Crocus sativus
"Crocus sativus" is unknown in the wild, and its ancestor is unknown. The species "Crocus cartwrightianus" is the most probable ancestor, but "C. thomassi" and "C. pallasii" are still being considered as potential predecessors. Manual vegetative multiplication is necessary to produce offspring for this species as the plant itself is a triploid that is self-incompatible and male sterile, therefore rendering it incapable of sexual reproduction. This inability to reproduce on its own supports the hypothesis that "C. sativus" is a mutant descending from "C. carthwrightianus" as a result of selective breeding.