Description
The domesticated saffron crocus, Crocus sativus, is an autumn-flowering perennial plant unknown in the wild. It probably descends from the eastern Mediterranean autumn-flowering Crocus cartwrightianus,[13][14] which is also known as \"wild saffron\"[15] and originated in Crete[16] or mainland Greece.[8] An origin in Southwest Asia,[3][17] although often suspected, has been disapproved by botanical research.[18] The saffron crocus probably resulted when C. cartwrightianus was subjected to extensive artificial selection by growers seeking longer stigmas. C. thomasii and C. pallasii are other possible sources.[14][19] As a genetically monomorphic clone,[16] it slowly propagated throughout much of Eurasia.