CROCUS SATIVUS. Linn. Saffron, Crow saffron.
Zafron, AR., MALAY, PERS. Konyer, . . . MALAY. Than-wen, . . Beast. Karkum, Abir, . l'Ens. Fan-hung-hwa, . . CHIN. Kasmira jamma, SANSK. Crocus of Hippocrates,Gn. Kohoon, . . . Sixon. Zaffran, Kangan, HIND. Koongoomapu, . TAM. Keysur, Kangan mundi, „ Kunktuna puvoo, . TEL. Kongs, . . . . Kamm.
A native of Asia Minor, naturalized in England, France, and many other parts of Europe, and cultivated in Persia and in Kashmir, in one small tract at Pampur, not far from the mpital. The saffron is exported both to south and north from ICashmir. Vigne says it goes mostly to Yarkand ; and Cayley mentions that, in 1867, 5f maunds reached Leh, which would be worth at Yarkand Rs. 8640. The saffron of commerce consists of the dried stigmata of the flower. These are picked out, dried on paper, either in a kiln or by the sun. If compressed into cakes, it is called cake saffron. Hay saffron is what is usually met with, and it consists of the stigmas, each about WI inch and a half long, brown-red, the upper part flattened, widened, and cleft ; the lower hair - like and yellosvish. The odour is fragrant, taste bitter but
agreeable. Saffron tinges the saliva yellow. Mr. Pereim informs us that one grain of good saffron contains the stigmata and styles of nine flowers, so that one ounce of saffron is equal to 4320 flowers. Cake saffron, as now met with, contains none of the real article, being prepared from the florets of the safflower (see Carthamus), made into a paste with gum-water. Dr. Honigberger mentions that Crocus sativus is monopolized by the Kashmirian government, and that the halms of the l'anjab use saffron in melancholy, typhus fever, enlargement of the liver, and retention of urine.—O'Sh. p. C54 ; Honigb.; Boyle ; Stewart ; Birdwond ; ll'aring. See Saffron.