Last days I have noticed in the herb garden, his effort to be born. At last, early this morning, this beauty standing proud in his crispy purple suit greeted me. My heart full of joy went up the sky.George Maw named this small plant C. biliotti after Sir Alfred Biliotti, HM Consul at Trabzon, "through whose instrumentality it was discovered" in May 1880. Unfortunately, Herbert had already named it C. aërius in 1847, from specimens collected in the same area.
The Genus Crocus "magnum opus" by George Maw contains an informative text, often with detailed notes of where the plant was collected, and by whom, an appendix on the etimology of the words crocus and saffron by CC Lacaita, a fellow member of the Linnean society, sixty-seven beautifully coloured plates, and a number of vignettes engraved from sketches by Maw's friend Mr Danford, to whom, with his wife, the book is dedicated.
At the beginning of the book are introductory chapters on the history and cultivation of crocuses, in wich Maw writes:
"It is probable that there are yet many undescribed species to be discovered and introduced. asia Minor is the metropolis of the genus; and I would especially point out to travellers, the souther part of Asia Minor, between Syria and Lycia, as being likely to afford new species. The northeastern extremity of Cyprus, the Taurus, Kurdistan, north west Persia, and the district east of the Caspian have been little explored, and are likely to afford new species. Should travellers meet with any Crocuses in these districts, I shall be grateful if they will transmit them to me"
