CRO'CUS SUSIA'NUS. 
CLOTH OF GOLD CROCUS. 
Class. Order. 
TRIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
iride m. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Cultivated 
Turkey. 
5 inches. 
March. 
Perennial. 
in 1605. 
No. 121. 
► 
The Greek philosophers used the term Crocus 
three or four centuries before the Christian era ; and 
it is believed, applied it to the same plant that we 
now apply it. Ovid has a story of the youth Crocus 
changed into this flower. The name also occurs in 
Solomon’s Song; and in the English version is trans- 
lated saffron; but it appears likely that Solomon 
used it for an aromatic of the East. Susa was the 
ancient name of the capital of the western district of 
Persia, whence comes Susianus. 
There are few flowers that meet a more welcome 
reception than the glowing and beautiful varieties of 
crocuses. They come as the first fruits of those life- 
yielding rays, whose absence has taught us the value 
of their presence: those cheering sunbeams that 
spread plenteousness and luxury on the face of the 
earth, at the mandate of him “Who giveth us richly 
all things to enjoy.” 
There are curious phenomena exhibited in many 
flowers, by the expansion and contraction of their 
parts of fructification, by which means they are pro- 
tected from wind and rain, the dews of the night, 
and similar causes of injury. 
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