Tulipa cretica - Cretan Tulip - (Liliaceae)

This tulip is endemic to Crete where it grows in very large colonies. It is a member of the Lily (Lilaceae) family.

Tulipa Cretica

Picture by kind permission of Anne Horsfall

Each plant has between 1 - 4 flowers, normally white but sometimes tinged with pink. The tepals are stained with yellow at the base of the inside, and the outside of the three outer tepals is tinged green or purple. It flowers from March to May and can be found in rocky habitats both in the hills and on lower ground.

The specimens shown above were photographed in Crete.