Crocus cartwrightianus

804_2259 HF [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 

 This beautiful flower blooms from October to December

at heights from sea-level up to 1000 meters

usually on rocky hillslopes and low shrubbery

in Attica, Cyclades islands and Crete.

It is the wild ancestor of the cultivated Crocus sativus

from which the well-known saffron is produced.

The flower is about 5 cm across with yellow anthers

and an impressive style divided into three long, red, club-shaped branches.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Hymittos.

 

 

801_1420 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 Crocus cartwrightianus is predominantly purple-lilac

but it sometimes comes in white,

as in this picture shot near Cape Sounio.

 

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

803_0670 [Crocuss cartwrightianus]

803_0709 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 

 Crocus cartwrightianus is endemic to Southern Greece;

specifically, to Attica, the Cyclades islands and some parts of Crete.

 

It grows on rocky slopes or in low shrubbery

at heights from sea-level to 1.000 meters

and blooms from October to December.

It is the wild ancestor of the cultivated Crocus sativus

from which the well-known saffron is produced.

 

The flower is about 5 centimeters in diameter

with impressive, long red styles.

It is predominantly purple-lilac

but it often comes in white, as well.

 

The pictures are from Mt. Hymittos. 

 

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

302_2946 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Crocus carwtrightianus is endemic to southern Greece.

It grows from sea level to 1000m in stony locations from October to December.

Its long red styles give it a unique, impressive look.

It is pretty similar to Crocus sativus, the cultivated species;

a fact that justifies why it is considered the ancestor of sativus.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Paneio. 

 

 

 

801_1420 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 The flower is predominantly purple-lilac (see above)

but it often comes in white, as well.

 

The picture is from Sounio.

 

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

IMG_6363 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Crocus cartwrightianus from Mt. Hymittos.

 

It was photographed on October 31, 2022

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

302_3231 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 

803_9546 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

803_9552 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

This beautiful flower blooms in Autumn at heights from sea-level up to 1000 meters usually on rocky hillslopes and low shrubbery in Attica, Cyclades islands and Crete. It is the wild ancestor of the cultivated Crocus sativus from which the well-known saffron is produced.

 All were photographed on Mt. Hymittos in November 2021.

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

304_5113 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 

Ideally, one of these days I would go to a nearby mountain and take some fresh pictures of Crosus cartwrightianus but this ‘scenario’ is not possible. The current circumstances of Covid 19 lockdown have confined me home. So, instead, I searched my photo archive and selected an old picture to share with you; and there is a reason for my selection. 

 

Some years ago, I found the flower above in the center of Ilioupoli (a major residential area, part of Athens). I wanted to see it from close before I took a picture of it but getting close was next to impossible because the area was fenced off all around. So, rather than missing the picture altogether, I used my long telephoto and took the picture from behind the tall wire fence. So far so good.  

 

304_5126 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 

Then, using the same lens, I took a picture of another cartwrightianus, and left in order to go and visit a friend of mine.

Looking at the pictures on my computer screen at home, I noticed that there was only one red style in the second picture instead of three! Where are the other two styles? I still wonder. 

 

No tricks with the camera, no alteration of the picture in processing on my part, I assure you.

 

Anybody out there having a clue? 

 

Photographed on November 20, 2014

Crocus cartwrightianus

803_5659 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

This crocus, found in Central Greece and Crete, flowers from October to December and grows up to 5 centimeters in diameter. It is widely considered to be the direct ancestor of Crocus sativus [cultivated for saffron].
Although it usually comes in lilac, we sometimes see it in white.
See picture below.

803_5666 [Crocus cartwrightianus - Albus]

Both pictures were taken on Mt. Hymittos on November 11, 2019 

Crocus cartwrightianus

IMG_6352  [Crocus Cartwrightianus]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 31, 2018

Crocus cartwrightianus

803_0704 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 22, 2017

Crocus cartwrightianus

_8027561-NX [Crocus carwrightianus]

_8027537-NX [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Both photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 08, 2016

Crocus cartwrightianus: A slide show

[Crocus cartwrightianus: a slide show]

Photographed in Attica between 2010 and 2015

We recommend that you watch in full screen if you can. 

Crocus cartwrightianus

801_8384 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

801_8366 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Both photographed on Mt. Hymittos on November 06, 2014

Crocus cartwrightianus

_8011110 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Photographed on Mt. Paneio on October 27, 2013

Crocus cartwrightianus

DDD_0468 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Keratea: 03/11/2012, photo by Tony Taglides

Crocus cartwrightianus

IMG0470 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Lavrio 18/11/2011, photo © Tony Taglides

Crocus cartwrightianus

AAA4340 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Mt. Paneio: 30/10/2008, photo © Tony Taglides