Crocus, a genus of plants of the order irida-ceae. There are two sorts of crocuses, those which blossom in spring, such as crocus vernus, with purple or white flowers, and finely netted root coats, and C. Susianus, or cloth-of-gold crocus, with small, deep yellow flowers, the sepals of which are curiously veined with dark, chocolate-brown lines; and those which blossom in the autumn, such as the saffron crocus (C. sativus), an oriental plant, cultivated for its long, orange-colored, drooping styles, and the Sicilian crocus (C. odorus), whose flowers are fragrant. The saffron crocus blossoms in October, but it is not commonly seen in our gardens. It is, however, extensively cultivated for its produce of saffron in some parts of England. Good saffron consists of the stigmas only, which are small, narrow, and extremely light interior parts of the flower. The crocuses are mostly hardy little plants, and once introduced into the flower borders, they will continue and increase without care.

Garden Crocus.