Abstract

Dr. R. B. Saxena*

ABSTRACT

The genus crocus L. consists currently of about 160 recognized species, small, corm bearing, perennial species having an old world distribution, primarily in Mediterranean- west Europe and north-western Africa to western China, with the center of species diversity on the Balkan Peninsula and in Turkey. Recent phylogenetic analysis proved several infrageneric units within the genus crocus that closely reflects species relationships, here phylogenetic, morphometric, geographic and nomenclatorial data for the species of narrower-defined, monophyletic crocus series Reticulati. Corms series reticulate are closely related, and difficult to be separated taxonomically and have a complex cytology. Botany of crocus series reticulate, taxonomy of their species and their infra-specific taxa are presented, and their distribution, ecology and phenology; description and chromosome counts are provided with key to their identification.