delirium florens
Crocus cultivar
Most Crocus species originate on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, on the Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas. Only one variety, Crocus vernus, can be found from the Alps through Central Europe all the way to the Pyrenees. However, a number of other Crocus species have been cultivated and many of these also produce blue or purple flowers. Given that this one was found in a park, it is hard to determine a species. In gardens and parks, crocusses are prized as early bloomers and thus it is no surprise that many of them have names that express that fact: Early Crocus (C. tommasinianus), Spring Crocus (C. vernus) or Snow Crocus (C. flavus), for example. One exeption is the Autumn Crocus, C. sativus. This last one is best known for its floral stigmas, which are used as the spice saffron. C. sativus has been cultivated in Asia and Europe for such a long time (3,500 years at least) that it no longer possible which species it originated from.
Crocus cultivar
Most Crocus species originate on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, on the Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas. Only one variety, Crocus vernus, can be found from the Alps through Central Europe all the way to the Pyrenees. However, a number of other Crocus species have been cultivated and many of these also produce blue or purple flowers. Given that this one was found in a park, it is hard to determine a species. In gardens and parks, crocusses are prized as early bloomers and thus it is no surprise that many of them have names that express that fact: Early Crocus (C. tommasinianus), Spring Crocus (C. vernus) or Snow Crocus (C. flavus), for example. One exeption is the Autumn Crocus, C. sativus. This last one is best known for its floral stigmas, which are used as the spice saffron. C. sativus has been cultivated in Asia and Europe for such a long time (3,500 years at least) that it no longer possible which species it originated from.