Crocus (family Iridaceae) A genus of herbs in which tufts of narrow leaves arise from corms and have white midribs. The flowers are solitary, subsessile on the corms, and regular. They have 6 similar perianth segments and an extremely long perianth tube resembling a flower-stalk. There are three stamens on the tube. The ovary is 3-celled and inferior, forming a capsule lifted up on a stalk in the fruit. Many species are cultivated for their beauty. Saffron is produced from the style branches of C. sativus. There are about 70 species, occurring in the temperate Old World, especially in the Mediterranean region.

cro·cus / ˈkrōkəs/ • n. (pl. crocuses or croci / ˈkrōˌkī; -ˌsī/ ) a small, spring-flowering plant (genus Crocus) of the iris family that grows from a corm and bears bright yellow, purple, or white flowers. See also autumn crocus.

crocus Hardy perennial flowering plant. It is low growing with a single, tubular flower and grass-like leaves rising from an underground corm. Family Iridaceae; genus Crocus.

crocus XVII. — L. — Gr. krókos, of Sem. orig.