About Crocus banaticus J.Gay
Crocus banaticus is a species of flowering plant that belongs to the family Iridaceae. It is native to the Balkans, occurring specifically in Serbia, Romania, and southwestern Ukraine. It forms its own subgenus called Crociris within the Crocus subfamily. This cormous perennial plant grows to around 10 cm (4 inches) in height. Its flowers, which most commonly are violet but can also be white, bloom in autumn. Unlike more symmetrical crocus species from other subgenera, the small inner tepals of Crocus banaticus are surrounded by three much larger outer tepals. After flowering, grass-like leaves emerge; these leaves do not have the silver stripe that is typically seen on leaves of other Crocus species. This plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
