NARCISSALS, 42 
Natural Order, £rits; Lridacec (V. K., p. 159.) 
Prevailing Quality. Acrid, purgative. 
Crocus. Linneus. 
Sepals and petals nearly 
equal, united into 
long subterranean — 
tube, with a balloon- | 
shaped limb ; funnel- 
shaped when ex- 
panded. Stigma + 
parted, plaited, 
volute. 
1. C. vernus Linnseus.— 
(Spring Crocus.) 
Fig, 75. as 
Spring flowering ; stigmas 
erect ; throat of the 
flower bearded; skins 
of corm _ fibrous, 
netted. 
Habitat. Meadows of Europe. 
Quality and Uses, The corms 
are acrid, and were 
merly reckoned discu- 
tient ; the stigmas are nearly destitute of t 
peculiar co- 
lour and aro- 
ma of true 
Saffron. 
= 
hm q 
OA. i 4 
MG | 
2. C. sativus 
Allioni. — 
(SAFFRON 
Crocus.) 
Autumnal flowering ; stigmas as long as the 
limb, and hanging down on one side; 
skins of the corm fibrous, reticulated, 
with narrow meshes. 
Habitat. South of Europe. 
Quality. The dried stigmas are reckoned to be 
cordial, emmenagogue, and stimulant ; they 
constitute Saffron. 
Uses. A mere colouring or flavouring ingredient 
in this country. Saffron gives to water and 
alcohol three-fourths of its weight of an 
orange-red extract, largely employed in paint- 
ing and dyeing. It must not be confounded 
with Saflowers, the dried florets of Carthamus 
tinctorius, with which it is often adulterated, 
The latter consisting of corollas, and the former 
of stigmata, a little careful o! 
tion will readily detect the difference. Ae 
Fig. 75.—Iris germanica; 76. Crocus vernus. 
