary note on an interesting species of crocus (Crocus longiflorus, Iridaceae) similar to Saffron (C. sativus) discusses a wild crocus in the Salerno region of Italy that local people use like saffron. Chemical tests show that C. longiflorus contains some of the same coloring and flavoring agents as true saffron. Interestingly, C. longiflorus reproduces sexually, unlike C. sativus. Further studies might show that the two species are related. [299]
Personal Observations
Species in danger of disappearing from the Maltese islands
It has been reported by many botanists, namely E. Lanfranco [300] that this plant is continually decreasing in number from our islands, mainly due to land management and bad disposing of rubble in the environment. It is very difficult to resist the temptation of not picking up this wonderful, colourful and scented flower, but bear in mind that this species is in danger of disappearing from our country and must NOT BE PICKED UP at all costs. Apart from the fact that the plant is attractive and scented, another factor which acts against the plant is that of growing low and one is more encouraged to cut it up to look closer without bowing down. Additionally each individual plant may develop only 2 - 3 flowers in its life cycle and so it is more important to leave the flowers to perform their reproductive process. Unfortunately, seed production and dispersion in the wild is not much effective for this plant either.
So, avoid picking this wild, sub-endemic and rather endangered, flowering wild plant. [SM]
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