Crocus sativus

Crocus sativus, commonly known as saffron crocus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is best known for producing the spice saffron from the filaments that grow inside the flower. The Crocus sativus species is a perennial, bulbous plant that is native to Southwest Asia, but it has been cultivated for thousands of years and is grown worldwide.

Description

The Crocus sativus plant grows to 20–30 cm (8–12 in) and bears up to four flowers. Each flower has three vivid crimson stigmas, which are the distal end of a carpel. The plant flowers in the autumn and comes up every year, so it is known as a perennial plant. The plant sprouts 5–11 white and non-photosynthetic leaves known as cataphylls, which cover and protect the crocus's 5 to 11 true leaves as they bud and develop.

Cultivation

Crocus sativus is a triploid that is "self-incompatible" and male sterile; it undergoes aberrant meiosis and is hence incapable of independent sexual reproduction—all propagation is by vegetative multiplication via manual "divide-and-set" of a starter clone. Crocus sativus thrives in the Mediterranean maquis, an ecotype superficially resembling the North American chaparral, and similar climates where hot and dry summer breezes sweep semi-arid lands. It can nonetheless survive cold winters, tolerating frosts as low as −10 °C (14 °F) and short periods of snow cover.

Uses

The most famous use of Crocus sativus is for the production of saffron. Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus; each flower's three stigmas are collected and dried to be used mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food. Saffron has been used as a traditional medicine and is also used in perfumery and dyeing.

See also

• Saffron (use)
• History of saffron
• Trade and use of saffron

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