crŏcum, i, n., and crŏcus, i, m. (fem., Ap. Met. 10, 34, 7),
I = κρόκος, saffron : Crocus sativus, Linn.; masc. usu. of the plant, neutr. of the essence, etc., but the distinction is not closely observed.
α Crocus, Verg. G. 4, 182; id. Cul. 399; plur. nom. croci, Ov. M. 4, 393; acc. crocos, Prop. 4 (5), 1, 16; Ov. F. 4, 442; Juv. 7, 208.—
β Crocum, Sall. H. 1, 80 Dietsch; Cels. 5, 11; Plin. 21, 6, 17, § 31 sq.—
γ Gen. incert. , Lucr. 2, 416; Ov. F. 1, 342; 5, 318; Sall. H. 2, 23, 2 Dietsch; Col. 9, 4, 4 al.—Frequently employed among the ancients, not only for the seasoning of food and in medicine, but transformed, by means of water and wine, to an essence, for the diffusion of a fragrant odor in theatres and other places; for anointing the hair, etc., Plin. 21, 6, 17, § 33; Sen. Ep. 90, 15; Lucr. 2, 416; Prop. 4 (5), 1, 16; Mart. 5, 25 al.; cf. Cilix and Cilissa, under Cilicia. II. a.—Hence, poet.: recte necne crocum floresque perambulet Attae Fabula si dubitem, over fragrant floors , Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 79.
V — Crŏcus or Crŏcŏs , i, m., a youth who was metamorphosed into a saffron-flower , Ov. M. 4. 283; id. F. 5, 227; Plin. 16, 35, 63, § 154.—
II Meton.
A Saffron-color : picta croco et fulgenti murice vestis, Verg. A. 9, 614; cf. Lucr. 6, 1188. —
B The yellow stamens in many flowers , Plin. 21, 5, 11, §§ 23 and 24.