crocus sativus

Crocus sativus
    n 1: Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with
         aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food
         [syn: {saffron}, {saffron crocus}, {Crocus sativus}]
    

Saffron \Saf"fron\ (?; 277), n. [OE. saffran, F. safran; cf. It.
   zafferano, Sp. azafran, Pg. a[,c]afr[~a]o; all fr. Ar. & Per.
   za' far[=a]n.]
   1. (Bot.) A bulbous iridaceous plant ({Crocus sativus})
      having blue flowers with large yellow stigmas. See
      {Crocus}.
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   2. The aromatic, pungent, dried stigmas, usually with part of
      the stile, of the {Crocus sativus}. Saffron is used in
      cookery, and in coloring confectionery, liquors,
      varnishes, etc., and was formerly much used in medicine.
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   3. An orange or deep yellow color, like that of the stigmas
      of the {Crocus sativus}.
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   {Bastard saffron}, {Dyer's saffron}. (Bot.) See {Safflower}.
      

   {Meadow saffron} (Bot.), a bulbous plant ({Colchichum
      autumnale}) of Europe, resembling saffron.

   {Saffron wood} (Bot.), the yellowish wood of a South African
      tree ({Elaeodendron croceum}); also, the tree itself.

   {Saffron yellow}, a shade of yellow like that obtained from
      the stigmas of the true saffron ({Crocus sativus}).
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Crocin \Cro"cin\ (kr?"s?n), n. [Gr. ???? saffron.] (Chem.)
   (a) The coloring matter of Chinese yellow pods, the fruit of
       {Gardenia grandiflora}. --Watts.
   (b) A red powder (called also {polychroite}), which is made
       from the saffron ({Crocus sativus}). See {Polychroite}.
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Crocus \Cro"cus\ (kr[=o]"k[u^]s), n. [L., saffron, fr. Gr.
   kro`kos; cf. Heb. kark[=o]m, Ar. kurkum, Skr. ku[.n]kuma.]
   1. (Bot.) A genus of iridaceous plants, with pretty blossoms
      rising separately from the bulb or corm. {Crocus vernus}
      is one of the earliest of spring-blooming flowers; {Crocus
      sativus} produces the saffron, and blossoms in the autumn.
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   2. (Chem.) A deep yellow powder; the oxide of some metal
      calcined to a red or deep yellow color; esp., the oxide of
      iron ({Crocus of Mars} or {colcothar}) thus produced from
      salts of iron, and used as a polishing powder.
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   {Crocus of Venus} (Old Chem.), oxide of copper.
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