Crocus Spring Beauty

At the Bishop's Palace Rare Plant Fair I found a little pot of real beauties.  They were tightly in bud when I first saw them, with the long dark plum outer petals, lilac on the inside, are striped and edged with a creamy white,  giving a feathery look similar to some tulips.

The inner three petals are a pale lilac.  The fine green leaves have a white central stripe.
The deep golden anthers contrast well.  The flowers last two or three days and each corn appears to be yielding several blooms in succession.

It certainly lives up to its name!