Fauna
Plant

Late Crocus

Crocus serotinus

Also known as Autumn Crocus

Late crocus emerges in autumn across sunny hillsides and open pine woods, producing delicate lavender or lilac blossoms just as summer greenery begins to fade. Unlike spring-blooming relatives, this resilient geophyte flowers either alongside or immediately following the arrival of its slender, silver-striped foliage. Dormant underground corms sustain the plant through scorching Mediterranean summers, rapidly sending up blooms stimulated by cooling autumn rains.

Autumn FloweringMediterraneanBulb
Late Crocus reference1 / 7
(c) Mariana Nunes, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Wild Boar
  • Field Vole
  • European Rabbit
ThreatsHabitat conversion, intensive grazing, and urbanization
HabitatsScrublands, rocky pastures, open pine forests, and stony slopes
Life spanPerennial (corm regenerates annually)
Classification
  1. FamilyIridaceae
  2. SpeciesCrocus serotinus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Corms cause vomiting in dogs and cats; easily confused with deadly poisonous Colchicum.
Why it is dangerous
True crocus corms contain mild gastrointestinal toxins harmful to pets, and blossoms closely mimic meadow saffron, which contains deadly colchicine.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for exactly three yellow stamens inside each pale violet bloom, distinct from the six stamens found in toxic Colchicum species.
What to do
Enjoy the flowers visually without picking them, and keep domestic animals from digging up or chewing on subterranean corms.
Responsible observation
  • Photography: Kneel low in the early morning to capture the cup-shaped flowers backlit by autumn sunlight.
  • Identification: Count six stamens on toxic Colchicum look-alikes versus exactly three stamens on this true Crocus.
  • Wild Observation: Tread carefully in rocky meadows to avoid trampling delicate emerging flower buds.
Related species
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