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Crocus biflorus

Mill.

Scotch crocus

Iridaceae Edible: Stigma, Flowers, Spice 1,480 iNaturalist observations

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(c) Mehmet Çelik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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(c) Luca Fornasari, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Luca Fornasari

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Crocus biflorus, the silvery crocus or scotch crocus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is native to south-eastern Europe and south-western Asia, including Italy, the Balkans, Ukraine, Turkey, Caucasus, Iraq, and Iran. It is a cormous perennial growing to 6 cm (2.4 in) tall and wide. It is a highly variable species, with flowers in shades of pale mauve or white, often with darker stripes on the outer tepals. The flowers appear early in spring.

Description

A temperate herb in the Iridaceae family with edible stigmas and flowers that are occasionally used as a saffron substitute.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The stigmas and flowers are used as a spice and occasionally mixed with saffron.

Traditional Uses

It is occasionally mixed with saffron.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Caucasus, Europe, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Mediterranean, Middle East, Russia, Sicily, Slovenia, Turkey, Türkiye,

Synonyms

Crocus annulatus var. biflorus (Mill.) Herb.

Also Known As

Ikiz çiğdem

References (3)

  • Ertug, F, Yenen Bitkiler. Resimli Türkiye Florası -I- Flora of Turkey - Ethnobotany supplement
  • Licata, M., et al, 2016, A survey of wild plant species for food use in Sicily (Italy) – results of a 3-year study in four Regional Parks. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 12:12
  • Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 121

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