Crocus  (Crocus oreocreticus)

Classified as Rare on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plant Species 1997 (1).

Crocuses are beautiful dwarf plants in which a single terminal flower develops on the end of a tube, with the true stem remaining below ground until the seeds ripen (2). The cup-shaped flowers have six petals in two overlaying sets of three, with the outer set often slightly larger (2). This species produces pale purple flowers with darker veins and a silvery exterior to the three outer petals (2) (3). Within the flower, the pollen-bearing anthers are a conspicuous yellow and the long style divides into three bright red or deep orange branches (2) (3). C. oreocreticus is closely related to C. cartwrightianus, and it has been argued that its small differences may not justify separate species status (3). Besides being found at higher altitudes, C. oreocreticus can most easily be distinguished from C. cartwrightianus by the silvery-white sheen to its exterior (3).

Native to the mountains of eastern Crete, Greece (4).

Open rocky mountainsides over limestone (2).

Crocuses are perennial plants with an underground storage system in the form of a corm, which keeps them alive during the dry season when the plants are dormant (2). A completely new corm then develops on top of the old one during the next growing season (2). The flowers of C. oreocreticus bloom in autumn, which are then pollinated by insects, bees, moths and beetles (2), and eventually produce red seeds (3).

The threats to this species are unknown.

C. oreocreticus appears on the endangered list of the Greek Red Book and is strictly protected under international law (4). As such, the plant cannot be picked, dug up or otherwise threatened, and its habitat is also protected (4). Additionally, a charity called FloraCretica has been established on Crete which aims to educate the general public, both Greek and visitors, about the plight of Crete’s endangered flora and to encourage the protection of unique and ancient habitats (5). As part of this objective, the organisation is in negotiation with hotels in various parts of the island trying to get them to donate a small area of their land to be maintained as a natural garden, in which seeds and bulbs rescued from destruction elsewhere can be replanted (5). FloraCretica have taken the beautiful, rare and endemic C. oreocreticus as their logo, which will appear on promotional leaflets and posters (5). Thus, the species is receiving good publicity, encouraging pride in the island’s native flora whilst at the same time promoting the need and responsibility of everybody to help preserve it.

For more information on this species see:

Crocus Pages:
http://www.thealpinehouse.fsnet.co.uk/crocus%20pages/

Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A. & Valentine, D.H. (1980) Flora Europaea: Alismataceae to Orchidaceae Vol 5. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

For more information on FloraCretica see:
http://in-crete.110mb.com/floracretica/