Editing Crocus (section)

=== General ===
''Crocus'' display the general characteristics of family [[Iridaceae]], which include basal cauline (arising from the aerial stem) leaves that sheath the stem base, [[hermaphrodite]] flowers that are relatively large and showy, the perianth petaloid with two whorls of three tepals each and septal nectaries. The flowers have three stamens and a gynoecium of three united carpels and an inferior ovary, three locules and axile placentation with fruit that is a loculicidal capsule.{{sfn|Goldblatt et al|1998|pp=295–296}}

''Crocus'' is an [[acaulescent]] (lacking a visible lower stem above ground) diminutive seasonal cormous (growing from [[corm]]s) [[Perennial plant|herbaceous perennial]] [[geophytic]] genus.{{sfn|Meerow|2012|p=23}} The corms are symmetrical and [[globose]] or [[Glossary of botanical terms#oblate|oblate]] (round in shape with flatted tops and bottoms), and are covered with tunic leaves that are fibrous, membranous or [[coriaceous]] (leathery). The corms produce fibrous [[root]]s, and contractile roots which adjust the corms depth in the soil, which may be pulled as deep as {{convert|20|cm|in|0}} into the soil.{{sfn|Goldblatt et al|1998}}{{sfn|Zhao et al|2004}} The roots appear randomly from the lower part of the corm, but in a few species, from a basal ridge.{{sfn|Goldblatt et al|1998|p=297}}