Order: Asparagales Link (APG IV), Liliales Perleb (Cronquist)Family: Iridaceae Juss.Tribe: Croceae Crocus L. species are bulbous (generally provided with a corm1) or, occasionally, rhizomatous geophytes. Both spring-flowering (e.g., C. vernus (L.) Hill. C. biflorus Mill.) and autumn-flowering (C. sativus L., C. cartwrightianus Herb., C. longiflorus raf.) species exist. The former usually bloom in early spring (C. vernus flowers …
Tag: Saffron
The Symbology of Crocus
Artemis and the maiden goddesses Britomartis, Diktynna, Aphea Britomartis (Greek: Βριτόμαρτις) or, more appropriately, Britomarpis1 was an ancient goddess who was primarily worshipped in Minoan Crete. Goddess of mountains and hunting, patroness of hunters, fishermen and sailors, she was sometime identified with the Aeginetan Aphaea (or Aphaia). According to some authors, she was also revered as Dictynna (Δίκτυννα).
Saffron infused oil
Today I’ve tried to make saffron infused oil for the very first time. Coming mostly from the Indian tradition, this precious (both because it is made with the most expensive spice and because of its qualities) oil may be used both in the kitchen and for our personal care.
Saffron
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a spice with thousand virtues, in both cuisine and herbal therapy, esteemed as a useful remedy since ancient times. Castore Durante, in his “Herbario nuovo” wrote:“QUALITIES. It’s hot in the second degree and dry in the first, keeping in itself a little of cold and terrestrial, it opens, repercusses (*), digests, corroborates, and also mollifies. …