Short Description
The spring crocus overwinters in tubers.
The leaves start at the base of the plant. They are narrow like grass and have a white line in the middle. The edges are rolled downwards. At flowering time they are usually not yet fully developed.
There is no stem. Leaves and flowers arise from an underground tuber.
The flowers are erect and white to purple. They have partly purple stripes, partly a dark marking at the tips. The petals are tubular and form a long funnel. The three long stamens inside the flower have yellow pollen. They are clearly visible, as is the yellow pistil.
The plant forms capsules splitting along the midrib of each locule.
Features
Spring crocus
Crocus vernus
erect, white to purple flowers
grass-like leaves with white centre stripe
In the city
The spring crocus grows in mountain meadows and pastures. It is one of the most popular early bloomers - plants that flower as early as spring - and is often planted in gardens and parks.
Fun Facts
The flowering period is from March to June.
The flowers of the spring crocus already react to temperature fluctuations of 0.2°C and close when larger clouds pass by.
In order to be able to pierce the snow cover, the leaves possess a drill tip made of thickened cells.
It lives for several years and generally flowers and fruits annually (perennial plant).
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Sources
Habitus, Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crocus_vernus_5.jpg
Blüten, AnRo0002, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20160206Crocus_tommasinianus05.jpg
Habitus, Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crocus_vernus_4.jpg
Seitz, B., Ristow, M., Meißner, J., Machatzi, B. & Sukopp, H. (2018) Rote Liste und Gesamtartenliste der etablierten Farn- und Blütenpflanzen von Berlin. : Der Landesbeauftragte für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege / Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Klima und Verkehr (eds.) Rote Listen der gefährdeten Pflanzen, Pilze und Tiere von Berlin, URL: https://www.berlin.de/sen/uvk/natur-und-gruen/naturschutz/artenschutz/artenlisten-rote-listen/farn-und-bluetenpflanzen/ (Accessed: 26.03.2021).
Page „Frühlings-Krokus“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 14.02.2018, 07:13 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fr%C3%BChlings-Krokus&oldid=173993451 (Accessed: 16.07.2018).
Bundesamt für Naturschutz (n.d.) Artensteckbriefe, URL: http://floraweb.de/pflanzenarten/artenhome.xsql?suchnr=26500& (Accessed: 16.07.2018).
Schauer, T., Caspari, C. & Caspari, S. (2015) Der illustrierte BLV-Pflanzenführer für unterwegs. 1150 Blumen, Gräser, Bäume und Sträucher, München: BLV.