The plant is most commonly known as the saffron crocus. The alternative name autumn crocus is also used for species in the See more

Crocus sativus is a perennial herb that grows about 10 to 30 cm high. It develops as an underground corm, which produces leaves, bracts, bracteole, and the flowering stalk. It generally blooms with purple flowers in the autumn. Flowers are sterile, have six … See more

It is thought that the domesticated saffron crocus most likely arose as a result of selective breeding from the wild C. cartwrightianus in the southern portion of mainland Greece. An … See more

As a sterile triploid, C. sativus is unknown in the wild and relies upon manual vegetative multiplication for its continued propagation. Because all cultured individuals of this plant are clonal, there is minimal genetic diversity from the single domestication … See more

Saffron crocus is a triploid with 24 chromosomes (2n = 3x = 24), making the plant sexually sterile due to its inability to pair chromosomes during meiosis. Its most probable ancestor is the wild species Crocus cartwrightianus. Although C. thomasii See more

The stigmas of the flower are used as the culinary spice saffron. It is also used for health purposes, especially in traditional Asian medicine - owing to biologically active chemical … See more

• Illustration from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen (1897)
• Flower's profile, Serra de Casteltallat, Catalonia, Spain
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