crocus

Everyday

1. A small flower that grows from a bulb-like corm and comes up early in spring, often purple, yellow or white, shaped like a cup. tree →
2. A kind of crocus that flowers in autumn gives saffron, a spice made from its red threads. tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature lessons crocuses are a sign of spring and come up even through snow; they show how plants store food underground. In art and poems they stand for new beginnings. Bees visit them early in the year.

Examples

• The first crocuses were peeping through the snow. tree →
• We planted crocus bulbs in the school garden in autumn. tree →
• A bee buzzed into a purple crocus. tree →
• Saffron comes from a special crocus. tree →
• The park lawn was covered in yellow and white crocuses. tree →
• Crocuses close their petals when it is cloudy. tree →
• It was in the early spring, when the crocus and the snowdrop were in full bloom. tree →

Note

Plural «crocuses» is usual; «croci» is also correct but rare. Strictly they grow from «corms», not true bulbs. Saffron is very expensive because each flower has only three threads.