saffron

LATIN NAME: Crocus sativus

COMMON NAME: Saffron Crocus

The saffron crocus kindles the violet, three-lobed flowers among the grassy leaves, the fine, red stigmas hidden in the flower centres, and the whole clump carries the fine, bright look of the autumn border. The hardy, perennial, corm-bearing herb carries the narrow, grass-like, dark-green leaves with the white midribs, and the large, violet, funnel-shaped flowers with the three deep-orange, branched stigmas, in the autumn, one of the bright, quiet sights of the autumn border, drawing the bees, to be followed by the small, three-celled capsules with the small, round seeds. The small seeds have a very long record as the fine, saffron flowers of the old gardens, and the plant is a historic presence of the autumn border. It is a plant of the open, sunny, light, gritty, well-drained ground.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The saffron crocus is a historic subject of the plant science, and the funnel-shaped flowers keep showing up in the work on the autumn crocuses. The way the large, violet, funnel-shaped flowers with the three deep-orange, branched stigmas open in the autumn has been studied closely, and it keeps appearing in the studies of the autumn crocuses, the narrow leaves and the members of the iris family. The small seeds and the bright habit have also made it a fine study herb, and the saffron crocus is a regular subject of the work on the funnel-shaped flowers of the temperate world.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

The saffron crocus is a bright, useful plant of the autumn border and the study collection. The narrow, grass-like, dark-green leaves with the white midribs carry the bright look of the autumn border, one of the bright, quiet sights of the autumn border, drawing the bees, and the small seeds have a very long record as the fine, saffron flowers of the old gardens, the deep-orange stigmas coming to the old kitchens, the dyes and the steady practice of the old lands, while the large, violet, funnel-shaped flowers with the three deep-orange, branched stigmas open in the autumn, to be followed by the small, three-celled capsules with the small, round seeds. It is one of the fine choices for the autumn border, the spice bed and the study collection, and it has been written about in the horticultural and the culinary papers for the funnel-shaped flowers and the very long history. It is a bright, useful plant of the open, sunny, light, gritty, well-drained garden.

The saffron seeds germinate slowly in a fine, gritty loam kept barely moist. The young plants are neat and steady, and they take the light, gritty ground of the autumn border well.

To grow the saffron crocus from seed, sow the small, round seeds sparingly over the surface of the shallow tray of fine, gritty loam, water gently, then keep the tray in a bright, airy spot. The seedlings appear within a few weeks, and they grow on slowly. With the sun and the light, gritty, well-drained ground, the violet flowers will kindle over the autumn years.

Description

Orally, Hong Hua/Safflower seed oil is used for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and preventing atherosclerosis.
In Chinese medicine, Hong Hua/Safflower flower is used for hyperemia in women and hair growth.
In folk medicine, Hong Hua/Safflower is used orally for fever, tumors, coughs, bronchial conditions, blood stasis, pain, blood invigoration, amenorrhea, painful menses, stimulating menstruation, coronary heart disease, chest pain, traumatic injuries, inducing sweating, as a laxative, purgative, stimulant, antiperspirant, abortifacient, and expectorant.
For food uses, safflower seed oil is used as a cooking oil.
In manufacturing, safflower flower is used to color cosmetics and dye fabrics. Safflower seed oil is used as a paint solvent.