susianus, or cloth of gold; C. sulphureus, or sulphur-coloured; and C. serotinus; or late-flowered, blossoming 
in autumn, the leaves appearing at the same time with the flower. The Scotch crocus is said by Mr. Niell 
to be a beautiful striped variety. 
The medicinal properties of this flower were early known to the Romans ; as we find that the Cilician 
physicians who attended Anthony and Cleopatra in Egypt, recommended saffron as a medicine that cleared 
the complexion, by relieving the jaundice or the bile ; which is an early indication of the prevalence of the 
"doctrine of signatures,” for which the sect termed " Rosicrusians,” or " Theosophists ” became so notorious 
in the beginning of the 14th century. Dioscorides says that it is good for a surfeit. Pliny informs us that 
the best saffron grew in Cilicia, on a mountain called Corycus, and the next in quality on Mount Olym- 
pus. The Sicilian saffron was also esteemed by the Romans, who used it as a perfume. According to Pliny, 
it was steeped in wine, and then sprinkled over the theatres, filling every part with a sweet odour. The 
same author says, the wild crocus produces the best saffron, therefore the planting of it in gardens was 
deemed bad husbandry; for the plants became strong and large, while the flowers yielded but few chives, 
and would not pay the expense of planting. In a work, comparatively modern, (Townsend’s Travels in 
Spain,) the plant is mentioned as growing in abundance in the neighbourhood of Salamanca, where with- 
out cultivation, it affords excellent saffron. Saffron is the KpoKor of the Greeks; and is mentioned by Homer 
as one of the flowers that formed the genial couch of Jove and Juno. 
Lindestolpe suspects that it was the y^evfler, nepenthes, of Homer; while other writers have affixed this 
appellation to the Inula Helenium and Borago, but without consideration, for in the celebrated passage 
alluded to, the word is evidently not used as the name of any especial plant, but merely to express the 
quality of the soothing oblivious draught proffered to Telemachus by Helen. 
Our plant is the zaffaran, or zahafaran of the Arabians, and was highly esteemed by the Hebrews, who 
called it car com. It is the Crocus of the Latins, who named it after a beautiful youth, who was said to 
have been consumed by the impatience of his love, for Smilax was metamorphosed into the plant called by 
his name Smilax, or Bindweed. Ovid commemorates this fable, and Virgil also speaks of the crocus as one 
of the flowers upon which the bees most love to feed: — 
“ pascuntur et arbuta passim, 
Et glauoas salices, casiamque, crocumque rubentem, 
Et pinguem tiliam, et ferrugineos hyacinthos.” — Georg. 4. 
"They feed also at large on arbutes, and hoary willows, and cassia, and glowing saffron, and fat limes, 
and deep coloured hyacinths.” Martyn's Translation, p. 372. 
By the old Chemists saffron was called, from its golden colour, Aurum Philosophorum ; by others. San- 
guis Herculis, Aurum Vegetabile, Rex Vegetabilium, and Panacea Vegetabilis. Its English name is evidently 
derived from its Arabian ; which is nearly the same in French, Dutch, and German. 
Culture. f As several naturalists with whom we conversed were ignorant of the habits of this plant, 
and as it is imperfectly described in a work, which passes for an authority, we took the pains to obtain 
specimens from Samuel Fiske, Esq. of Saffron Walden, a gentleman who once cultivated it, and who is an 
accomplished botanist. In his communication, for which we are greatly indebted, he says, “The bulbs of 
the Crocus sativus are planted in July, in a rich light mould, with some well-rotted manure, in rows six 
inches apart, with three inches distant from each other in the rows. 
"About the 18th of September, the leaves [or grass,] begin to appear in small pencil-like tufts, and 
during, and after the period of flowering, keep growing, and gradually cover the whole bed, continuing green 
all the winter, until May, when they die away, and the bed is bare all the next summer. 
"The flowers begin to spring up about the 3rd of October, with a stem about an inch above the ground; 
they continue daily coming up for three or four weeks, six, eight, or more rising in succession from one 
plant. They are gathered every morning during the time of flowering, and the stigmata or chives, with 
part of the style plucked out for use, the rest of the flower being thrown away. 
"The saffron, thus procured, is either dried in a room, in the sun, on papers, or made into cakes hy a 
moderate heat and pressure. 
" At the end of three years, when the leaf is entirely dead, the bulbs are taken up and cleaned, and 
the largest set by for planting again. 
"The increase in the bulbs is very great, but being of no use except for replanting, what are not wanted 
for that purpose are thrown away; and as the produce of the saffron does not repay the expenses, it is now 
entirely out of cultivation here as an article of commerce.” 
Saffron is now discarded from practice as a medical agent ; but still enters the composition of several 
officinal preparations, to impart an aromatic flavour and a rich colour. 
Off. Prep. — Confectio aromatica. L.D. | Off Prep. — Tinctura Aloes. D. 
Decoctum Aloes comp. L. | Cinnamomi comp. L. 
Pilula Aloes c. myrrha. L. Croci sativi. E. 
Syrupus Croci. L. | Rhei. L. 
Tinctura Aloes comp. L. j * Rhei comp. L. 
In the language of flowers the Saffron signifies excess is dangerous. 
