Saffron (Hastings' Dictionary)

KHr- kiiin, the Arab, form of karkum, is defined in the Arab, dictionaries by znfardn, from which the Eng. word saffron is derived. Three sorts of plants are known in Arab, by the name zdfar&n: — (1) The genns Colchicum, of the order Liliacete. The three stj'Ies of the species of this genus are long, and often orange-coloured, but are not used in medicine or cookery. The corm and seeds are medicinal. (2) Carfhmnus tmctorius, L., the Sattlower or Bastard Saffron.

This is an annual plant of the order Compositre, 3-5 ft. higli, having a head of orange-coloured flowerets as large as a walnut. These flowerets are employed for the same purposes a.s the true safi'ron, and, being much cheaper, tliey are used to adulterate tlie more costlj' commodity. They are also used in dyeing. The safUower is cultivated in large quantities near Damascus.

(3) The genus Croctis, of the order Iridnce(s, of which there are eight species in Palestine and Syria, besides the cultivated C. sativus, L. The orange-coloured styles and dis- sected stigmas of all the species of this genus are collected and dried, and used as a colouring material and aromatic in the preparation of food, esp. to impart a yellow tinge to boiled rice. They were formerly employed in medicine as an anti- spasmodic and emmenagogue.

The most abundant of tlie wild s|iecies of crocus is C. cnncellatus, Herb. Bot. The corms of this are edible, and are collected in considerable quantities, and sold in the streets of Damascus and other Oriental cities. They have a flavour somewhat like that of the chestnut. ZdfarAn is familiarly used for all the above-named jilants. On the other hand, kUrkiim is not commonly used for any. It is the classical name for the crocus alone, but not confined to any one species.

In the only passage in which karkGm occurs (Ca 4"), i.e. among a list of cultivated garden aromatics, it prob. refers to C. sativus, L. G. E. Post.