List of Crocus species

This list of Crocus species shows the accepted species names within the genus Crocus, which are predominantly spring perennial plants in the Iridaceae (iris) family. The list of species is arranged by section. Estimates of the number of species in Crocus have varied widely, from anywhere between 80 and 160, even in the modern era.

Carl Linnaeus originally included two species in 1753, but new species continue to be identified. The deep phylogenetic infrageneric relationships remain unresolved. When subjected to molecular phylogenetic analysis, the sections are well supported but only some of the series. Ongoing, more detailed examination of the various series is leading to a recircumscription, with increasing monophyly. Species segregate to form a basal polytomy of four subclades (A–D). The first clade (A) corresponding to section Crocus, but including C. sieberi and several closely related species (originally included in section Nudiscapus series Reticulati). The remaining three clades (B-D) include all the remaining species of section Nudiscapus. Of these, B and C are small, corresponding to series Orientales and Carpetani respectively, with all remaining series in the large D clade.

Sections, series and species
Classification of Brian Mathew (1982), amended 2009 and including more recent additions. Series marked with * indicate those known to be monophyletic.

Section Crocus B.Mathew (Clade A)
Species with a basal prophyll. Type species C. sativus L.

* Series Verni B.Mathew

 * Type species C. vernus (L.) Hill : corms with reticulated fibers, spring-flowering (apart from Crocus longiflorus), flowers for the most part without conspicuous outer striping, bracts absent
 * Crocus bertiscensis Raca, Harpke, Shuka & V. Randjel.
 * Crocus etruscus Parl.
 * Crocus heuffelianus Herb.
 * Crocus ilvensis Peruzzi & Carta
 * Crocus kosaninii Pulevic
 * Crocus longiflorus Raf. – Italian crocus (formerly in Series Longiflori)
 * Crocus neapolitanus (Ker Gawl.) Loisel.
 * Crocus neglectus Peruzzi and Carta
 * Crocus siculus Tineo ex Guss.
 * Crocus tommasinianus Herb. – Woodland crocus, Tommasini's crocus
 * Crocus vernus (L.) Hill (=C. sativus var. vernus L. ; C. vernus sensu stricto ) – Spring crocus, Dutch crocus

* Series Baytopi B.Mathew

 * (new Series) Type species Crocus baytopiorum: corms with strongly reticulated fibers; leaves numerous, narrowly linear; spring-flowering, bracts absent; anthers extrorsely dehiscent
 * Crocus baytopiorum Mathew (formerly in Series Verni)

* Series Scardici B.Mathew

 * Type species Crocus scardicus: spring-flowering, leaves have no pale stripe on the upper surface
 * Crocus pelistericus Pulevic
 * Crocus scardicus Kos.

Series Versicolores B.Mathew

 * Type species Crocus versicolor: : spring-flowering, corms with tunics, which for the most part have parallel fibers, flowers with conspicuous exterior striping
 * Crocus cambessedesii J. Gay
 * Crocus versicolor Ker Gawl. – cloth-of-silver crocus
 * Crocus corsicus Vanucchi ex Maw
 * Crocus imperati Ten.
 * Crocus imperati subsp. imperati
 * Crocus imperati subsp. suaveolens (Bertol.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus minimus DC.

* Series Kotschyani B.Mathew

 * Type species Crocus kotschyanus: : autumn-flowering, anthers white, styles for the most part three-forked
 * Crocus autranii Albov.
 * Crocus gilanicus B. Matthew (discovered in 1973 and named after Gilan province in Iran where it was first found)
 * Crocus karduchorum Kotschy ex Maw
 * Crocus kotschyanus K. Koch – Kotschy's crocus (syn. C. zonatus)
 * Crocus kotschyanus subsp. cappadocicus B.Mathew
 * Crocus kotschyanus subsp. hakkariensis B.Mathew
 * Crocus kotschyanus subsp. kotschyanus
 * Crocus kotschyanus subsp. suworowianus (K.Koch) B.Mathew
 * Crocus ochroleucus Boiss. & Gaill.
 * Crocus scharojanii Ruprecht
 * Crocus scharojanii subsp. scharojanii
 * Crocus scharojanii subsp. lazicus (Boiss.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus vallicola Herb.

* Series Crocus

 * Type species Crocus sativus: autumn-flowering, anthers yellow, style distinctly three-branched
 * Crocus asumaniae B. Mathew & T. Baytop
 * Crocus cartwrightianus Herb.
 * Crocus sativus L. – saffron crocus (a sterile triploid mutant or hybrid), presumably derived from Crocus cartwrightianus
 * Crocus dispathaceus (Bowles) B.Mathew
 * Crocus hadriaticus Herb.
 * Crocus hadriaticus subsp. hadriaticus
 * Crocus hadriaticus subsp. parnassicus (B.Mathew) B.Mathew
 * Crocus hadriaticus subsp. parnonicus B.Mathew
 * Crocus moabiticus Bornm. & Dinsmore ex Bornm.
 * Crocus mathewii H. Kemdorff & E. Pasche (1994)
 * Crocus naqabensis Al-Eisawi (2001)
 * Crocus oreocreticus B.L. Burtt
 * Crocus pallasii Goldb.
 * Crocus pallasii subsp. haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reut. ex Maw) B.Mathew
 * Crocus pallasii subsp. pallasii
 * Crocus pallasii subsp. turcicus B.Mathew
 * Crocus thomasii Ten.

Position unclear

 * Following 2009 revision of Mathew 1982.
 * Crocus malyi Vis. (formerly in Series Versicolores)
 * Crocus banaticus Heuff. (formerly in obsolete Subgenus Crociris)
 * Former Series Longiflori B.Mathew Type species C. longiflorus Raf. : autumn-flowering, yellow anthers, styles much divided – now unplaced, and type species moved to series Verni
 * Crocus goulimyi Turrill (see also Constantine Goulimis)
 * Crocus ligusticus M.G. Mariotti (Syn. Crocus medius Balb.)
 * Crocus niveus Bowles
 * Crocus nudiflorus Smith.
 * Crocus serotinus Salisb. – late crocus
 * Crocus serotinus subsp. clusii (J.Gay) B.Mathew
 * Crocus serotinus subsp. salzmannii (J.Gay) B.Mathew
 * Crocus serotinus subsp. serotinus


 * Crocus sieberi aggregate


 * Crocus cvijicii Kos.
 * Crocus dalmaticus Vis.
 * Crocus jablanicensis N. Randj. & V. Randj.
 * Crocus novicii V.Randjel. & Miljkovic
 * Crocus robertianus C.D. Brickell
 * Crocus rujanensis Randjel. & D.A. Hill
 * Crocus sieberi J.Gay – Sieber's crocus, Cretan crocus
 * Crocus sieberi subsp. atticus (Boiss. & Orph.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus sieberi subsp. nivalis (Bory & Chaub.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus sieberi subsp. sieberi
 * Crocus sieberi subsp. sublimis (Herb.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus veluchensis Herb.

Section Nudiscapus B.Mathew
Species without a basal prophyll. Type species C. reticulatus Stev. ex Adams


 * Crocus lydius Kernd. & Pasche (unplaced)

* Series Orientales B.Mathew (Clade B)

 * Type species Crocus korolkowii: Corm with parallel fibers or lightly reticulated, numerous leaves, spring-flowering, style three-forked
 * Crocus alatavicus Semenova & Reg.
 * Crocus caspius Fischer & Meyer (formerly in Series Biflori)
 * Crocus korolkowii Regel ex Maw – celandine crocus
 * Crocus michelsonii B. Fedtsch.

* Series Carpetani B.Mathew (Clade C)

 * Type species Crocus carpetanus: Undersurface of the leaves rounded with grooves, upper surface channeled, spring-flowering, style whitish, obscurely divided
 * Crocus carpetanus Boiss. & Reut.
 * Crocus nevadensis Amo & Campo

* Series Reticulati B.Mathew (Clade D)

 * Type species Crocus reticulatus: Spring-flowering, a bracteole, trifid styles, and reticulate corm tunics (Series Reticulati s.s. Harpke et al.)


 * Series Reticulati s.s.


 * Crocus ancyrensis (Herb.) Maw syn. Crocus reticulatus var. ancyrensis Herb. – Ankara crocus
 * Crocus angustifolius Weston – cloth-of-gold crocus
 * Crocus danubensis Kerndorff, Pasche, N.Randjelovic & V.Randjelovic
 * Crocus filis-maculatis Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus micranthus Boiss. 
 * Crocus orphei Karamplianis & Constantin.
 * Crocus reticulatus Steven ex Weber & Mohr
 * Crocus variegatus Hoppe & Hornsch.


 * Former members of Series Reticulati s.l. (unplaced)


 * Crocus abantensis T.Baytop & B.Mathew
 * Crocus cancellatus Herb.
 * Crocus cancellatus subsp. cancellatus
 * Crocus cancellatus subsp. damascenus (Herb.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus cancellatus subsp. lycius B.Mathew
 * Crocus cancellatus subsp. mazziaricus (Herb.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus cancellatus subsp. pamphylicus B.Mathew
 * Crocus gargaricus Herb.
 * Crocus herbertii B. athew
 * Crocus hermoneus Kotschy ex Maw
 * Crocus hittiticus T.Baytop & B.Mathew syn. Crocus reticulatus subsp. hittiticus (T.Baytop & B.Mathew) B.Mathew
 * Crocus sieheanus Barr ex B.L. Burtt

Series Biflori B.Mathew (Clade D)

 * Type species Crocus biflorus: Tunics of corms split into rings at the base, either entire or with toothlike projections, leathery in texture, spring- or late-winter flowering, style three-forked
 * Crocus adamii Gay syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. adamii (J.Gay) Mathew
 * Crocus aerius Herb.
 * Crocus albocoronatus (Kernd.) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. C. biflorus subsp. albocoronatus Kerndorff
 * Crocus alexandri Nicic ex Velen. syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. alexandri (Nicic ex Velen.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus almehensis C.D. Brickell & B. Mathew
 * Crocus artvinensis (J.Philippow) Gossheim syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. artvinensis (J.Philippow) B.Mathew
 * Crocus bifloriformis Kernd. & Pasche syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. biflorus B.Mathew
 * Crocus biflorus Mill. – silvery crocus, Scotch crocus
 * Crocus caelestis (Kernd.) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. caelestis Kernd. & Pasche
 * Crocus chrysanthus Herb. – Golden crocus, Snow crocus
 * Crocus chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus
 * Crocus chrysanthus subsp. multifolius Papan. & Zacharof
 * Crocus crewei Hooker syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. crewei (Hook.f.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus cyprius Boiss. & Kotschy
 * Crocus danfordiae Maw
 * Crocus danfordiae subsp. danfordiae
 * Crocus danfordiae subsp. kurdistanicus Maroofi & Assadi
 * Crocus fibroannulatus (Kernd.) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. fibroannulatus Kernd. & Pasche
 * Crocus hartmannianus Holmboe
 * Crocus ionopharynx (Kernd.) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. ionopharynx Kernd. & Pasche
 * Crocus kerndorffiorum Pasche (1993)
 * Crocus leichtlinii (Dewar) Bowles
 * Crocus leucostylosus (Kernd.) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. leucostylosus Kernd. & Pasche
 * Crocus melantherus (Kernd.) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. melantherus B.Mathew
 * Crocus nerimaniae Yüzbasioglu & Varol (2004)
 * Crocus nubigena Herbert syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. nubigena (Herb.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus pestalozzae Boiss.
 * Crocus pseudonubigena (B.Mathew) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. pseudonubigena B.Mathew
 * Crocus pulchricolor Herb. ex Tchichatscheff syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. pulchricolor (Herb. ex Tchich.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus punctatus (Kernd.) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. punctatus B.Mathew
 * Crocus stridii Papanicolau & Zacharof syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. stridii (Papan. & Zacharof) B.Mathew
 * Crocus tauri Maw syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. tauri (Maw) B.Mathew
 * Crocus wattiorum (B.Mathew) B.Mathew syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. wattiorum B.Mathew
 * Crocus weldenii Hoppe & Fuernrohr syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. weldenii (Hoppe & Fuernr.) B.Mathew
 * Crocus demirizianus O.Erol & L.Can (2012)
 * Crocus yakarianus Yıldırım & O.Erol (2013)
 * Crocus yataganensis (Kernd.) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. yataganensis Kernd. & Pasche


 *  * Series Lyciotauri Kerndorff & Pasche (Clade D)(new)
 * Type species Crocus lyciotauricus: Outer corm tunics coriaceous or co-riaceous to membranous
 * Crocus atrospermus (Kernd. & Pasche) Kernd. & Pasche syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. atrospermus Kernd. & Pasche
 * Crocus akdagensis Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus akkayaensis Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus beydaglarensis Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus bowlesianus  Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus calanthus  Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus katrancensis  Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus lyciotauricus Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus oreogenus Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus salurdagensis Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus xanthosus Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus ziyaretensis Kerndorff & Pasche

* Series Isauri Kerndorff & Pasche (Clade D)

 * Type species Crocus isauricus: Outer corm tunics annulate and coriaceous
 * Crocus abracteolus
 * Crocus antherotes
 * Crocus caricus (Kernd.) Kernd., Pasche & Harpke syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. caricus Kernd. & Pasche
 * Crocus concinnus Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus fauseri
 * Crocus isauricus Kerndorff & Pasche (ex Bowles) syn. Crocus biflorus subsp. isauricus (Siehe ex Bowles) B.Mathew
 * Crocus karamanensis
 * Crocus mawii
 * Crocus mersinensis
 * Crocus rechingeri Kerndorff & Pasche
 * Crocus taseliensis
 * Crocus tauricus

* Series Speciosi B.Mathew (Clade D)

 * Type species Crocus speciosus: Corm tunic splits into rings at the base, leathery or membranous, foliage after the flowers, autumn-flowering, style much divided
 * Crocus pulchellus Herb. – hairy crocus
 * Crocus speciosus M. Bieb. – Bieberstein's crocus, large purple crocus
 * Crocus speciosus subsp. ilgazensis B.Mathew
 * Crocus speciosus subsp. speciosus
 * Crocus speciosus subsp. xantholaimos B.Mathew

Series Flavi B.Mathew (Clade D)

 * Type species Crocus flavus: Tunics of the corms membranous, split into parallel fibers, spring-flowering, styles much divided
 * Crocus adanensis T. Baytop & B. Mathew (formerly in Series Biflori)
 * Crocus antalyensis Mathew
 * Crocus antalyensis subsp. antalyensis
 * Crocus antalyensis subsp. striatus O.Erol & M.Koçyiğit (2010)
 * Crocus antalyensis subsp. gemicii L.Sik & O.Erol (2011)
 * Crocus candidus E.D. Clarke
 * Crocus flavus Weston – Yellow crocus
 * Crocus flavus subsp. flavus
 * Crocus flavus subsp. dissectus T.Baytop & B.Mathew
 * Crocus flavus subsp. sarichinarensis Rukšans
 * Crocus graveolens Boiss. &Reut.
 * Crocus hyemalis Boiss.
 * Crocus olivieri Gray
 * Crocus olivieri subsp. olivieri – Balkan and Turkey
 * Crocus olivieri subsp. balansae (J.Gay ex Baker) B. Mathew – endemic round İzmir, West-Turkey
 * Crocus olivieri subsp. istanbulensis B. Mathew, Istanbul, Turkey.
 * Crocus paschei H. Kerndorff
 * Crocus vitellinus Wahl.

* Series Aleppici B.Mathew (Clade D)

 * Type species Crocus aleppicus: Tunics of the corms membranous, with split, parallel fibers, foliage produced at the same time as the flowers, fall- or winter-flowering
 * Crocus aleppicus Baker
 * Crocus baalbekensis K. Addam & M. Bou Hamdan
 * Crocus boulosii Greuter
 * Crocus veneris Tappein ex Poech

Series Intertexti B.Mathew (Clade D)

 * Type species Crocus fleischeri: Corm tunic fibrous with fibers interwoven, spring-flowering
 * Crocus fleischeri J.Gay.

* Series Laevigatae B.Mathew (Clade D)

 * Type species Crocus laevigatus Corm tunic membranous or splitting into parallel fibers, sometimes leathery, foliage produced at the same time as flowers, autumn-flowering, anthers white, style much divided
 * Crocus boryi J.Gay
 * Crocus laevigatus Bory & Chaub.
 * Crocus tournefortii J.Gay.