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The Bieberstein's crocus (Crocus speciosus) belongs to Iridaceae (the Iris family). It is a perennial herb that is native from Bulgaria in Europe to Turkey, the Caucasus region, and northern Iran. It grows in deciduous forests, grasslands, meadows, and shrublands, reaching a height of 10 to 15 cm. From around October to November, before the leaves emerge, it extends flower stalks from the ground and produces lilac-colored flowers. The petals feature delicate, dark purple vertical stripes. It has three stamens. After flowering in the fall, the leaves grow from winter through spring, and the plant withers in early summer, entering a dormant period. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. Its English name is derived from the German-born botanist Friedrich Bieberstein (1768-1826), who surveyed plants in the Caucasus region and the Crimean Peninsula in the early 19th century.
In Korean, it's called "ka-eul-keu-ro-keo-seu" (가을크로커스). This is a compound word consisting of "autumn" (ka-eul: 가을) + "crocus" (keu-ro-keo-seu: 크로커스).
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