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From outside it didn't look as aerius, inside - so, so... I leave to make decision by yourself. Variability is so great for to show you it I selected 9 pictures of Crocus aerius made by me in wild and one from my collection. Of course not from this spring. By the way - it is not the earliest of annulate crocuses to bloom. But it only confirms how difficult is job done by Helmut Kerndorff and Erich Pasche researching crocuses of this group. They allways accented that it is almost impossible to identificate crocuses by pictures.To show those pictures two entries are needed.Janis
Wow!!!Amazing variation in this crocus, some with very attractive flowers!I think mine falls within the variation of this species.
I'm still afraid that it is not true. Flower segments are too narrow and lacking of very characteristic sharply defined dark blotch on petals outside base which is present in all colour variants from white to deep purple raise great doubt. Under name of aerius is quite often distributed other species and some hybrids. Certainly you must check corm tunics at replanting.Janis
Janis,What should I look for in the corms when re-planting?
Although Crocus aerius by system of B. Mathew belongs to biflorus group its tunics are without basal rings and split in fibers as you can see on attached picture.
Crocus leichtlinii grown from J Archibald seeds, JJA 347501.
Rather lanky Crocus dalmaticus (such poor light in January) showing variously marked purple and creamy outer petals.
.......... It is already the third time he start to flower this month ! And new flowers (the fourth time) are ready to take over.