132 
CROCUS. 
“ That pleasant plant that bears yellow 
flowers was sent unto me from Ilivinus of 
Paris. 
“ The Autumnal Crocus is supposed to 
have come originally from the East, but is 
now so common in Europe, that it is difficult 
to ascertain with certainty its original birth¬ 
place. The flowers are of a purple, lilac, or 
pale blue colour, blowing in October: the 
leaves grow all the winter. This species of 
Crocus is also called Saffron, and the medi¬ 
cine so called is obtained from it. 
“ It is commonly said that Sir Thomas 
Smith was the first who brought this plant 
into England, in the reign of Edward the 
Third, and that it was first planted at Wal- 
den, in Essex. That Walden was noted for 
the cultivation of it, is clear, since the flower 
has even bestowed its own name upon that 
place, which is commonly called Saffron 
Walden. 
“ Crocuses in great variety are cultivated in 
the villages round Aleppo, and the Arab wo¬ 
men carry them with other flowers through 
the-streets, chaunting, — ‘ How delightful its 
season, its Maher how bountiful!' and the 
roots of some of the species are sold and eaten 
by the inhabitants, and called mountain cu¬ 
cumbers, being strong like onions : they are 
pleasant to eat, and have a nutty flavour.” 
The Crocus is of the class Triandria, and 
order Monogynia. 
