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Crocus
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<p><i>Crocus</i> is a <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">genus</a> of seasonal <a href="/facts/Flowering_plant/E5eGYIvY">flowering plants</a> in the family <a href="/facts/Iridaceae/zRrNf80q">Iridaceae</a> (iris family) comprising about 100 <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a> of <a href="/facts/Perennial_plant/MQ3NvAUW">perennials</a> growing from <a href="/facts/Corm/vDlWanct">corms</a>. They are low growing plants, whose flower stems remain underground, that bear relatively large white, yellow, orange or purple flowers and then become dormant after flowering. Many are cultivated for their flowers, appearing in autumn, winter, or spring. The flowers close at night and in overcast weather conditions. The crocus has been known throughout recorded history, mainly as the source of <a href="/facts/Saffron/wjB3p2ld">saffron</a>. Saffron is obtained from the dried <a href="/facts/Stigma_(botany)/JEQ85ChP">stigma</a> of <i><a href="/facts/Crocus_sativus/hEcJbpdb">Crocus sativus</a></i>, an autumn-blooming <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a>. It is valued as a <a href="/facts/Spice/mIMfxvm7">spice</a> and <a href="/facts/Dye/a1NSlcsG">dyestuff</a>, and is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Iran is the center of saffron production. Crocuses are <a href="/facts/Native_plant/03kpM3rf">native</a> to woodland, scrub, and meadows from sea level to <a href="/facts/Alpine_tundra/lRTYfrHa">alpine tundra</a> from the <a href="/facts/Mediterranean_Sea/Vr2pzVbM">Mediterranean</a>, through <a href="/facts/North_Africa/ItxQAfs7">North Africa</a>, central and southern <a href="/facts/Europe/DTAtrKfh">Europe</a>, the islands of the <a href="/facts/Aegean_Islands/bkgxgMqc">Aegean</a>, the <a href="/facts/Middle_East/8CD6pLWv">Middle East</a> and across <a href="/facts/Central_Asia/rB8k0CyT">Central Asia</a> to <a href="/facts/Xinjiang/f3jxW5Sq">Xinjiang</a> in western <a href="/facts/China/lTjIXY5p">China</a>. Crocuses may be propagated from seed or from daughter cormels formed on the corm, that eventually produce mature plants. They arrived in Europe from Turkey in the 16th century and became valued as an <a href="/facts/Ornamental_plant/ImyCDwMW">ornamental</a> flowering plant. </p>