About Crocus longiflorus Raf.
Crocus longiflorus, commonly called the long-flowered crocus, is a flowering plant species belonging to the genus Crocus in the family Iridaceae. It is naturally found in Southwest Italy, Sicilia, and Malta. This cormous perennial grows up to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall. It produces pale lilac or purple flowers in autumn, which emerge alongside its sword-shaped leaves. In the 19th century, wild-harvested stigmas of Crocus longiflorus were used as saffron in Sicily. When grown in cultivation in the United Kingdom, this plant has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
