Crocus vernus — Dutch crocus

Characteristics

• Clonal plantlets

  Axillary bulblets

  there are no bulblets being produced in axils

• Flowers

  Anther attachment

  the anther is attached by its base to the filament

  Anther color

  the anthers show no hint of a pink, reddish or purplish tint

  Bulblets replace flowers

  there are no bulblets where the flowers are located

  Carpels fused

  the carpels are fused (the number of carpels equals the number of locules)

  Flower bracts

  there are bracts associated with the flower

  Flower number

  1–2

  Flower orientation

  the flowers point upward or spread or curve outward

  Flower petal color

  • blue to purple
  • white

  Flower petal length

  40–205 mm

  Flower shape

  the flower has a funnel-shaped corolla tube

  Flower symmetry

  there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical)

  Flowering stem width

  0 mm

  Form of style

  the style is branched above the base

  Fringed petal edges

  the petals are not fringed

  Hairs on flower stalk

  NA

  Inflorescence hair glands

  the axis of the inflorescence has no hairs on it

  Inflorescence length

  40–250 mm

  Inflorescence type

  • the inflorescence differs from the choices given
  • the inflorescence has only one flower on it

  Length of flower stalk

  0 mm

  Length of peduncle

  0 mm

  Marks on petals

  • the petals have spots or streaks on them
  • there are no noticeable marks on the petals

  Nectar spur

  the flower has no nectar spurs

  Number of carpels

  3

  Number of pistils

  1

  Number of sepals and/or petals

  there are six petals, sepals or tepals in the flower

  Number of styles

  1

  Ovary position

  the ovary is below the point of petal and/or sepal attachment

  Petal and sepal arrangement

  the flower includes two cycles of petal- or sepal-like structures

  Petal appearance

  the petals are thin and delicate, and pigmented (colored other than green or brown)

  Petal base

  the petal narrows gradually or does not narrow at the base

  Petal fusion

  the perianth parts are fused to form a tube, cup, or bell shape

  Petal hairs on inner/upper surface

  • there are hairs on the inner/upper petal surface
  • there are no hairs on the inner/upper petal surface

  Sepal appearance

  the sepals resemble petals in color and texture

  Sepal length

  40–205 mm

  Sepal orientation

  the sepals are pressed against the plant, or jutting stiffly upward

  Sepals fused only to sepals

  the sepals are fused to each other (often along with the petals in monocots), at least near their bases

  Spathe

  the plant does not have a spathe

  Spathe form

  NA

  Spathe length

  0 mm

  Stamen number

  3

  Stamen position relative to petals

  the stamens are lined up with the sepals

  Stamens fused

  the stamens are not fused to one another

  Stamens fused outwards

  the stamens are not fused to the petals or tepals

  Style petal-like

  the style is not broad and flattened like a petal

  Tepals

  the petals and sepals are similar in size and color

• Fruits or seeds

  Berry color

  NA

  Fruit beak length

  0 mm

  Fruit compartments

  there are three locules in the fruit

  Fruit length

  15–20 mm

  Fruit stalk orientation

  NA

  Fruit type (general)

  the fruit is dry and splits open when ripe

  Fruit type (specific)

  the fruit is a capsule (splits along two or more seams, apical teeth or pores when dry, to release two or more seeds)

  Other markings on berry

  NA

• Glands or sap

  Sap

  the sap is clear and watery

• Growth form

  Lifespan

  the plant lives more than two years

  Underground organs

  the plant has one or more swollen storage organs underground, such as bulbs, tubers or corms

• Leaves

  Leaf arrangement

  the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant (basal)

  Leaf blade basal lobes

  the leaf blades do not have basal lobes

  Leaf blade base

  the leaf blade clasps the stem at the base, or the leaf blade goes all the way around the stem, so that the stem appears to pierce the leaf blade

  Leaf blade base shape

  the base of the leaf blade is cuneate (wedge-shaped, tapers to the base with relatively straight, converging edges), or narrow

  Leaf blade cross-section

  • the leaf blade is U- or V-shaped
  • the leaf blade is more or less flat in cross-section

  Leaf blade faces

  both surfaces of the leaf blade are exposed

  Leaf blade form

  Fully-formed (i.e., expanded), +/- green leaf blades are found somewhere on the plant

  Leaf blade orientation

  the edge of the leaf blade faces the stem of the plant

  Leaf blade shape

  the leaf blade is linear (very narrow with more or less parallel sides)

  Leaf blade surface colors

  the upper side of the leaf blade has obvious spots, mottles or stripes

  Leaf blade tip

  the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)

  Leaf blade veins

  the lateral veins are parallel or slightly arched in the direction of the tip

  Leaf blade width

  2–8 mm

  Leaf type

  the leaves are simple (lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets

  Leaflet number

  0

  Stipule twining

  NA

• Place

  Habitat

  terrestrial

  New England state

  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts

  Specific habitat

  • man-made or disturbed habitats
  • meadows or fields

• Scent

  Plant odor

  the leaves have no particular smell

• Stem, shoot, branch

  Flowering stem growth form

  NA

  Flowering stem interior

  NA

  Flowering stem leaves

  NA

  Stem hairs

  NA

Wetland status

Not classified

In New England

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key