Crocus
Crocus
Crocus (pronunciation: /ˈkrəʊkəs/) is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family comprising 90 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring. The spice saffron is obtained from the stigmas of Crocus sativus, an autumn-blooming species.
Etymology
The name of the genus is derived from the Greek κρόκος (krokos). This, in turn, is probably a loan word from a Semitic language, related to Hebrew כרכום karkōm, Aramaic ܟܟܘܪܟܟܡܡܐ kurkama, and Arabic كركم kurkum, which mean "saffron" (Crocus sativus), "saffron yellow" or turmeric (see Curcuma).
Species
The genus Crocus is native to a wide area from coastal and subalpine areas of central and southern Europe (including the islands of the Aegean), North Africa and the Middle East, across Central Asia to western China.
Crocus sativus
Crocus sativus is a species of flowering plant of the Crocus genus in the Iridaceae family. It is best known for producing the spice saffron from the filaments that grow inside the flower.
Related Terms
- Corm: A rounded underground storage organ present in plants such as crocuses, consisting of a swollen stem base covered with scale leaves.
- Saffron: A spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the "saffron crocus".
- Iridaceae: A family of plants in order Asparagales, taking its name from the irises, meaning rainbow, referring to its many colours.
- Perennial: A plant that lives more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Crocus
- Wikipedia's article - Crocus
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