Colchicum bivonae, Guss.

23. C. bivonae Guss. , Cat. Pl. Boccad. 72 (1821)

(inch C. visianii Pari. , C. latifolium Sibth. & Sm. ).

Corm 2-5-5 x 2-5-4 cm, ovoid; tunic dark brown, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, with a long neck. Leaves (4-)5-9, up to 25 cm x 8-13 mm, developing after anthesis, linear-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, subacute to obtuse, glabrous. Flowers 1-6; perianth-segments (40-)55-65 x 8-20 mm, strongly tessellated, pale to deep pinkish-purple, sometimes white at the base, oblong to broadly elliptical, obtuse to acute. Filaments 10-30 mm; anthers (5—)7—8(—11) mm, purplish-black or -brown; pollen yellow. Styles curved at the apex; stigmas long-decurrent. Capsule c. 40 mm, oblong. Flowering August to October (-November). 2« = 36, 54, 90. C. Mediterranean region and S. part of Balkan peninsula. Bu Gr It Ju Sa Si Tu.

A species requiring critical study.

Considerable differences in size and shape of perianth-segments, anther-size and leaf-characters have been attributed to taxa included here under 23 on present evidence. The situation has been confused by the association of foliage of one species with flowers of another in collections from Greece, where 23 and 17 may grow together.