Crocus albiflorus (Iridaceae)

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1 - As Soldanella alpina and Rumex alpinus, Crocus albiflorus starts growing before the snow has disappeared.

Crocus albiflorus not only starts growing before the snow has disappeared, it can even successfully flower and fruit below snow cover (autogamy). (all images taken in the central Alps, canton of Valais, Switzerland, in late May, at 2200 m)

Crocus albiflorus
2 - Flower bud "penetrating" the snow by melting it with reflected solar radiation.
 2
Crocus albiflorus
3 - White morph shortly before flowering, still wrapped by snow.
 3
Crocus albiflorus
4 - Flowering violet-white morph.
 4
Crocus albiflorus
5 - Covered and uncovered individuals side by side.
 5
Crocus albiflorus
6 - Border of a melting snowfield.
 6
Crocus albiflorus
7 - Area shortly after snow has disappeared.
 7
Crocus albiflorus
8 - Flower carpet of white and violet Crocus morphs.
 8
Crocus albiflorus
9 - Crocus monoculture.
 9
Crocus albiflorus
10 - In the far background, snowmelt figures are visible.
 10
Crocus albiflorus
11 - All areas freed from snow are immediately conquered by the Crocus flower carpet.
 11
Crocus albiflorus
12 - Shooting individuals.
 12
Crocus albiflorus
13 - White morph shortly before flowering, already uncovered.
 13
Crocus albiflorus
14 - Violet morph in full bloom.
 14
Crocus albiflorus
15 - White morph.
 15
Crocus albiflorus
16 - Violet morph.
 16
Crocus albiflorus
17 - Close-up of tepals.
 17
Crocus albiflorus
18 - View inside a flower. The three stamens and the stigma are clearly visible.
 18
Crocus albiflorus
19 - Two stamens have been cut off to expose the stigma.
 19
Captions
  1. Flower bud "penetrating" the snow by melting it with reflected solar radiation.
  1. White morph shortly before flowering, still wrapped by snow.
  1. Flowering violet-white morph.
  1. Covered and uncovered individuals side by side.
  1. Border of a melting snowfield.
  1. Area shortly after snow has disappeared.
  1. Flower carpet of white and violet Crocus morphs.
  1. Crocus monoculture.
  1. In the far background, snowmelt figures are visible.
  1. All areas freed from snow are immediately conquered by the Crocus flower carpet.
  1. Shooting individuals.
  1. White morph shortly before flowering, already uncovered.
  1. Violet morph in full bloom.
  1. White morph.
  1. Violet morph.
  1. Close-up of tepals.
  1. View inside a flower. The three stamens and the stigma are clearly visible.
  1. Two stamens have been cut off to expose the stigma.