IRIDACE^. 



the edge, glaucous, shorter than the stem. Flowers large, fragrant, pale 

 bluish white, bearded ; their tube scarcely so long as the ovary. Petals 

 full 2 inches long, and 1 inch broad, obtuse, somewhat converging, 

 reflexed at the edge, rather plaited towards the base. The dried 

 rhizoma is the Orris root of the shops, a subacrid, aromatic, rather 

 bitter substance, employed in the manufacture of tooth-powder and 

 hair powder, and to keep up the discharge from issues. 



CROCUS. 



Perianth funnel-shaped, expanding only in the sunshine, with 

 a very long tube, and a regular 6-parted limb. Stamens 3, in- 

 serted into the tube ; anthers sagittate. Style filiform with 

 3 long narrow plaited stigmas, which are usually dilated and 

 jagged at the apex. Capsule 3-celled, many-seeded. Seeds 

 roundish. 



1219. C. sativus Linn. sp. pi. 50. Woodv. t. 176. Smith 

 Eng. Fl. i. 46. C. autumnalis Eng. Bot. t. 343. In the 

 East of Europe flowering in the autumn. (Saffron Crocus.) 



Cormus roundish ; the integuments consisting of parallel fibres, which 

 are distinct at the upper end. Leaves very narrow, linear, long, flaccid, 

 surrounded at the base with long membranous sheaths. Flowers ax- 

 illary, with a 2-valved membranous spathe, appearing with the leaves, 

 large, purple, striated, with a campanulate limb. Stigmas 3, deeply 

 divided, linear-wedge-shaped, deep orange-colour, hanging down on one 

 side of the flower, fragrant, notched at the points. The dried stigmas 

 are the Sajfronof the shops. In moderate doses this substance stimulates 

 the stomach, and in large quantities excites the vascular system. 

 Moreover it seems to have a specific influence on the cerebro-spinal 

 system, as it affects, it is said, the mental faculties, a result which De 

 Candolle considers analogous to that produced by the petals of certain 

 odorous flowers. ' " In modern practice it is little used, except as a 

 colouring ingredient ; on the Continent it is employed as an agreeable 

 stimulant in many culinary preparations and liqueurs. In a medicinal 

 point of view it is frequently used to assist the eruption of exanthe- 

 matous diseases ; on the same principle I fancy that Birdfanciers give 

 it to birds in the moult. It has been used as a carminative, antispas- 

 modic and emmenagogue." Pereira. The singular substance called 

 Polychroite is obtained from Saffron. 



1220. C. odorus Biv. stirp.rar. iii. p. 8. t. 2. Gusson.fl. sic. 

 i. 30. ic. t. 11. f. 2. Open pastures in both mountainous and 

 maritime situations in Sicily, flowering from October to De- 

 cember. 



Integuments of the cormus fibrous. Leaves appearing with the 

 flowers, linear, channelled, revolute at the edge. Spathe single, acute. 

 Flowers purple, sweet-scented, with a very long tube. Style trifid, not 

 hanging out of the flower, about as long as the stamens, with the seg- 

 ments multifid at the apex. This yields Saffron in Sicily according to 

 Gussone. 



576 



