Crocus

The crocus is a perennial flowering plant that grows from a bulb. As one of the first flowers to bloom in the Spring, they are popular with gardeners. The flowers are purple, white, yellow, or combinations of these colors. There are at least a hundred species of crocus, of which approximately 30 are cultivated. Crocuses are classified in the family Iridaceae[?].

The spice saffron is derived from the stamens of Crocus sativus, a fall-blooming species.

larger image	Crocus 'E.A. Bowles'[?]
larger image	Crocus vernus 'Pickwick'[?]
larger image	Crocus longiflorus[?]