A VERY DISTINCTIVE PLANT - CROCUS BANATICUS

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 NW Africa to W China, with the center of species diversity on the Balkan Peninsula and in Turkey. Due to very dark form of crocus banaticus also called Romanian form. All crocus banaticus originated in Romania but this was raised from wild seeds. Due to distinctive plant, it creates its own sub- genus is the crocus sub-family known as crocoideae and sub-genus crociris. History, botany, taxonomy, infra-specific taxa, distribution, ecology, phenology, description, chromosome counts, etc. are provided with key to their identification. Key words : Crocus, Geographic area. Botany, Chromosome, Phenology, Crociris, Banaticus.