The Crocus is a genus of plants of the family Iridaceae or Iris, forming one of the most common ornaments of the garden. They are natives to the northern parts of the Old World, especially southern Europe and the Middle East, and three grow wild in Britain. They may be divided, according to their period of flowering, into vernal and autumnal. Among the vernal crocuses may be mentioned the white and purple Crocus vernus; Crocus versicolor, distinguished by the yellow tube of its flower bearded with hairs, and its sweet scent; Crocus biflorus, the Scotch crocus, with beautiful pencilled sepals, and clear or bluish-white petals. Among the autumnal species are Crocus nudiflorus and Crocus sativus, whose long, reddish-orange, drooping stigmas, when dried, form saffron. Research Crocus More pictures of Crocus
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Abbreviations
Nature
Research Crocus
