CROCUS SATIVUS
FAMILY :: IRIDACEAE
SAFFRON: A wonderful small plant that has been used and valued for over 1000 years. Medicinally, it is stomachic, antispasmodic and sedative. Once considered to be an aphrodisiac, probably because of these medicinal properties.
Saffron, the spice, is the orange stigmas of the purple flowers that appear for a short period in the fall. It takes about 60,000 stigmas to make a pound of spice. The taste is unique, though often herb companies will try to pass off the safflower as saffron because it has a similar color. Semi-hardy, growing best in sandy soil in full sun.
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